Make sure Storm Ellen doesn’t leave you stranded this weekend

Storm Ellen is expected to continue the trend of weekend storms and will batter the UK, in particular the West Midlands and Wales, this weekend with reports of high wind and yellow alerts for rain issued. Floods and falling trees are expected to create delays and chaos across the country so if you are planning a winter trip or returning from a half-term break, the bad weather may mean you miss your flight or your holiday is cancelled.

So can you claim on your travel insurance policy for the cost of the trip and which policies will pay-out? Rebecca Kingsley of Travel Insurance Explained has the answers:

What should I do before setting off on my trip?

Before heading to the airport, train station or ferry port make sure you check whether your transport is still operating and, if you still plan to travel, leave with plenty of time and allow for traffic delays and road closures.

If I miss my flight, train or ferry due to the bad weather, can I claim for the cost?

There are only a few travel insurance policies that will cover you for missed departure due to traffic delays, so if you are looking to go away in the coming days, make sure that your travel insurance policy will cover you for this eventuality. My advice is – if you know that the roads or transport to your departure point may be affected by bad weather make sure you leave plenty of time to get there or look for an alternative route.

If my flight is cancelled due to bad weather should I claim on my travel insurance?

If your flight has been cancelled by the airline, it is their responsibility to reimburse the cost or arrange an alternative flight. Most travel insurance policies will have some cover for delayed departure, but in order to make a claim you must have checked in on time.

The compensation you can claim on your travel insurance policy will vary as will the qualifying time. Some travel providers will say you can only claim after a 12 hour delay and some after a six hour delay. Some airlines will also provide compensation for refreshments and accommodation, but they will class this weather as an extraordinary circumstance and therefore not be legally required to accept compensation claims.

What if I have booked some parts of my trip, such as accommodation and car hire – can I claim for those costs on my travel insurance policy?

If you have booked particular parts of your trip separately and you can’t get to your destination, it is unlikely that your airline or transport provider will cover those costs.

You may be able to make a claim on your travel insurance policy but it is vital to ensure you have a travel insurance policy that will cover you for “cancellation for any cause beyond your reasonable control”.  This level of cover is the key to being able to make a successful claim, however, this is not common in travel insurance policies, but is available so shop around.