Travel insurance experts have outlined what rights holidaymakers have if they are in or have a trip booked to areas affected by wildfires in France or Spain. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is urging travelers to follow local advice and updates from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
People are advised to check their travel insurance policies to understand what is covered, and guidance has been issued regarding refunds and cancellations due to the fires.
Wildfires in France and Spain have forced approximately 330,000 people to evacuate in recent days. Spain entered its fourth heatwave of the summer with several blazes still out of control. A fire in Avila, west of Madrid, has become Spain’s largest on record, scorching 193 square miles, according to the government.
What to Do If You Are on Holiday and Evacuated
If forced to leave your accommodation, follow emergency services and local health advice. When safe, check your travel insurance policy. If it includes trip disruption or natural disaster cover, you should be covered if you need to cut short or cancel your holiday.
Your travel insurance will apply as usual if you need emergency medical treatment. Lost or abandoned possessions are likely covered by standard policies. Policies vary, so speak to your insurer for clarity.
Refunds for cancelled flights or accommodation should be sought from the airline, tour operator, or accommodation provider first. Bookings made via credit card may also have recoverable costs. If you need to book alternative flights back to the UK or accommodation, consult your insurer first to check what is covered.
If You Have a Holiday Planned to France or Spain
Follow the latest FCDO advice, as traveling against it may invalidate your insurance. Before cancelling flights or booking new accommodation, contact your insurer to discuss what your policy covers.
Chris Bose, director of general insurance policy at the ABI, said: “We recognise how stressful and worrying the wildfires will be for people currently in the affected areas, as well as those due to travel there in the coming days. Safety must be the priority, so it’s important to follow the advice of local authorities and emergency services.
“Insurers are ready to support their affected customers. If your travel plans are disrupted by a wildfire and your policy includes trip disruption cover then travel insurance may cover some of the resulting costs. It can also help if you become ill or are injured.
“Where flights or accommodation are cancelled, you should seek refunds from their airline, tour operator or accommodation provider in the first instance. Cover can vary between providers, so if you’re not sure what’s included in your policy, speak to your insurer who will be able to advise on what support is available.”
Can You Cancel Your Holiday Due to Extreme Weather?
The ABI states: “The primary purpose of travel insurance is to cover the costs of emergency medical treatments or repatriation should the worst happen, which can run into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds. It can cover you if you need to cancel or cut short your holiday but it’s likely this will only be under limited circumstances, for example if you or a close family member fall ill, not because of a disinclination to travel. Insurance can cover you if advice from the Government changes since you’ve booked your trip and it’s no longer considered safe to travel to the destination.”
