We bought an annual trip policy with Flexicover Ltd (Europ Assistance) through moneysupermarket a few months back. We travel alot and this seemed to be a good buy.

We specfically checked that it would cover us for missed transfers/internal flights as we live in Northern Ireland and as such usually fly into London or Manchester to catch a long haul holiday. according to the policy wording we were covered for this eventuality and also overnight accomodation should no flights be available until the next day. Well that was the theory at least!!!

In December we were delayed over 12 hours on a flight back into the UK from the Caribeen. We rang the insurers when we were in the caribeen and they assured us we were covered for new flights home. When we got back to Manchester all flights to Belfast had left for the night and so we had to book into a hotel and book new flights the next day.

Europ Assistance are refusing to pay. They claim all we are entitled to is £40.00 for travel delay. We are appealing but are not hopeful!! It's shocking that they can refuse to pay for something that it clearly covered under their policy.

SO THEREFORE OUR ADVICE IS DO NOT BOOK TRAVEL INSURANCE WITH THIS COMPANY AND BE VERY SURE THAT WHAT YOU BUY DOES MEET YOUR NEEDS. GO AS FAR AS RINGING THE COMPANY AND CONFIRM WITH THEM THAT THE POLICY DOES MEET YOUR NEEDS

Hi Isabella,

Could you clarify what clause they are refusing?

Is this because it was the RETURN leg of the flight rather than the outward?

Thanks Smala01

Hi Smala01,

We booked a return flight from Belfast to Manchester to connect with a Thomson holiday to the Dominican Republic. The flight from the Dominican Republic to Manchester was delayed by over 12 hours. All flights to Belfast had left for the day so we had no option to book into a hotel (cheapest in the locality we could find) and book a new flight next day. The Insurance Company are trying to fob us off with a paltry £40.00 which is £20.00 each for the 12 hour delay. We have apealed the decision as the wording on the policy does state we are covered. This claim was sent off at the end of December as we had quite a hard time getting Thomson to issue us with a letter confirming the delay. The travel insurance company told me today that it will take something like 2 weeks to 'process' our appeal. Amazing really considering the event we are claiming for is clearly covered in the wording of the policy.

Hope this helps

Isabella

Hi Isabella,

Thanks for the information. I am interested because I am researching travel insurance policies at the moment. I have been amazed at how loose some of the policies can be - especially some of the cheaper ones.

1) Very few policies I have found will cover alternative flights / accommodation on the RETURN journey.

2) Some policies will pay if the plane is DELAYED but not CANCELLED

I think this is wholly inadequate since the likes of Ryanair and other loco`s do not take any responsibility for passengers during delays.

Best of luck on your appeal. I really hope this is a case of bad admin on the insurance companies part rather than a hole in the policy. Please keep us updated.

Smala01