Thousands of Britons have their holiday and travel plans disrupted every few years when snow and icy conditions bring parts of the country to a standstill.
What are their rights if they miss a flight, ferry or Eurostar because the airport is shut, roads are blocked or trains not running? Does travel insurance cover bad weather?
Here are some answers from the experts at Direct Travel:
If snow or ice close an airport, airlines will refund travellers who booked flight-only; if the flight was part of a package, the tour operator is responsible for the refund.
Holiday insurance should cover the following cases:
- Travellers make it to the airport or station but delays are so bad they decide to abandon their trip ? if they were only going for a weekend, for example.
- They miss their departure. They set off from home but motorway snarl-ups, frozen rail lines or snowbound vehicles blocking the way mean they?re too late.
- They can?t get out of the house because they?re snowed in or there is a severe weather warning advising people to travel only if they have to. Insurers expect travellers to make a reasonable effort to get to the airport or station if it is open ? but never to put themself or their family in danger.
Travellers should speak to their travel insurance company, the airport, tour operator or travel agent and follow their advice.
Taking out natural disaster insurance* provides added reassurance when very bad weather or a calamity such as a hurricane, earthquake or flood strikes and passengers have their travel plans disrupted or are stranded abroad.
Benefits include up to ?6,000 for a cancelled trip and up to ?2,000 if travellers are stuck overseas.
Holidaymakers should buy their travel insurance in advance, however, not wait until the last minute. A policy will not pay out if it was only taken out once the garden path was 4ft deep in snow.
*Such provided by Direct Travel Insurance.
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