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Travel insurance unexpected event cover reviews

From the ash cloud to strikes to the Covid-19 pandemic, unexpected events can push travel insurance policies to their limits. Find out what you're covered for. 
Dean SobersSenior researcher & writer
Travel insurance unexpected events

What is unexpected-event travel insurance?

The pandemic, civil unrest, strikes - it's not always apparent whether your insurer will cover you if you have to cancel or cut short your holiday for reasons well beyond your control.

By definition, all events covered by travel insurance are unexpected. But by 'unexpected events cover' we mean disruption that can indirectly affect large groups of travellers, such as business failures or natural catastrophes.

Most policies cover some unexpected events but not all. In some cases, cover for unexpected events is only available at extra cost.

Here we reveal the best policies for covering unexpected events, and what cover to look for in your policy.

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Best policies for unexpected-events cover

We analysed 161 travel insurance policies looking for those that would cover you if you had to cancel your holiday because of eight kinds of unexpected event.

These included bankruptcy of holiday supplier; bankruptcy of airline; industrial strikes; volcanic ash; terrorism, civil unrest, war and pandemic.

Of 56 providers reviewed, just six offer cover allowing you to make a cancellation claim for each of these causes. 

Members can log in to see which these are. If you're not already a member, join Which? and get full access to these results and all our reviews.

What unexpected events do insurers cover?

By 'unexpected event' we mean disruptive events with the potential to affect large groups of people:

Holiday failure

This is whether the policy can pay out if you lose money because a holiday firm went bankrupt, such as a hotel or tour operator. Less than four in 10 policies we analysed provide this as standard.

You may have other protection - see our guide to your rights if a holiday goes wrong

Airline failure

Also sometimes referred to as 'Safi' (Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance) this is increasingly popular due to the shaky prospects of smaller airlines - and comes as standard in around half of policies. This protection covers you if you book a flight with a provider that goes bust before you fly.

Strike cover

Strike cover provides protection if your flight, and holiday, was delayed or cancelled due to industrial action.

Volcanic ash

In 2010, plumes of ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland disrupted flights across much of Europe. It was an unusual event, and resulted in thousands of travellers having flight plans disrupted.

The Financial Ombudsman Service adjudicated that the volcanic ash-related disruption was as a result of 'poor weather conditions', meaning many travel insurance policyholders got redress.

As a result, many insurers have added a provision to their policies that covers disruption caused by volcanic ash.

Terrorism

Policies may allow you to make a claim to cancel if your destination has been affected. 

However, this may depend on whether or not the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issued a warning against travel to the region after you booked the trip.

Civil unrest

Riots and outbreaks of civil unrest have emerged sporadically in recent times. Some insurers cover this eventuality, making it worth considering if you are travelling to a potential hot spot.

War

About half of policies we reviewed will allow you to make a cancellation claim if the FCDO advises against travel to your destination if war breaks out. This may depend on whether or not you have purchased optional 'disruption' cover.

Pandemic

Pandemics are excluded from cover in some policies, while others will cover pandemics but exclude Covid-19 or outbreaks of similar respiratory illness.

Natural disaster

'Natural catastrophes' - such as fires, floods, hurricanes or earthquakes - were covered in around three quarters of policies we assessed (though not always as standard).

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Do I need unexpected events cover?

You don't necessarily need to be fully protected by your insurance against certain events to have some peace of mind.

If you've booked with a package holiday firm, for example, you will benefit from ATOL protection if it goes bust, and it will also have to refund you if it cancels your holiday because of a major disruptive event.

If you've paid for your bookings using a credit card, you'll be able to claim with the card provider if the holiday firm hasn't been able to provide the service you've paid for or refund you.

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