If you have booked a holiday to Egypt or another Middle Eastern country, then what are your travel rights? Is your travel insurance valid?
What has the foreign office said about travel to the region?
The foreign office has advised against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez. However, this advice does not currently extend to resorts in the Red Sea such as Sharm el-Sheikh, where hundreds of British holidaymakers tend to go. The FCO says these areas are “a very considerable distance from the affected areas and these resorts remain unaffected”.
I’m already in Egypt on holiday, what should I do?
Anyone who is already in Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor or Suez should speak to their tour operator or airline regarding their arrangements. Many companies are arranging emergency flights back to the UK for their customers.
The British government has chartered a plane from Cairo scheduled to depart on Saturday. To register for a seat on this flight and for further instructions call 00 44 (0)20 7008 8765 or (02) 2791 6000 in Egypt. However, seats on this flight cost £300 each so those already booked on other commercial flights should not cancel their bookings.
Any expenses incurred should be kept account of if you want to reclaim them from your insurer later. Experts advise, where possible, checking extra costs with your insurer first.
I am booked to travel to Egypt, should I still go?
It depends on where you are going. ABTA, the UK travel association, said anyone planning a trip to the Red Sea area (for example Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada) should be okay as these resorts remain unaffected.
However, it said that, in light of the ongoing demonstrations, it advised against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez. This does not affect transits through Cairo airport for onward travel to other international destinations, although there is disruption to flight schedules. However, you should check with your airline before travelling.
Will I be covered by my travel insurance?
Not all travel insurers will cover you. The British Insurance Brokers’ Association warned that only a limited number of travel insurance policies cover cancellation where the Government advises against travel to the booked destination and even this could be an optional extra.
It advises customers to check with your airline or travel provider to see if they are continuing to travel to your destination. If not then they should make alternative arrangements or give you a refund as they are not concluding the contract.
Graeme Trudgill, BIBA head of corporate affairs, said: “If your trip is transferred by the travel provider to a new destination then your travel insurance can usually be transferred to cover the new trip, check with your insurance broker or insurance company.”
If the FCO advises against travel then your travel provider should provide a refund or alternative travel arrangements as they are unable to fulfill their contract with you.
Disinclination to travel is not an insured peril, although your travel agent may offer an alternative destination.
Steve Foulsham, BIBA technical services manager, said: “If you are injured while abroad, your travel insurance should cover any medical costs up to the policy limit (normally over £1M), the BIBA travel policy covers up to £10M.”
If you are stranded abroad your travel provider should arrange alternative transport. Your insurance policy may cover a daily sum for travel delay. Please check with your insurance broker as all policies vary, but the BIBA policy covers £50 for the first 12 hours delay then £25 for every subsequent 12 hours up to a maximum of £400.
Stuart Bensusan of EssentialTravel.co.uk said any customer who travelled to Egypt prior to the FCO issuing advice yesterday will still be covered under its emergency medical expenses and repatriation, hospital benefit and personal accident clauses.
However, those who travelled in spite of the advice being issued will not be covered. He said: “It is standard practise that civil unrest is not covered under most travel insurance policies. We are advising holiday makers travelling to unaffected areas to keep in contact with their tour operators and stay abreast of the advice on the FCO website.”
Your insurer may have the same rules, but check with them rather than presume.
I have booked a holiday to Egypt but no longer want to travel. Will I get a refund if I cancel?
Bob Atkinson, travel expert at Moneysupermarket.com said policyholders only have a legal right to a refund if the Foreign Office advises against travel to the destination concerned. For the latest advice visit www.fco.gov.uk.
The situation in Egypt if very unstable and could change at any moment, so anyone due to depart in the next week or two will need to keep a close eye on that advice.
My trip is not for a few months – can I still get my money back if I cancel now?
It’s unlikely. Tour operators won’t cancel more holidays than they absolutely have to, so they will make decisions from week to week, based on the latest Foreign Office travel advice guidelines.
If the advice is against “all but essential travel” to the destination, the operator must allow customers to cancel and receive a refund. But if the trip is not for some time then the company can legally wait until nearer the time to see if the situation has improved, says Mr Atkinson.
I have arranged my trip independently, will that make a difference as to whether I can get a refund?
Customers don’t have a legal right to a refund simpley becuase they have decided they no longer want to fly to an area, but the airline may offer flexibility. British Airways has said any passengers due to travel to or from Cairo who bought their ticket on or before January 28, 2011 can either “change the date of travel to a later date up to February 28, 2011” or “cancel the booking and obtain a refund” or “use the value of your ticket to purchase a new ticket to any other destination”.
But remember, if you manage to delay your flight or obtain a refund for your ticket, you could still be responsible for paying for any hotels that you have booked. You will need to check with your insurer exactly what is covered.
What will my travel insurance cover then?
Depending on where you travel, your insurance may be invalid for some travel in Egypt due to the current government advice. Check with your insurer before travelling to make sure your policy is still in force.
Check with your insurer whether they might be able to transfer the cover to a new destination.
Mr Atkinson warns that some policies will not cover cancellation costs due to the “nature of the troubles”. “For some insurers, it is standard practice not to cover civil unrest or revolution,” he said. “It’s a gray area for insurers but noone has come out and said they won’t cover this situation yet.”
Holidays to this part of the world are a lot cheaper now. Should I grab a bargain?
Maria Whiteman, chief executive of directline holidays said: “We would expect prices in Egypt to have come down quite significantly, however, unfortunately for travel companies and holiday makers alike, we can’t recommend this as a time to ‘bag a bargain’ because the situation out in Egypt is uncertain. We are instead directing customers to alternative destinations such as the Canary Islands which currently represent extremely good value and still offer good weather in close proximity to the UK.
“The safety of our customers is paramount and we don’t want our customers to endure extra cost for having to change their holiday plans. As a result, for customers who have already booked a holiday to the affected areas in Egypt and no longer wish to travel there, we are waiveing the admin costs applicable for making alternative holiday arrangements.”
Similar Posts:
- Egypt protests: Q&A on travel insurance
- How to Cancel a Car Insurance Policy: A Guide
- Doubling up policies may raise premiums
- Don’t Skimp on Auto Insurance, Especially During a Recession
- Farm quad insurance – Ensure you have the right policy
