If your flight has been cancelled you should contact your airline or travel company in the first instance and ask them to rearrange your flight or give you a refund.

If this is not possible then you can try applying for a chargeback with your credit card company if you used one to book the flight.

If you manage to rearrange your flights then you'll need to contact us to update your insurance policy with your new travel dates.

Your travel insurance should cover you for strikes as long as strike action was not common knowledge at the time of booking your trip, or taking out your policy (whichever came later).

If you are delayed by more than 12 hours beyond the intended departure time, you can choose to abandon your trip and submit a Cancellation claim.

If your flight is cancelled due to airline strikes, it’s your travel provider’s responsibility to find you an alternative flight as soon as possible.

If you booked your flights with the airline directly, and they’re still striking, they may need to find you an alternative airline to fly with, at their cost.

If you’ve booked a package holiday (flights and accommodation bought together) with an ATOL protected travel company, they’re responsible for finding you alternative flights. If they fail to do so, you can claim a full refund for the total cost of your holiday from them.

If you need to stay abroad overnight as your return flight is affected by strikes, your airline must provide you with accommodation, food, drink, and transport to and from the airport.

For single trip insurance, the start date should be the day you leave home to start your outward journey.

For Annual Multi-Trip insurance, the start date should be the first day you want cover to start. Bear in mind that if you have already booked a trip, you will need the insurance to start straight away so that you have the benefit of cancellation cover.

WHEN DOES THE INSURANCE END?

For single trip insurance, the end date should be the day you arrive home. Remember that this will be UK local time.

For Annual Multi-Trip insurance, cover expires on Midnight 12 months after the policy start date.

Just like car insurance, a travel insurance policy will have an excess which is the amount you agree to pay when you make a claim.  The excess amounts are shown in your policy document.   The insurer will take away the amount of policy excess from a claim pay out, or collect the excess from the policyholder. It is a good idea to check the policy excess on your documents, so you know exactly how much you would have to pay in the event of a claim.

If you purchase a travel insurance excess waiver you will not be charged the excess when you make your claim.

It can be a daunting experience if you or a family member is taken ill overseas; you simply need to contact the Medical Assistance service.  They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The contact number is:

Tel: +44(0)1273 624 661 (if you are anywhere except the USA, Canada or Mexico)

Tel: +1-844-780-0494 (toll free if you are calling from a landline in the USA or Canada)

Tel: 00 1 819 780 0494 (if you are in Mexico or calling from a UK mobile phone while in the USA or Canada).

To be covered for COVID on our policies, you need to have had all doses of the COVID vaccine you've been offered, including any booster jabs. You can also be covered if you can't have the vaccine due to a medical exemption. If you've refused any doses of the COVID vaccine, you won't be covered for COVID related claims.

Your policy documents will be sent to you by email when you have purchased your policy. Please check your spam folder or junk mail folder just in case. If you need this resent to you, don’t worry, you can log in to wearetravelinsurance.co.uk at any time to download copies of your documents or resend them by email.  If you are still having problems then simply drop us an email with your surname, postcode and telephone number and we will resend your documents to you. Please be aware we can only do this within normal office hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm.

Travel insurance is a good idea for any staycations, or holidays in the UK. While the NHS will cover medical treatment, your travel insurance covers you against other perils such as cancellations and lost/stolen or damaged luggage.

Pregnancy isn’t classed as a pre-existing medical condition so you should be able to get travel insurance. Details relating to cover during pregnancy can be found in the policy wording. Please note, you may not be able to fly while pregnant – please check with the airline to find out their restrictions. Our policy will only cover complications of pregnancy. Any costs arising from your pregnancy or childbirth if the expected date of delivery is less than 12 weeks (or 16 weeks for a multiple birth) after the scheduled end of the trip would not be covered.

You may be able to extend your travel insurance if your holiday lasts longer than expected. But you’ll need to speak to us first and we will let you know if it’s possible to extend your travel insurance.

It’s important you tell us as soon as possible if you want to change your travel insurance dates before extending your holiday. We cannot extend a policy where there has been any gap in cover.

You should contact your Travel Agent, Tour Operator, airline or accommodation or credit card provider for a refund in the first instance

If you booked with a Travel Agent or Tour Operator, you should contact them first to see if you can make any changes to your trip, or if they are able to offer you a refund.

You can make a claim under the Package Travel Regulations if any travel intermediary booked two or more parts of your holiday together and they are then unable to deliver the full package.

You should not pay any additional payments to your Tour Operator or Travel Agent without confirmation that any additional payment is fully refundable should the trip be cancelled for any reason by the operator (for example the balance of the holiday cost where you have only paid a deposit so far).

If you booked your travel independently, you should still approach the travel provider (airline, accommodation provider etc) in the first instance to rebook or for a refund.

If you have alternative dates to travel after contacting your Travel Agent or Tour Operator, airline and/or accommodation provider, please contact our team who will update your policy. Please note, any change on your policy may result in a change of premium.

Yes, as your GHIC/EHIC card won’t cover you for other areas such as lost luggage, broken valuables, and cancelling your holiday.

GHIC/EHIC cards are helpful for some medical treatment abroad, but they don’t offer the same level of protection as travel insurance. If you needed to be flown back for specialist treatment, your GHIC/EHIC card wouldn’t cover the cost of this.

There are some restrictions on which countries you can use your GHIC or EHIC card. A GHIC card covers all 27 EU countries plus Switzerland and Montenegro. If you have a valid EHIC card, this covers all 27 EU countries, plus Montenegro, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

This policy specifically excludes participating in or practising for certain sports & activities. Sports and activities are either included free of charge, included at additional charge or excluded altogether. Sports & activities cover can only be added before departure from Your Home Country. Please select the relevant activities during the quotation process.

This Policy will provide cover free of charge when engaging in the following sports and activities on an occasional, non-competitive and non-professional basis during the trip:
Athletics
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
BMX Cycling
Bowls
Cricket
Cross Country Running
Curling
Cycling
Fell Running
Golf
Heptathlon
Hiking (under 2,000 metres altitude)
Jogging
Netball
Orienteering
Rambling
Roller Blading (In-Line Skating / Skate boarding)
Rounders
Running, Sprint / Long Distance
Safari (organised, no guns)
*Scuba Diving (see notes below)
Skateboarding
Snorkelling
Squash
Tennis
Trekking (under 2,000 metres altitude)
Triathlon
Volleyball
Water Polo
Windsurfing
Yachting (crewing) - inside territorial waters

Scuba Diving Notes:* Qualified divers, diving with a dive-buddy and in accordance with the guidelines of the relevant diving organization will be covered as follows:

Qualification/ Maximum depth
PADI Open Water/ 18 metres
PADI Advanced Open Water/ 30 metres
BSAC Ocean Diver/ 20 metres
BSAC Sports Diver/ 30 metres
BSAC Dive Leader/ 30 metres

Other qualifications may be accepted but must be declared to Us prior to travel. If you do not hold a diving qualification, We will only cover You to dive to a maximum depth of 18 metres when accompanied by and under the direction of a qualified diving instructor as part of an accredited course.

You will not be covered under this policy if You travel by air within 24hrs after participating in scuba diving.

The following sports and activities will also be covered free of charge but no cover will apply in respect of any Personal Accident or Personal Liability claims:

Archery
Boxing Training (no contact)
Camel/Elephant Riding/Trekking
Canoeing/Kayaking (Grade 1-3)
Field Hockey
Fishing (Fresh water and deep sea)
Flying as a passenger (private/small aircraft)
Football
Gaelic Football (non competitive)
Go Karting ( recreational use)
Hiking (over 2,000 but under 6,000 metres altitude)
Horse Riding (no Polo, Hunting, Jumping)
Parascending (over water)
Roller hockey/Street hockey
Trekking (over 2,000 but under 6,000 metres altitude)
White/Black Water Rafting (Grade 1 to 4)

The policy can be extended to cover the following activities by paying an additional premium but no cover will apply in respect of any Personal Accident or Personal Liability claims:

Abseiling
Animal Conservation/Game Reserve work
Canoeing/Kayaking (Grade 4: cover only available if BCU qualified)
Clay pigeon shooting
Cross Channel swimming (accompanied by support boat)
Dry skiing
Fencing
Gymnastics
Handball
High Diving
Hot Air Ballooning
Jet Boating
Jet Skiing
Kite surfing/landboarding/Buggying
Lacrosse
Marathons
Martial Arts (Training only)
Motorcycling (under 50cc - no racing)
Mountain Biking
Mountain Boarding
Paintballing
Rowing (inland/coastal)
Sailboarding/Sandboarding
Surfing
Wake Boarding
War Games (non-armed forces)
Water Skiing
Weight Lifting
Zorbing/Hydroboarding

The policy can be extended to cover the following activities by paying an additional premium but no cover will apply in respect of any Personal Accident or Personal Liability claims, and the policy excess will be increased to £250 (€350) under the Medical Emergency & Repatriation Section of the policy:

American Football
Bungee Jump (up to 3)
Gliding
Hang Gliding
Motorcycling (over 50cc - no racing)
Parachuting
Parapenting
Parascending (over land)
Rugby
Sand Yachting
Sky Diving

This policy will not provide cover for any claims arising directly or indirectly from engaging in or practising the following sports & activities:

Boxing
Canyoning
Caving, Cave Diving
Flying as a pilot
Horse Jumping
Horse Racing
Hunting / Shooting
Hunting-on-horseback
Hurling
Martial Arts (Competition)
Microlighting
Motor Racing (all types)
Mountaineering
Parasailing
Point to Point
Polo
Potholing
Professional Sports
Quad Biking
Rock Climbing
Rock Scrambling
Shark feeding/cage diving
Steeplechasing
Team Sports played in competitive contests
Tombstoning
Wrestling
Yachting (outside territorial water or racing)

The Business Cover option insures your business equipment, computer equipment, samples, money, cash and additional business related eventualities.

Full cover limits are shown in the summary of cover.

UK

England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. Please note that due to legislative changes to the reciprocal health agreements with mainland U.K., the Channel Islands are now considered outside of the U.K .and must be rated as 'Europe' for the purpose of this insurance.

Europe

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (including Faroe Islands), Estonia, Finland, France (including Corsica), Germany, Gibraltar, Greece (including Greek Isles), Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Italy (including Aeolian Islands, Sardinia, Sicily), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway (including Jan Mayen, Svalbard Islands), Poland, Portugal (including Azores, Madeira Islands), Republic of Ireland, Romania, Russia (European), San Marino, Serbia/Montenegro (including Kosovo), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including Balearic Islands, Canary Islands), Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Vatican City.

Worldwide Excluding USA/Canada/Caribbean

All countries Worldwide, excluding the United States, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

Worldwide Including USA/Canada/Caribbean

All countries Worldwide.

Please Note: You will not be covered if you travel to a country or region where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised against "all travel" or "all but essential travel". For further details visit gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

The Policy Excess is reduced to nil when you select the Excess Waiver option. If you select this option, the premium displayed will include the price for Excess Waiver.

An additional Policy Excess applies to the following covers and this will still apply, even if you select Excess Waiver:

Medical Emergency & Repatriation

• In the event of an injury occurring as a result of voluntary Manual Work the policy excess under Section 2 (Medical Emergency & Repatriation) will be increased to £250.
• When you are engaging in certain Special Sports and Activities (as shown under the Optional Special Sports and Activities Section of this policy) the policy excess under Section 2 (Medical Emergency & Repatriation) will be increased to £250.

Emergency Dental Treatment

• When you are engaging in certain Special Sports and Activities (as shown under the Optional Special Sports and Activities Section of this policy) the policy excess under Section 2 (Medical Emergency & Repatriation) will be increased to £250.

To select Excess Waiver, simply click the Excess Waiver Box.

The golf cover extension insures your golf equipment and provides for golf equipment hire in the event of loss or damage to your own clubs. Please note that golf equipment is not covered whilst in use.

Golf equipment over three years old is not covered. Full details of the golf cover extension are in the summary of cover.

Choosing the right travel party type can save you money. There are discounts for couples, families and groups of people travelling together.

Single Person

Single person cover is for individuals travelling on their own.

Couple

A couple is any 2 people over the age of 18 years who live together in a domestic relationship at the same address whether married or cohabiting (as if husband and wife) regardless of gender. On an Annual Multi-Trip policy, couples may travel independently of one another.

Family

A maximum of 4 dependents under the age of 18 at the date the insurance commences, travelling with their parents or legal guardian.

Infants: Free under the age of 2 years at the date the period of insurance commences but must be accompanied by an insured adult named on the same policy.

Single Parent Family

Maximum of 4 dependents under the age of 18 years at the date the insurance commences, travelling with a parent or legal guardian.

Other

For two or more people travelling together who do not fall into the family categories above.

Dependant children do not need to live with you to be covered under our family insurance, but they must be dependent on a parent or legal guardian.

Single Trip Travel Insurance

Single trip travel insurance covers you for a single trip during the dates that you specify. Make sure that you include the day you leave home to start your outward journey and the day you travel back.

Cancellation cover will start as soon as you buy your insurance, regardless of the day you leave for your trip.

Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

Annual multi-trip travel insurance covers you for any number of trips during a twelve month period provided the number of days spent abroad does not exceed 183 days.

Make sure you check the maximum duration of any one trip. The standard product provides cover for any number of trips up to a maximum individual trip duration of 31 days. We also offer Annual Multi-Trip policies with individual trip durations of 45, 62 and 91 days. Please select the appropriate product from the drop down.

For Annual Multi-Trip insurance, the start date of the policy should be the first day you want cover to commence.  If you have already booked a trip, you may wish to have the policy starting immediately so that you have the benefit of cancellation cover.

Note: If You travel for more than the number of days for which You have paid for cover, You will not be covered after the last day for which You have paid

This policy specifically excludes participating in or practising for certain winter sports & activities.

If you are 65 years old or under, your policy can be extended to cover some of these sporting activities by paying the additional Winter Sports premium. The policy extensions can only be added before departure from Your Home Country.

If you purchase an Annual Multi-trip policy and you are 65 years of age or under, you are automatically covered when taking part in Winter Sports for up to a maximum of 17 days in total during the Period of Insurance.

By paying an additional premium your policy can be extended to cover you when you are engaging in the following sports and activities on an occasional, non-competitive and non-professional basis during your trip:

• Ice Skating (outdoor)
• Skiing (on piste /glacier)
• Skiing (off-piste in designated areas only)
• Snowboarding (on-piste)
• Snowboarding (off-piste in designated areas only)
• Tobogganing

The policy can be extended to cover the following activities by paying an additional premium but no cover will apply in respect of any Personal Accident or Personal Liability claims:

• Ice sailing/ice windsurfing
• Skidoo
• Snow Mobiling

This policy will not provide cover for any claims arising directly or indirectly from engaging in or practising the following winter sports & activities:

• Bobsleigh
• Freestyle Skiing (including aerials)
• Heli-skiing
• Ice Hockey
• Luge
• Paraskiing
• Skeleton
• Ski Jumping
• Ski Racing
• Ski Stunting
• Skiing off-piste outside recognised and authorised areas
• Snowboarding off-piste outside recognised and authorised areas

The Gadget Cover option provides cover for the loss, damage or theft of up to a maximum of 2 of the following gadgets owned by you:

• MP3 Players
• MP4 Players
• iPods
• Smartphones
• DVD Players
• iPads
• Games Consoles
• Digital Cameras
• Video Cameras
• Mobile Phones
• PDAs
• Laptops
• Bluetooth Headsets
• Satellite Navigation Devices
• GPS Mobile Handsets
• E-Readers
• Camera Lenses
• In-Car Computers
• Head / Ear Phones
• Tablets

Full cover limits are shown in the summary of cover.

The policy will not cover you for trips on Cruise-ships unless you have selected this extension at the time of purchase and 'Cruise Cover' is shown on your Policy Schedule.

The Catastrophe Cover option covers for any unforeseen disruption to your trip caused by a catastrophe such as avalanche, landslide, explosion, earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane, lightning, outbreak of infectious disease (unless declared an epidemic or pandemic by the World Health Organisation), storm, tempest, tsunami or volcanic activity.

Full cover limits are shown in the summary of cover.

Travel insurance cannot be cancelled, except in the following circumstances:

1. The customer is cancelling within 14 days of inception because the cover does not suit their needs
   Provided that:
   
   1. No travel has taken place
   2. No incident has arisen that may give rise to a claim
   3. No claim has been or will be, submitted
2. The travel dates have changed
   Provided that:
   
   1. It is a Single Trip Insurance only
   2. A replacement policy has been issued with Planet Earth for the new travel dates
   3. The Medical Screening Department has been advised of the new dates (if applicable)
   4. No incident has arisen that may give rise to a claim
   5. No claim has been or will be submitted
3. Agent issue error
   Provided that:
   
   1. A replacement policy has been issued with Planet Earth

Cancellation is not allowed in any other circumstances.

If you or anyone named on the policy have any pre-existing medical condition/health problems then you can still purchase insurance with Planet Earth.

Please note the following guidelines:

• First check to see whether any pre-existing medical conditions/health problems affecting you or anyone named on the policy are covered under the Automatically Accepted Minor Conditions List Automatically-Accepted-Minor-Conditions (PDF)
• If they are not then after buying your Planet Earth policy please phone our Medical Screening Helpline on 0161 452 7030 to apply to extend your cover to include all pre-existing medical condition/health problem(s).
• The Medical Screening Helpline will consider all medical conditions/health problems and decide whether or not we can extend cover to include them. If we do offer cover we will quote you an additional premium and you can decide whether or not to buy the extended cover.
• If you buy the insurance and do not phone the Medical Screening Helpline or you choose to not buy the extended cover, pre-existing medical conditions will NOT be covered under the policy. For instance, if you have a pre-existing heart condition and suffer a heart attack on holiday, then any resulting claim will not be covered.

This policy provides cover to cancel a holiday if your relative (a parent, step-parent, legal guardian, sibling, child, step-child, grandparent, relation in law or fiancé(e)), a close business associate or someone with whom you have arranged to travel or stay becomes ill, is injured or dies.  

However there are restrictions regarding travelling companions not insured under this policy, relatives, close business associates, someone with whom you are going to stay or any other person on whose health the trip may depend and we will not pay any Cancellation or Curtailment claims if any of the following apply to any person on whose health your trip depends: 

• They have received a terminal diagnosis prior to the commencement or renewal of the policy.

• They are on a waiting-list for or have been advised of the need for: surgery, inpatient treatment or investigation at any hospital or clinic.

• They have required surgery, inpatient treatment or hospital consultation related to the heart, lungs or kidneys in the 3 months prior to the commencement or renewal of the policy.