Problems at the airport: A guide to airline failures and what travel insurance covers

Travelling is an exciting adventure, but sometimes things can go wrong. Whether it's strikes, scheduled airline failures, diverted flights, flight cancellations, or flight delays, it's important for you to know what your travel insurance covers. This guide will help UK travellers understand the importance of travel insurance if you ever find yourself in one of these situations, to give you peace of mind when you’re planning your next trip.

So, what are the different types of airline failures and how can travel insurance help?

Scheduled airline failures happen when an airline is having financial difficulties and has to stop business (goes bust). This usually happens suddenly, meaning you might not be able to reach your destination, or could be left stranded if they’re already abroad. If your airline does go bust before you’re due to fly, it’s unlikely you’ll receive a refund directly from them, which is why it’s so important to think ahead with travel insurance.

When an airline goes bust, they won’t usually have the funds or staff to process a refund if your flight has been cancelled, which is where travel insurance comes in.

 

• Cancelled flights

If you don’t get your refund from the airline, you could claim the costs back through your insurance

 

• Accommodation / pre-booked activities

If you can’t make your trip anymore (due to your flight being cancelled) and can’t get a refund for your accommodation or any pre-booked events, you could make a claim

 

• Emergency travel and accommodation costs

If you’re left stranded abroad, you could claim the costs if you need to book new accommodation or pay for additional transport

 

Not all insurance policies include scheduled airline failure insurance (SAFI) as standard, so make sure you read the small print, even if it’s not the most exciting read. Some insurers might offer it as an add on, so keep a lookout.

Unfortunately, flight delays are a common issue for travellers that can have a big impact on your travel plans. They can happen for a number of reasons, including weather conditions, technical problems, or operational challenges.

When it comes to delays, it's not about when you depart but how late you are when you reach your destination. This means that you won’t always be able to claim for compensation, even if your take-off was delayed.

Every airline has a different policy for when travellers can claim compensation for delayed flights. So, if your chosen airline says that you can claim compensation for delays that are more than two hours, but you arrive at your destination less than two hours late, you wouldn’t be able to make a claim. If your flight arrived more than two hours late, you would.

So, make sure you check your airline’s policies before you fly so you know what your rights are.

Flight delays and cancellations can be frustrating, especially when you have connecting flights or important plans at your destination. There’s a number of reasons why they happen, but the most important thing to remember is that travel insurance can help make sure you’re not out of pocket.

 

• Missed pre-booked events and transport

If your flight’s delayed and you miss out on pre-booked transportation or an event, you could claim the cost back through your insurance

 

• Other expenses

Delays can happen for all sorts of reasons, but sometimes they’re out of the airline’s control. In this event, you might not be able to claim costs and compensation through the airline, but you could through travel insurance. This might include money for a hotel, food or any other related costs due to the delay

To learn more about what you could claim back during airport delays, read our blog.

Like flight delays, cancellations are more common than travellers like. Whether your flight is cancelled weeks in advance or while you’re at the airport, if you’d like to know what your rights are and how travel insurance can help, keep reading.

Whether it’s extreme weather conditions making it unsafe to fly or there’s been a natural disaster at your destination, cancellations aren’t always the airline’s fault. A good example is the Volcanic eruption in Iceland in 2010, which disrupted more than 100,000

flights across Europe, due to the huge ash cloud. In cases like these, you might not be able to claim your losses through the airline, but you could through your travel insurance if the reason for cancellation is included in your cancellation cover.

 

• Flights

If your flight is cancelled by the airline and they’re at fault, you should get a refund directly from them. If it’s not the airline’s fault, you might not get a refund from them, but you could through your travel insurance

 

• Accommodation

If your flight is cancelled and you lose money on accommodation at your destination, you could claim the costs back through insurance

 

• Pre-booked events

Whether it’s a boat trip, festival or tickets to a museum, you could claim back the costs if you miss out because of your cancelled flight

 

Air traffic control, baggage handler or staff strikes are happening more often and can turn your holiday upside down if you’re affected. If your flight is cancelled, the airline has to give you a full refund or offer you a different flight to your destination. If you’re delayed, it’ll depend on how late your flight arrives, to see if you can claim compensation from the airline. But how can travel insurance help?

• ​​​​​Pre-booked activities and events

If you have anything booked, such as a concert or a guided tour, you could claim the cost back on your insurance if you miss it due to airline strikes

 

• Accommodation

There’s nothing worse than missing part of your holiday, but it can happen, especially when there’s airline strikes. If you miss out on a few nights accommodation or can’t make your holiday altogether, you could claim back the costs through insurance

Check your Policy:

Before buying travel insurance, make sure it covers airline failures, flight cancellations, and delays. Look for policies that include cover for meals, accommodation, and alternative transport, so you know you won’t be out of pocket if you face delays or cancellations.

Keep receipts:

Remember to get and keep receipts for any extra costs you’ve had to pay due to an airline failure. This includes tickets, boarding passes, and receipts for meals and accommodation. Proof will make your case stronger if you need to claim on your insurance.

Know your rights:

Read your airline’s policies and your rights as a passenger. This can help you understand what the airline is responsible for and what your insurance should cover.

Stay in the loop:

Stay updated on any potential disruptions by checking flight statuses and news updates regularly. Sign up for alerts from your airline to receive the latest information about your flight, so you can make other plans if you need to.