Important General Policy Exclusion:
No coverage applies under any section for the failure of air traffic control, airport computer systems, or travel booking systems—including loss of access, use, data, or system failure—if and only if that failure is directly caused by a cyber attack. Standard operational, technical, or non-cyber-related disruptions remain covered under the normal terms of the policy.
A. Your standard travel insurance may provide cover if your journey is disrupted by a delay or cancellation of public transport, subject to the terms, conditions and limits of your policy.
If you miss your booked public transport because another public transport service fails, you may be covered for reasonable additional accommodation (room only) and economy public transport costs to allow you to continue your trip, up to the policy limit.
If your public transport is delayed by more than 12 hours at the final departure point to or from the UK, you may be able to claim:
A benefit for each completed period of delay, to help with telephone calls, meals and refreshments; and
A proportion of unused travel and accommodation costs, subject to the policy limits.
If your public transport is delayed or cancelled and no suitable alternative is provided within 12 hours of the scheduled departure time, you may be able to cancel your trip and claim under the applicable cancellation section, subject to the policy terms and exclusions.
Travel Disruption cover is included as standard where your trip is disrupted.
This can include:
You may be covered if:
No suitable alternative public transport is provided within 12 hours following a delay or cancellation; or it was diverted or redirected after take-off
You are denied boarding because there are too many passengers for the seats available and the transport provider does not offer a suitable alternative within 12 hours of the scheduled time of departure
Your public transport provider rearranges your departure or return within 7 days of the original date and the change causes you to miss 50% or more of your trip.
If you are involuntarily denied boarding and no suitable alternative is provided within the specified timeframe, you may be covered for reasonable additional accommodation (room only) and economy public transport costs to continue your trip, up to the policy limit.
You may also be covered for reasonable additional accommodation and public transport expenses, up to the standard of your original booking, if your trip is disrupted due to:
A catastrophe;
Insolvency of your accommodation provider or booking agent;
A qualifying delay or cancellation where no suitable alternative public transport is provided within 12 hours; or it was diverted or redirected after take-off.
You are denied boarding because there are too many passengers for the seats available and the transport provider does not offer a suitable alternative within 12 hours of the scheduled time of departure.
If your return to the UK is delayed as a result of any of these covered eventualities, your policy will automatically extend free of charge. This extension is valid provided you accept the first suitable alternatives offered by your airline/tour operator and do not intentionally delay your return. This extension ensures you remain fully covered under the terms of your policy until you are reasonably able to complete your journey home.
Important: Cover is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of your policy. Disruptions caused directly or indirectly by war or terrorism, and in some sections pandemics or regional quarantine, are excluded as specified in the policy.
Independent of your travel insurance policy, if your flight is delayed or cancelled, you have legal rights under UK261/EU261 regulations enforced directly by the airline. This includes a statutory "Duty of Care" (the airline must provide food, drink, and overnight hotel accommodation with transfers if required) and the right to be re-routed to your destination or receive a full cash refund for the flight. Because air traffic control failures are legally classified as extraordinary circumstances, additional monetary delay compensation does not apply.
If you booked your trip as a package holiday, you are protected under the Package Travel Regulations. Your tour operator holds the legal and financial responsibility for managing and safeguarding your trip. This includes arranging alternative transport, providing alternative holiday arrangements, or issuing a full refund for the entire package if the trip cannot go ahead.
Please note that package holidays are not covered under the Travel Disruption insurance section to continue the trip. Package holidays are strictly excluded from this benefit because it is the tour operator's responsibility to make alternative arrangements for you.
