Coronavirus crisis – advice on what to do for any planned trip to China

Coronavirus crisis – FCO issues ban on travel to China so here is advice on what to do  for any planned holiday in the region

Today the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued a statement that all non-essential travel to Wuhan and mainland China should be avoided due to the coronavirus outbreak. British Airways is the first airline to stop all flights to mainland China. Rebecca Kingsley, brand manager of travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk explains what you need to do if you have planned a holiday in the region:

 The Foreign Office has now issued advice stating I shouldn’t travel to my planned holiday destination, what can I do?

If you booked your holiday to China with a tour operator or travel agent you should contact the company as they will be able to either amend your booking to an alternative destination or provide you with a full refund. If you have booked each component of your holiday separately, and are unable to amend or cancel your booking, it is worth speaking with your travel insurance provider. Generally, most policies will not cover cancellation costs, but as every claim is assessed on an individual basis it is worth speaking with them.

If I decide to travel to a country the FCO has issued a safety warning on, will I still be covered by my travel insurance policy?

If the FCO has advised against all but essential travel then almost all travel insurance companies will not cover you to go there.  Not all travel insurance policies will cover you to cancel your holiday following an FCO warning; so, you must check your policy wording. If you are unsure, it is best to speak directly to your travel insurance provider before travelling.

What should you do if your flight is cancelled?

The first thing you should do is contact your airline to discuss a refund or re-booking your travel dates. If you have an accommodation booking it will be up to the hotel on whether or not they refund you, some have strict cancellation policies. However, under the circumstances they may do so for goodwill. If you want to claim on your travel insurance policy you should check the policy wording.

My connecting flight is via China, am I covered to cancel?

Unfortunately if your connecting flight has not been cancelled then the airline is under no legal obligation to refund you, however, could be more lenient under these circumstances. If you are getting a connecting flight a nearby region such as Hong Kong or Macau, you will not be affected as the FCO warning does not apply to those regions, it is advised that you take your hygiene incredibly seriously and follow all advice given.