Travel Insurance for Volcanic Ash

A question about : Travel Insurance for Volcanic Ash

With the recent eruption of another volcano, previous fears regarding whether travel insurance covers you or not have returned for some people. (Although this one is not supposed to be as detrimental to UK flights as the previous one)

I was wondering what opinions other posters had on travel insurance. I was looking online for quotations and those who cover for this type of cancellation are asking for approx Ј100 per couple for annual cover worldwide. However, the last time some people said that even with this cover, they did not get full costs back from what they spent.

So is it worthwhile buying this insurance or continuing with insurance companies that don't specifically cover for this issue.

Best answers:

• Thanks for putting the post on KK22 - I've had a 3-day trip booked to Estonia for months now, and I head out (fingers crossed) on Thursday. I've also been trawling websites and any info out there on good solid policies would be appreciated - it's my first venture overseas with my OH and I've gone boggle-eyed looking at so many policies!!!!!
• ANy more thoughts on this one guys?
  We've recently booked a holiday- i haven't got the insurance yet. Do i need to look for a special policy or is it too late now there have already been eruptions?
• I have an annual policy - purchased in Dec, and when I rang today they confirmed I would be covered for any cancellation, delay, accommodation etc caused by the volcano but, only because I'd purchased the insurance before the event. No insurer will cover you for something after the event has occurred.
• From LV webiste:
  For policies bought and trips arranged before 23 May 2011:
  If you have been unable to travel
  If you had a trip abroad booked that you were (or have become) unable to take because of the closure of airspace, we will pay claims for those elements of your trip for which you cannot get a refund. This doesn't apply if your provider has a contractual or legal obligation to give you a refund. We will pay up to a maximum of Ј5,000 per person and we will not pay the first Ј50 per person. This is most likely to apply to you if you booked your accommodation separately from your flight and not as part of a package. The general exclusions, general conditions and making a claim sections of your policy still apply. These can be found towards the back of your policy booklet.
  If you experienced a delay in your travel
  If your flight either to or from the UK was delayed due to the decision to close airspace, we will pay the delayed departure benefit. This is Ј25 per person for each full 12 hours of the delay up to a maximum of Ј250 per person. The general exclusions, general conditions and making a claim sections of your policy still apply. These can be found towards the back of your policy booklet.
  For policies bought on or after the 23 May 2011 and for trips booked after the 23 May 2011
  If you do not have travel insurance or have not yet booked a trip
  No cover will apply to this Ash Cloud Event if you take out a policy or book a trip on or after 23 May 2011.
• We're going on hols soon and we sorted our insurance a few weeks ago. I have just tried to check insurance policies (peeking through my fingers) and can't see any mention of volcanic ash.
• I am close to booking a week in Spain for my wife and myself leaving on the 13th June and believe it's likely that the Volcanoe issue will have settled by then.It is of course prudent to cover any eventuality which is why we buy insurance ...
  On a radio phone in yesterday one caller was extolling the virtues of M&S insurance which covered fully the three additional weeks she was obliged to spend in Australia , at no additional cost . When i called them this evening for a quote and asked the question i was told that if my holiday was booked through an ATOL agent then it was up to them to provide for my situation .
  All very well until your tour operator metaphorically crosses their arms and says we can't fly you and we can't fond a hotel room for you
  UPDATE :- while searching i found this on the CAA ( Civil Aviation Authority ) web site
  Passenger Rights
  The EU Regulation on Denied Boarding and Cancellation continues to apply in the exceptional and extended disruption created by the volcanic ash cloud. Now that flights are taking place, the CAA is working with airlines to ensure passengers can return home as soon as possible.
  The Regulation entitles passengers to care and assistance including the right to:
  · reimbursement within seven days of the full cost of the ticket; or,
  · re-routing to their final destination at the earliest opportunity; or,
  · re-routing at a later date at the passenger's convenience.
  Should a passenger choose to be re-routed to their final destination on the next available flight, passengers are also entitled to:
  · meals and refreshments in a reasonable relation to the waiting time;
  · hotel accommodation where a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary;
  · two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or emails.
  Passengers are advised to keep receipts of any expenses they intend to claim from their airline. These expenses should be reasonable within the context of the nature of the disruption and fall within the rights as set out above.
  Passengers are not entitled to additional financial compensation as would be the case if the cause of the disruption were the responsibility of the airline.
  Passenger rights apply to all airlines if the flight was due to depart from a European airport and the disruption to your flight occurred in Europe. In addition if your flight was with a European airline your rights also cover flights from an airport outside Europe to a European airport.
  If your flight is not covered by the Regulation you should check the airlines terms and conditions. Most airlines will provide a refund or an alternative flight and some may also provide assistance during the disruption. You should also check your travel insurance as this may cover you for the cost of accommodation, meals etc.
  Passengers seeking refunds should be in touch in the first instance with their airline. Complaints about how an airline is dealing with claims should be directed to the Air Transport Users Council (AUC) www.auc.org.uk if the incident occurred in the UK. If the incident occurred in another European country you should contact the National Enforcement Body in that country. Passengers who are travelling as part of a package holiday should contact their tour operator. The CAA is the UK enforcement body for air passenger rights legislation.
• MSE now have a report up about Volcanic Ash probs and how it will affect travellers.
  If you have booked a package you will either be offered another holiday or refund (apparently). You are also further protected if you paid on card.
• World First Travel Insurance
  As a Company we were mentioned in the Guardian Newspaper regarding the Volcanic ash problems, this is a quote from our Blog Post - Boiling over about the volcano !
  'Some insurers are yet to pay out for what their customers are entitled to following last year's disruption. We settled claims straight away. And we're doing the same this year. That's why we were featured in yesterday's Guardian article: Volcanic ash and your travel insurance - everything you need to know. They cite us as one of the insurers who will offer no quibble payouts if customers were insured with us before the eruption of Grimsvotn"
  As i am a newbie here i cant post a link but our website should be easy to find or you can always call us on Telephone: 0845 90 80 161
  I hope that Helps
  Many Thanks
  Tristan