At a glance
Your rights may vary depending on whether you've booked a package holiday or organised your flights and hotels independently
Many travel insurance policies exclude claims linked to war or conflict
You should check your booking terms and policy wording before travelling
If you're concerned about travelling, contact your tour operator or airline in the first instance
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has provided a list of frequently asked questions about travel insurance and the Middle East conflict.
Find out your your options if your trip is delayed or cancelled due to war or conflict, and learn what your travel insurance policy is and isn’t likely to cover.
Your rights if you've already booked a holiday
The rules are slightly different depending on how you booked your trip.
If you've booked a package holiday
If you booked your trip as a package holiday (flights and accommodation together), your tour operator is responsible for delivering the trip.
If your holiday is cancelled or significantly changed due to circumstances outside of your control, it might offer a suitable alternative or a full refund.
Should your plans be affected, contact the tour operator in the first instance.
If you've booked independently
If you’ve booked elements of your holiday such as flights, hotels and transfers separately, your rights differ.
Flights: if your airline cancels your flight, it is responsible for rebooking you on an alternative flight at the earliest opportunity or offering a refund. If you’re delayed, it may provide meals or accommodation. Airlines aren't usually responsible for other parts of your trip that you booked separately, such as hotels.
Accommodation and onward travel: if your hotel, transfers or other bookings are not cancelled by the provider, your entitlement to a refund will depend on the terms and conditions of your booking. Many bookings may be non-refundable, even if your flight is delayed or disrupted.
Can I claim on my travel insurance?
If your trip is affected, you’ll need to review the wording of your travel insurance policy to see if you’re covered.
Some insurance policies include optional trip disruption or enhanced delay cover, which may help with additional costs you incur.
The terms of this cover will depend on factors such as the length of the delay and the reason, for example airspace closure.
Standard cancellation cover may not include wider travel disruption, unless this is specifically stated in your policy. Many policies exclude claims linked to:
War or conflict
Government intervention or large-scale disruption events.
This means that if, for example, your flight is cancelled due to lack of jet fuel as a direct result of a conflict, it’s unlikely you’d be covered by your insurance.
Your travel insurance also typically won’t cover costs you can recover from elsewhere, such as the airline or your tour operator.
Things to check before you travel
1) The booking terms on your flights, accommodation and transfers
2) Your insurance policy wording, including cover, limits and exclusions
You should contact the airline or travel provider first if your plans change, and keep receipts and documentation for any additional expenses you incur.
Can I cancel my holiday because I'm worried about travelling?
Most travel insurance policies won’t cover cancellation because you no longer feel comfortable travelling, unless the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice changes after you booked.
If you want to cancel your trip, start by getting in touch with your airline, accommodation provider or tour operator. It may be able to rebook some parts of your trip or offer you a refund, depending on the terms and conditions of your booking.
What if my flight connects through an affected area?
Even if you’re not travelling directly to the affected areas, you could still face disruption if your journey involves airports in the area.
Flights may experience delays, rerouting or cancellations because of airspace restrictions.
Whether your travel insurance will cover you in these situations depends on:
The cause of the disruption
Whether the event was already known about before you travelled
The level of travel disruption cover included in your policy
The exclusions in your policy.
Can I still buy travel insurance for an affected area?
Yes, although cover may be more limited, depending on where you’re going and the current FCDO advice.
Some insurers may exclude claims linked to the ongoing conflict or refuse cover for certain countries.
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As well as writing for Churchill and Privilege insurance websites, Karen’s CV includes working with M&S, Debenhams, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and John Lewis. With over 20 years of editorial experience for big household names she leads a talented content team with a focus on simplifying personal finance for everybody.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
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