 Poster: A snowHead
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All this snow and closed airports/cancelled flights has got me thinking about what might happen next week when I go away and I want to get myself a decent annual insurance policy.
I am (joy of joy) flying on Ryanair to an obscure airport in the middle of nowhere next week, which currently receives 2 flights a week in and out by Ryanair. It is highly likely that the airport may close or Ryanair may choose to cancel the flight due to the adverse weather.
Now according to 2 companies I have spoken to - if this occurance happens - the travel insurance I am taking out with them will be nearly useless - as they consider a cancelled flight as the airlines problem and not something covered by their policy. It is down to Ryanair to repatriate me or give me a refund.
Ryanair say that if they cancel a flight due to such circumstances they do not provide a refund - which even if they did wouldn't help as my tickets cost peanuts (and I bet they don't refund online check in, baggage charges, payment fees, blah blah!) and would never be enough to pay for an alternative method home. So although it is Ryanairs responsibility to get me home I am concerned at how long it might be - i.e. the next scheduled flight which is half a week later and may be full anyway.
Is it possible to get a travel insurance policy that covers quick repatriation with an alternative airline if the airline you are travelling with does not provide something suitable (that allows you to get home in time to be in office next day for important meeting???)
Is there something obvious I have missed? I know you take your chance with the low cost carriers - but I am worried I am going to get shafted and end up having to pay a last minute full price fare to get home with someone like BA when airport does open because Ryanair will take its time in sorting out alternative arrangements - i.e. you have to wait half a week for the next scheduled flight.
Can you let me know if I have understood correctly - and if I have - is it possible to purchase travel insurance that helps you get home quickly?
thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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mountain mad, I know the underwriting side of the company i work for has a product that covers carrier failure, but i'm not sure if this will also pick up cancellation. It was designed to fill in the gaps in standard travel insurance when airlines go bust, so it may also fill in other gaps. I've never had anything to do with it so dont know the full wording, pm me if you would like company name etc.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Just realised thats possibley the most unhelpful post ever lol as basically i'm saying dont know but i know of a product that covers something else in relation to airlines!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| mountain mad wrote: |
Ryanair say that if they cancel a flight due to such circumstances they do not provide a refund |
If they don't, then they are breaking the law, unless they guarantee to get you on another flight instead.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| alex_heney wrote: |
| mountain mad wrote: |
Ryanair say that if they cancel a flight due to such circumstances they do not provide a refund |
If they don't, then they are breaking the law, unless they guarantee to get you on another flight instead. |
| Quote: |
| Passengers who were booked to travel on one of the below cancelled flights can move to the next available flight free of charge or apply for a refund on their unused flight(s) by clicking on one of the below links |
source: http://www.ryanair.com/en/notices/gops/100105-SNOW_UK_05JAN10-GB
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yes they should provide a refund, but this will be tiny compared to additional expenses you might have in taking an alternative route back. We had this problem last year with EasyJet flights, and came back by train from Munich. Successfully reclaimed the cost of rail travel from our policy with MPI - minus, of course, the excess, but still worth the claim. Others in our party claimed from Fogg, so I would imagine that other policies would as well.
Having said that, there may be a lot of claims going through the pipeline in the current conditions so I wouldn't be surprised if the companies were making more efforts to reduce their claim costs.
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Thanks - I guess what I'm looking for is someone that can recommend a travel insurance that will allow you to reclaim the cost of alternative travel. Maybe I was unlucky in that the 2 I spoke to both said they wouldn't cover it on their policies.
e.g. I am due to fly out on wednesday from bristol to rzeszow, and come back on their next flight on the sunday.
If wednesdays flight is cancelled, ryanair would put me on the next flight out which is sunday - which would be no good. i'd like an insurance that covers the cost of a train to london and a flight out of london to poland so i can pick up my hire car maybe on the thursday or friday so at least i still have some of my 'holiday'. (Or alternative - the flight back on sunday is cancelled - but my work would kill me if I don't manage to get back into the office before the next ryanair flight on wednesday night)
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We were in Dublin last year when the motorway to the airport flooded and we missed the (Ryanair) flight back to Newcastle. Had to stay in a local hotel and buy tickets for an alternative flight the following morning - all of which was covered (minus excess) by Lloyds TSB travel insurance.
Hoping they are as good when we are driving to the Alps via Eurotunnel next week if all doesn't go to plan....
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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the outbound bit seems easy to cover (direct travel do) - the return I couldn't quite decide on the wording of mine and luckily haven't had to try it yet.
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number9dream, Eurotunnel was operating normally in both directions when we came back at the weekend.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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have just come back and fortunately didn't have to test the insurance out... was a little hairy leaving on wednesday from Bristol as some flights were delayed or cancelled but in the end it all worked out - so I still don't know just how useful my insurance will be!!! but I prefer it that way!!!!
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