Dreaming of a white Christmas? Really?

A couple of weeks ago, we published a post explaining what your rights are when bad weather affects your travel plans. It focused on what you are entitled to, from both your airline and your travel insurer, when adverse weather conditions force delays or even cancellations to your travel plans.

But what if you have to cancel your entire holiday because of bad weather? With the white stuff still wreaking havoc across the UK, many people are being forced to make hasty amends to their plans for a Christmas getaway. If that happens to you, it’s important to know where you stand with your travel insurer.

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Christmas is just around the corner. But there’s still time for a sneaky pre-Christmas getaway to make sure you’re nice and relaxed for the festive season. Whether you’re looking to escape busy British shops, seeking something to bring out your merry side, or searching for somewhere to pick up some extra special gifts, there’s something for everyone in our new top five. And with our instant travel insurance quotes available online, you’re all set to escape at the drop of a bobble hat.

So if you’ve been on your very best behaviour this year, how about treating yourselves to one of these fantastic pre-Christmas getaways?

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Sharm El Sheikh beaches re-open

Following the spate of shark attacks in Sharm El Sheikh, which saw the death of one tourist and four others injured, the Egyptian authorities have re-opened all of the resort’s beaches.

For holiday makers looking for the unique thrill of diving in clear Egyptian waters this will come as good news. And, with restrictions in place to keep holiday makers safe, the Egyptian authorities are confident that no more attacks will occur.

Swimmers and divers will only be allowed to dive, snorkel and swim is areas that have been designated  by the authorities and that are patrolled by divers and spotter boats. Hotels along the beaches will also be required to man watch towers to scan the seas for possible intruders.

What this means for UK travellers who are heading for Sharm El Sheikh is that it’s business as usual. However, here at World First we have to remind all travellers that, whilst their scuba diving travel insurance will cover them automatically up to 30 metres, it excludes diving outside the designated areas. Likewise with swimming and snorkelling. Should anything happen when you are outside of the patrolled areas then you could face hefty bills for medical care and repatriation. As usual, the word from our insurers is caution.

If there’s one thing that the recent bad weather and Spanish air traffic strikes have proven, it’s that you can never be absolutely sure that you’ll get there – or back again – when you think you will. And let’s not forget the volcanic ash problems earlier this year. The fact is that if you are travelling with a medical condition, you might need a little more than a toothbrush and spare undies to take to the airport. 

If you are travelling with a medical condition and have purchased medical travel insurance then World First recommend that travelling with the medication you plan to use and some extra in case of delays and disasters. Whilst it may not be your fault if you were delayed it is still your responsibility to make sure you have plenty of supplies so you don’t end up creating a medical emergency through a lack of medication. In some instances, especially if you face long delays or are worried about losing your luggage, it could be worth taking twice as much as your normally need and splitting in between your hand luggage and suitcase.  (more…)

Jaws is back. It’s like Amity all over again. Only this time it’s for real. And it really is very frightening. Whilst shark attacks are rare in the Red Sea the last week has seen one death and three injuries involving divers and snorkelers. It’s making headlines all over the world.

According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism 1,346,724 British Nationals visited Egypt in 2009. Many of them visited Sharm El Sheikh.

The recent attacks have prompted the UK Foreign Office to issue a warning to travellers to check that their travel insurance covers them for scuba diving and snorkelling. They say: “If you are considering diving or snorkelling in any of the Red Sea resorts be aware that safety standards of diving operators can vary considerably. A basic rule is never to dive or snorkel unaccompanied. Where possible make any bookings through your tour representative. Unusually cheap operators may not provide adequate safety and insurance standards. Ensure that your travel insurance covers you fully before you dive. Diving beyond the depth limit of your insurance policy will invalidate your cover.”

Despite the fact that you’d be bonkers to slip on the flippers in Egypt right now (never mind the fact that diving and water sport activities in the Sharm El Sheikh area are suspended) a World First Scuba Diving Travel Insurance policy will automatically cover you for diving to 30 metres as long as you are qualified and with a qualified guide. Should the unimaginable happen then hospital treatment and repatriation can prove very costly – especially if your insurance company refuses to cover the cost because you were diving beyond your ability – and policy.

The recent strike of Spain’s air traffic controllers has left around 20,000 Brits stranded. Airport terminals across Spain are swollen with disgruntled travellers as the after effects of the weekend walkout continue to cause havoc for passengers attempting to get into and out of Spain. But what are your rights when airport staff go walkabout? Can you claim compensation? Does your travel insurance protect you?

Let’s get to the bottom of it.

Can you claim compensation from the airline?

Unfortunately not. It’s important to remember that if an airline has no control over an event that causes delay, they will not pay compensation to passengers. So in the case of industrial action from air traffic control staff, passengers are not entitled to any money.

Can you still get to your destination?

In the event of cancelled flights, your airline still has to get you to your destination. Your tickets are a contract and the airline has to uphold their end of the bargain. That means that as soon as the strike is over, airlines will begin to process delayed passengers by booking them onto the first available flights. Unfortunately, that could mean lengthy delays for some passengers as they wait for seats to become available.

Alternative transport may also be used in the case of extreme delays. During the disruption in Spain, the British Transport Secretary Philip Hammond requested that provisions be made for British passengers to travel home by road if the strikes went into a third day.

What else are you entitled to?

During a delay your welfare is the responsibility of your airline until they have got you to your destination. So while you cannot claim compensation if you are delayed because of a strike, there are other things you are entitled to. For instance, your airline is legally obliged to provide you with food and refreshments, or vouchers towards them, as well as accommodation if necessary.

You can find out more about your rights in extraordinary circumstances on the Air Transport Users Council website.

What can you expect from your travel insurance?

Most travel insurance companies will offer some sort of protection against staff strikes and industrial disputes. But every policy is different. It’s always worth checking with your insurer and going through the small print in your policy.

What can you expect from World First?

At World First we believe in giving our customers a fairer deal. If on your outbound journey you are delayed for 12 hours or more, we will pay compensation in line with the benefits of your policy. If after a delay of 24 hours you wish to cancel your trip, you can claim abandonment and will be compensated for all travel and accommodation costs that are irrecoverable.

If you are delayed on the return trip, you can claim the travel delay benefit for the first 12 hours and each subsequent 12 hours.

Find out more about our travel insurance quotes.

If you have any questions regarding your travel insurance, get in touch with us and we’ll do our best to give you all the help you need. Call 0845 90 80 161 or email info@world-first.co.uk.

We all love a bit of snow, don’t we…

Don’t we?

Well, no. Not all the time. Because if you’re travelling, the white stuff can be a nightmare. And the havoc really unfurls when it comes to air travel. As planes are grounded and terminals swell with troubled travellers, bad weather can mean the only things to go sky high at the airport are frustration levels.

So what do you do if your holiday travel is disrupted by bad weather? What are your rights? Is the cost of travel protected? Can you seek compensation? Can you claim on your travel insurance? It can be very confusing. But with snow becoming an increasingly prevalent feature of the UK winter, it’s important to know where you stand as a consumer.

Let’s try and get to the bottom of what your rights are.

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Not everything you read in the papers is bad news. We’ve been mentioned not once, but twice in The Telegraph recently. On two separate occasions. By two separate travel journalists. But both stories single-out our pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance, which continues to be one of the most comprehensive and affordable on the market.

Naturally, we’re honoured to be mentioned in the press. But these stories highlight two really important points that every traveller should be aware of. More on that later.

So what did this national broadsheet have to say about us?

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Pinch and a punch for the first of the month. And that means it’s a legitimate time to start thinking about Christmas. But before we all head off to get merry, here’s a final word on skiing travel insurance. It’s short and to the point. After reading a report in Saturday’s Daily Telegraph about drunken skiing invalidating claims, we thought we should clarify where we stand with drinking and skiing holidays and travel insurance.

For many, après ski is an important part of the whole experience. And alcohol is very much a part of ski culture. Why wouldn’t it be? But the days of drinking and skiing may be coming to an end. The Telegraph article cites American resorts imposing fines on drunken and dangerous skiers, whilst insurers can refuse to pay out if a skiing accident (or even falling over and injuring yourself on the way back from the pub) is deemed to have been the result of excessive alcohol consumption. This policy exclusion is to protect them against the increased risk of injuries following alcohol consumption.

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