Find out more about what our travel insurancecovers, including insurance for flight cancellations, with our handy guide.
What is cancellation cover travel insurance?
If you need to cancel or cut short your holiday because something unexpected happens, cancellation cover lets you reclaim some or all of the money you've already paid out.
So, if you suddenly become seriously ill and can't go on holiday because you need treatment, you can claim on your travel insurance policy.
Similarly, if your spouse becomes ill while you're on holiday and the best thing is for them to come home to get treatment, you can claim some lost costs because your holiday was cut short.
When can I claim cancellation cover?
There are quite specific circ*mstances when you can claim cancellation cover. The main thing to remember is your cover must be in place before you know that you may not be able to travel.
We recommend you take out travel insurance as soon as you book a holiday. That way, you're already covered if you need to cancel before you go.
What can I expect back with holiday cancellation experience?
You can usually claim back the cost of your tickets to travel, plus accommodation for the time you should have been on holiday.
So, if you were unable to travel at all, you can claim back the entire cost of your portion of the holiday, less the excess on your policy, up to a certain amount. With LV= travel insurance, you can claim up to £10,000 for each person insured on the policy.
If you had to cut short your holiday, you can claim for any unused accommodation costs, transport charges (unless we cover the cost of getting you home) and other trip expenses that you've already paid for.
Policies from LV= will also allow you to claim for excursions or activities that you've already paid for but can no longer go on. This includes lift passes and tuition fees for winter sports holidays.
What does holiday cancellation insurance cover?
There may be many reasons that prevent you from travelling or staying the full planned length of your holiday.
The main circ*mstances you'll be covered for with travel cancellation insurance include:
- If you, a close relative or someone travelling with you becomes ill or dies
- If someone you're planning to stay with becomes sick or dies
- If you or your travelling companion become pregnant and are told not to travel
- If you're called for jury service
- If there's a burglary, fire or flood at your home
- If you're made redundant
- If leave is cancelled or you get called up as a member of the armed forces or emergency services
- If the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against travel to your holiday destination for any reason except pandemics
- If you or your travelling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 or another contagious disease declared as a pandemic, or are ordered to quarantine by a government or public authority and unable to travel
Have questions about our Travel insurance? Head over to our FAQ hub.
What does holiday cancellation insurance not cover?
If you knew that you or your travelling companion wouldn't be able to travel after you booked the holiday, but before you took out your travel insurance, then you won't be covered.
For example, if you're unable to travel because you need treatment for a condition that you were having tests for before you booked your holiday, it's unlikely you'll be able to claim on your cancellation cover. This is because the reason the trip is cancelled is not sudden or unexpected.
Also, if you knew about industrial action that could affect your holiday or there was a severe weather forecast at the destination before you booked your holiday, you probably won't be able to make a claim.
And if you took voluntary redundancy or were dismissed from your job, you also won't be able to claim on your cancellation cover.
How do I make a claim?
To make a cancellation cover claim with LV= we'll need to see:
• Your original trip booking invoices
• Travel documents showing dates and times of travel
• A medical certificate from a doctor if you're unable to travel due to illness or injury
• A signed copy of the death certificate if the trip is cancelled because of bereavement
• Evidence of your circ*mstances if a trip was cancelled or cut short for other reasons
You can make a claim 24/7 quickly and easily online from anywhere in the world, just visit our travel claims hub.
It's a good idea to make a note of our claims telephone number 0330 678 6225 and have your policy number to hand when you call us.
If you need emergency assistance when outside the UK call +44 1243 621 537.
