Cancellation
and curtailment
‘Cancellation’ cover ensures that you are not
out of pocket as a result of having to cancel your holiday
after paying for it (but before you set off). (This can
be a useful insurance for pre-booked holidays in the UK
as well as abroad.) Cover for ‘curtailment’
ensures that you get part of the cost of the holiday back
if you have to cut your holiday short, and should also cover
any travel costs you incur. To get the most benefit from
this sort of cover, you should make sure that you are covered
for the full non-refundable pre-paid costs of your holiday,
which you would otherwise risk losing if you have bought
a package holiday, or a non-exchangeable air ticket to visit
your sister in Australia, or if you have paid up-front for
a villa in the Dordogne, for example. You do not need this
kind of cover if your ticket is fully flexible and/or refundable,
or if you are paying for your holiday as you go and there
is nothing to cancel.
If you do want this sort of cover, it is very important
to buy the insurance as near to the time that you book the
holiday as possible. If booking with friends, it is worth
booking on the same form so that it is very clear who your
travelling companions are. This is because certain cover
extends to a problem encountered by your travelling companion(s)
that affects you too.
What is covered
Most travel insurance will pay out under this part of the
policy if circumstances beyond your control force you to
cancel or cut your journey short because:
• You, your travelling companion(s), or the person
you are going to visit becomes seriously ill or dies
• A close member of your family or a close business
associate (the policy should define what these mean) falls
seriously ill or dies
• You (or your travelling companions) are called to
do jury service in the UK
• You (or your travelling companions) are called as
a witness in the UK – although you may not be covered
if you are called as a technical witness
• You are made redundant – although there may
be limits on the amount of time you have to have been employed
by your employer before being made redundant
• The police have asked you (or your travelling companions)
not to go away, or to come home, because of a burglary,
serious fire, storm or flood damage at home or at work.
‘Curtailment’ also covers you for a member
of your party being recommended to return home on medical
grounds.
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