How to help prevent your travel plans being ruined by COVID-19

Whilst the UK Government have given the thumbs up to ending many current COVID related restrictions, including the international travel restrictions, there are still a number of questions surrounding travel due to COVID-19 and the uncertainty causing reluctance amongst travellers. Will flights be cancelled? What happens should I need to rearrange? Is the hotel flexible should I need to cancel? Will accommodation be COVID-safe?

These are just some of the questions that come up time and time again because travellers are unsure of what they should be aware of or how they can help themselves feel more informed, secure and have peace of mind when booking their next holiday. That's why Able2Travel Travel Insurance have suggested a number of things to look out for and questions to ask, that may help, when booking your trip.

Flights

A large number of airlines have made modifications to their booking policies to add a degree of flexibility in terms of moving flights for travellers. However, it is priceless being able to understand what is and is not offered specifically by your chosen airline. A suggestion is to ensure you review any exemptions, alternative ticket options and whether the validity of the flight changing is limited to a specified time frame or involves any further costs.

Some questions to ask when booking your flights include:

• Is there any flexibility if the flight is already discounted?
• Is there a time limit as to when changes can be made prior to the flight?
• Can a voucher be used to change a flight more than once? Are there any additional costs to do this?
• Is there a specific time period within which a flight voucher has to be used?
• Could it be cheaper to just buy another ticket rather than purchasing a higher cost flexible ticket?

Accommodation

Prominent hotel chains, independent accommodation and popular booking platforms like Airbnb, Expedia and Booking.com and many others all differ in how they approach flexibility, cancellation and rearrangement. So, make a point of reading the ‘small print’ in their booking terms and conditions. Here's a number of questions to ask before booking:

• Can cancellation outside a certain time period incur a fee or mean you won’t get your money back?
• Does cancellation due to changing Government restrictions entitle a refund? Does medical proof need to be provided in order to receive a refund or to rearrange dates if you are unfortunate enough to contract COVID-19 shortly before your trip? If so, what is the required evidence?
• Are any booking fees applied for changing booking dates?
• How much notice is needed to cancel or reschedule a booking?

Travel Insurance

Wherever you decide to travel to in 2021 and beyond, it’s important not to forget to buy your travel insurance. Able2Travel Travel Insurance policies include cover for the following:

• Missed Departure up to £1,000.
• Personal Baggage up to £3,000.
• Cancellation or Curtailment up to £5,000.
• Emergency Medical Expenses up to £10,000,000.
• And much more…

Able2Travel can also offer protection specifically relating to COVID-19, which covers:

• Cancellation / Curtailment – protection is in place should you receive a positive test result within 14 days of departure or if you are admitted to hospital due to testing positive to Coronavirus (COVID-19) after the purchase of your policy.
• Emergency Medical Expenses – should you unexpectedly contract COVID-19 symptoms or receive a positive test result whilst on holiday, Able2Travel can help cover your emergency medical expenses so long as the FCDO has not advised against ‘all travel’ or ‘all but essential travel’ to your intended destination.

So, if you are planning on travelling abroad, it’s important to ensure you're protected with a suitable and extensive travel insurance policy from Able2Travel. You can get an Able2Travel Travel Insurance quote by visiting www.Able2Travel.com or by calling our helpful team on 01483 806 826.

This article is for information and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute advice in any way. The information provided here is correct at the time of writing however please check the latest policy wording here for the latest policy terms, conditions and exclusions.

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