Travel insurance advice for people stuck in Europe.
First off check your policy covers you for travel interruptions. Most policies should cover the Icelandic eruption as an "unexpected event", but cover limits will vary depending on your policy.
If you bought your travel insurance cover before the event took place, you should be able to claim for reasonable unexpected additional expenses, such as transport, accommodation and food. You’ll need to contact your travel agent or travel provider (airline) about the best options for you in changing your travel plans.
You must take all reasonable steps to minimise your claim and keep documentation showing what your original planned pre-paid arrangements were, along with receipts and documentation showing what your new arrangements are. Contact your insurance company for further details and instructions on what to do.
We always advise that you take with you the 24-hour phone number of your travel insurer for emergencies like this. Most companies will have their details on their websites.
We would expect that that most companies would accept all reasonable claims caused by the Icelandic eruption.
More from consumer.org.nz
- Travel insurance - we explain what to look for and the traps to avoid when choosing a travel insurance policy.
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I had a return trip to London with a stop-over in LA but my onward flight from the US was cancelled and we were advised that the first flight that I could be re-booked on arrived after the departure of my flight back home. The airline therefore re-booked me on a flight back to NZ. I still need to go to the UK.
Can you tell me what to expect next?
Thanks
Martin Than