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Ash Cloud Anniversary

APH highlight travel insurance providers with adapted policies

The 14th April 2011 will mark the one year anniversary of the ‘Ash Cloud’, an event that left travellers dissatisfied and let down by insurance policies that would not cover disrupted holidays. Airport Parking and Hotels, the UK’s award-winning airport parking specialists, revisits which travel insurance companies have changed their policies.

Travellers can compare 29 of the most popular UK travel insurance providers and highlights those insurance companies with adapted policies that include extended cover.

*Insurance Company*	Does your travel insurance cover you for claims relating to the volcanic ash?
	2010				2011
	*Customers who bought insurance prior to the Ash:*	*Customers who have bought insurance after the Ash:*	*Customers who have not yet travelled:*	*Customers Stuck Abroad:*	*Policy Changes*	*Policy Update*
AA Travel Insurance	No – as the ash does not fall under any of the following catagories: Cancellation. Delay. Missed departure.	No – as the ash is a known event.	Customers can cancel their policy and request a full refund as long as they have not yet travelled or made a claim within 14 days from date of purchase. If customers are outside the 14 days, AA Travel Insurance will amend the dates of the policy as long as the policyholder has not yet travelled or made a claim.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	CHANGE	“Travel Disruption Extension” which covers for occurrences such as the ash cloud. Users can pay an extra premium to have this cover alongside the standard insurance policy. The fee will be a percentage of however much the standard policy costs.
All Clear	Yes – provided customers bought insurance prior to the 22nd of April 2010.	No - Customers travelling from the 22nd of April onwards will not be covered for claims relating to the volcanic ash.	Where airlines or tour operators offer alternative dates All Clear will transfer the policy to the new travel dates.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE – don’t offer any cover for things like ash cloud – they say it should be covered by the airlines.	N/A
Aviva (Norwich Union)	Yes – Aviva will consider claims on a goodwill basis.	No – as the ash is a known event.	From the 1st of June, customers can purchase airspace extension cover to protect customers from incidents such as the ash.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	CHANGE	“Airspace Closure Cover” this is at an extra cost (approx £5 for single trip cover and approx £10 for annual/multi-trip cover) and covers for all eventualities that cause airspace to be closed, so from terrorist threat to volcanic ash clouds.
Axa	General policy: There is no cover available under the standard policy for travel disruptions due to the volcanic ash as it is not a “named peril”.	No – as the ash is a known event	Axa “are not imposing a date restriction on their policies”.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	CHANGE	“Travel Disruption Cover” this is an extra cover you can purchase only if you are already purchasing an “Essential” or “Premier” cover. It will be a percentage. of however much your standard quote is.
Axa	Axa’s Independent Traveller Insurance Extension: Yes.	No – as the ash is a known event.	Axa “are not imposing a date restriction on their policies”.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE- continues to offer cover for instance relating to ash clouds.	N/A
Barclays Travel Insurance	Yes – Barclays has been considering claims as a gesture of goodwill.	No – as the ash is a known event	As long as you could not travel due to the ash cloud Barclays will change the dates on the policy to cover you for the new holiday dates.	All policies provide 14 days free cover if customer is unable to return home before their cover ends.	CHANGE	“Independent Traveller Cover” option – this policy automatically includes cover for instances such as the ash cloud. This is automatically included when you purchase either the travel, travel plus or extended trip policy.
Churchill’s	No – as policies do not cover travel delays and/or cancellations caused by a recommendation by any government or travel authority.	No.	Customers unable to use their existing policy can change their policy to reflect their new travel arrangements at no extra cost, as long as they have not submitted a claim.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE – if you had purchased a policy before the ash cloud (14th April) then you would be covered for eventualities such as this, if you are on a continuous policy. If you purchase a policy now, you are not covered.	N/A
Columbus Direct	Yes.	No – as the ash is a known event.	Columbus Direct is now offering Emergency Travel Arrangement options on Silver and Gold policies which covers customers in the event of any unforeseen circumstance preventing their return home such as the ash.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK. Policy also provides cover for replacement transport and accommodation.	NO CHANGE – you would be covered for any “unforeseen circumstances” – same as the policy last year. You are only NOT covered if you purchase a policy and the circumstance has already been in the media.	N/A
Direct Line	Yes.	No – as the ash is a known event.	Customers who are unable to use their existing policies will be able to change travel dates of their policy to reflect their new travel arrangements, at no extra cost, as long as they have not submitted a claim.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE – don’t offer any cover whatsoever.	N/A
Direct Travel	Yes – they are treating this as an adverse weather condition.	No – as the ash is a known event.	Do not offer a refund or the opportunity to change the dates on the policy.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	CHANGE	“Natural Disaster Cover” they introduced this new policy in light of the incidents over the past year and covers for travel disruption caused by volcanic eruption, flood, tsunami, earthquake, landslide, hurricane, tornado or wildfire. The price is automatically calculated when getting a quote for single trip, annual multi-trip or backpack travel insurance.
Endsleigh	No – as claims arising from the withdrawal of an aircraft on the recommendation of the Civil Aviation Authority are excluded.	No.	Customers whose outbound journey had been delayed or rescheduled can have their policies amended to reflect new travel dates.	N/A	NO CHANGE – don’t offer any cover.	N/A
Halifax	Yes – Halifax are considering goodwill payments for costs incurred whilst customers are stranded overseas.	No – as the ash is a known event.	Customers can change their policy dates if the original holiday was cancelled due to the ash cloud.	Policy will be automatically extended to cover the customers until their return to the UK	CHANGE	“Halifax Disruption Cover” – comes into effect 11/04/2011 and will be automatically included in all new policies taken out – covers for all weather related incidents and unforeseen circumstances (Ash cloud/terrorism).
Holiday Extras	No – as ash is not considered to be ‘adverse weather’.	No.	If policyholders take up the offer of rearranged flights, cover will be transferred to new dates. If customers do not take up offer of new flights, their premium will be refunded provided they bought a single trip policy.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	CHANGE	“Catastrophe Cover” this is an extra charge of around £30 on top of the standard insurance policy and will offer cover for eventualities such as the ash cloud/tsunami etc
HSBC (covered by Aviva)	Yes.	No – as the ash is a known event.	If a single trip policy was purchased and customers are no longer able to travel, they can get a refund on their premium providing: They are not intending to claim. They bought policy and made their travel arrangements prior to midday Thursday 15th April 2010.	All policies will be extended automatically for up to 14 days without charge.	CHANGE	HSBC made a pro-active choice to also include cover within their policies for “airspace closure” which includes closure due to the ash cloud.
First Direct (covered by Aviva)	Yes – First Direct will consider claims on a goodwill basis.	No – as the ash is a known event.	May make some goodwill exceptions but generally will not make allowances as their policy does not cover anything related to the ash cloud.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	CHANGE	Now include cover if an airport/seaport is shut for 24 hours for any reason such as ash cloud/terrorism.
Lloyds TSB Travel Insurance	Yes – Lloyds TSB are considering goodwill payments for costs incurred whilst customers are stranded overseas.	No – as the ash is a known event.	Offered customers opportunity to change dates of policy within 30 days of the ash cloud incident.	Automatically extended policies to cover customers until they were able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE – don’t cover for anything that can be classed as “act of god” – natural disasters not covered.	N/A
Mondial Assistance	No – as the volcanic ash is not a specified insured event coved in their policy.	No.	If customers have to rearrange their trip due to the ash – Mondial Assistance will transfer cover to the new dates provided the area and duration remains the same. If a flight is cancelled and customers are unable to travel, Mondial Assistance will refund the premium if a single trip policy was purchased.	All single trip policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE – Mondial don’t offer cover for eventualities such as the ash cloud.	N/A
M&S Money (part of the HSBC group)	Yes	No – as the ash is a known event.	Made exceptions to their policy to accommodate for the ash cloud incident and accepted claims	Extended policy to cover customers whilst stuck abroad. Also refunded charges for ATM transactions.	NOTE - M&S Travel policies are now run by AXA. This has changed since the original volcanic issues.	N/A
More Than	Yes – but only for customers who have been stuck abroad between 15th and 23rd of April 2010.	No - as the ash is a known event.	Customers who are yet to make their journey are able to transfer cover to new travel dates at no extra charge. If customers abandon their trip altogether, those who bought a single trip policy will have their premiums refunded.	More Than will be making payments for customers stuck abroad during the period 15th – 23rd April 2010, as a one off gesture.	NO CHANGE – “withdrawal of service” so don’t cover for ash cloud incident.	N/A
Nationwide	Yes – Bad weather.	No – as the ash is a known event.	If customers are rescheduling the tip by a few days and trip length remains the same – their policy can be transferred onto new dates. If it is more than one week in the future and customers call before the start date of their original trip, they can get their original policy cancelled and premium refunded.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE – always offered cover for ash cloud incidence under “bad weather” clause.	N/A
Natwest	Yes – providing customers took insurance out before 15th April 2010.	No – as the ash is a known event.	Customers are able to transfer their policy onto new dates if they have had to rearrange their travel.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE – Natwest take the stance that the volcano is still erupting and may continue to do so for the next 5-10 years so they can’t offer any cover or additional policies that would cover for such circumstances.	N/A
Post Office	Yes – prior to the 15th of April 2010. It is being classed as ‘bad weather’.	No – customers who purchased insurance or booked a trip after April 15th 2010 will not be covered as the ash is a known event.	Would have been able to change the dates of your policy but would not have been entitled to make claims or receive a refund.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE - Post Office policies purchased from the 15th April 2010 will not cover any claims arising as a result of the volcanic ash incident once it became a known event.	N/A
Royal Bank of Scotland	Yes – providing customers took out travel insurance before the 15th April 2010.	No – as ash is a known event.	Refund would have been available if none of the trip took place. Also allowed you to change your policy dates if customers were prevented from going on holiday.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE – Customers will be covered for delays if the airlines / airport management decide not to fly.	N/A
Saga	Yes.	No – as the ash is a known event.	If customers bought a single trip policy and are able to transfer flight or holiday dates, Saga will transfer the policy to the new dates as long as a claim has not been made, destination is the same, previous travel dates have not passed and return date is not longer than 12 months from original start date.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until you are able to return to the UK.	CHANGE	Customers will be covered for the ash cloud. Dependent on airlines / airport management decision not to fly.
Santander	Yes – if customers bought travel insurance and booked their holiday before the 15th April 2010.	No – as the ash is a known event.	Offered full refund and the opportunity to change the dates of the policy if it was within 14 days of booking it.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE – do not offer cover for the ash cloud.	N/A
Swiftcover.com	Yes – as the circumstances are outside of the customers control.	No – as the ash is a known event.	No refund would have been given and no claims would have been accepted. May have been able to change the dates of your policy	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE – do not offer cover for the ash cloud.	N/A
Swinton	No – As it is an ‘Act of God’.	No.	No.	No.	NO CHANGE – deems the volcanic activity as ‘Act of God’ and does not cover this.	N/A
Tesco	Yes – if customers bought travel insurance prior to the 16th of April 2010	No – if customers bought their travel insurance after the 16th April 2010 they will not be covered as the ash is a known event.	Would have been able to claim for the cancellation of the holiday but would not have been able to get a refund on the policy or change the dates.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK. Tesco will pay all reasonable costs for alternative travel arrangements, accommodation and food.	NO CHANGE - can allow for travel delay in bad weather; ash cloud is considered bad weather.	N/A
Virgin Money (provided by Europ Assistance)	No – as natural disasters are not included in their policy.	No – as the ash is a known event.	If customers bought a single trip policy and they accept flights for a later date, they can transfer their cover to the new dates. If customers do accept alternative dates, they can get their premium refunded.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE - Not providing cover generally seen as an ‘Act of God’.	N/A
Zurich Connect	No.	No.	No.	All policies will be extended automatically without charge until customers are able to return to the UK.	NO CHANGE - We are unable to insure against volcanic ash as this is deemed an ‘uninsurable peril’.	N/A

APH makes every effort to ensure that the information provided is accurate at the time of collection and publishing but it is provided without any kind of warranty. APH accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of the information.