Getting back to the original subject of this thread I have, after 5 weeks, received a letter from my travel insurance outfit saying that my claim for missed flight due to motorway being closed by the police is rejected due to T&Cs in the small print. Can't say I am surprised but it makes you wonder why we bother with travel insurance at all. Not sure I can be bothered to appeal or go to the ombudsman.

PS the company is called "Big Blue" and found them via a comparison website - best avoided 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Typical

Any chance you can type or copy and paste the term in the policy that they are relying on to refuse your claim? LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Looking on the Big Blue website and their travel insurance terms and conditions it looks like missing a departure is only covered if you are travelling by public transport which is delayed or if your vehicle suffers an accident or breakdown. Even then they will only pay out reasonable travel and accommodation costs so the cost of rebooking flights doesn`t look to be covered.

Yes, wording below. looks like the best strategy would have been for me to have stopped and called the AA out saying I had a puncture and when the AA guy arrives say that you had just finished changing it yourself and get the paperwork off him. Otherwise this part of the insurance is pointless. Out of interest I looked at NFU (who are generally good at paying out although expensive) and they have a similar policy for missed departure, in other words stay in a Heathrow hotel the night before if you have an early flight.


MISSED DEPARTURE ON YOUR OUTWARD JOURNEY
This section does not apply to trips within your home country.
What you are covered for
We will pay up to the amount shown in the summary of cover for necessary
and reasonable travel and accommodation expenses required to reach your
booked destination, if you miss your booked departure due to:
1. the vehicle you are travelling in to reach your international departure point
breaking down or being involved in an accident; or
2. the public transport you are using to reach your international departure
point being delayed, resulting in you arriving too late to commence your
booked trip.
What you are NOT covered for
1. the excess shown in the summary of cover;
2. claims where you have not allowed sufficient time to get to your
international departure point to catch the booked public transport;
3. the public transport provider’s failure unless you get a letter from the
provider confirming that the service did not run on time;
4. the accident or breakdown of your vehicle unless you get confirmation
of the delay from the authority who went to the accident or breakdown
affecting the car you were travelling in;
5. breakdown of any vehicle in which you are travelling if the vehicle is owned
by you and has not been serviced properly and maintained in accordance
with manufacturer’s instructions;
6. any delay caused by a riot, civil commotion, strike or industrial action
which began or was announced before the start date of your policy and
the date your travel tickets or confirmation of booking were issued;
7. anything mentioned in the General Exclusions. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

I might add that if you book your flight directly with the carrier rather than a travel agent you have more chance of being put on the next available flight. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Yes it’s pretty clear in its wording. I was hoping the term would be vague which would have been in your favour but never mind.

One to bear in mind for the future for sure. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

My view of the Nationwide Building Society travel insurance I am using currently is it covers you more for a personal car breakdown rather than using a third party. Maybe worth a look.

Having just had a breakdown last night that meant giving up my travel plans for the weekend it is a concern if it meant missing a flight. Devil you use a mini cab or the car. I have some long haul flights soon and may now use the second car that is under warranty rather than trust the FL2 even though I have to traverse the M62 to Manchester airport from Yorkshire in Winter conditions. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

I was hoping that I could claim that the motorway was closed by the police due to an "incident" rather than just traffic tailback delay caused by an accident somewhere up the motorway but not acceptable. Insurance is supposed to be there to help with unforseen events but ultimately it looks as if there are so many exclusions that apart from medical emergencies and repatriation it's not worth having. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Really hate the stress of worrying about missing a plane. Missed our honeymoon flight cos our transport got delayed - that was a day to remember for all the wrong reasons - still together though after 34 years.

Now SWMBO and I are lucky to be able to get to our local airport in 20 mins without using motorways and these days really cant be bothered with the hassle of going to airports further away. If the plane doesnt fly from BHX then we dont go.

We usually get a friend to do the driving so we dont have to pay for parking either. Jules

thankfully I cant afford to fly anywhere, even if I could I wouldn't, the Yorkshire Dales has everything I ever want, in the current climate, a touch of snow and frost, a week in a cottage in beautiful Dent for £195 is looking very tempting . .

Dent- As a young man of 23/24 I spent the odd night there but her parents wished I had not.  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

dorsetfreelander wrote:

I was hoping that I could claim that the motorway was closed by the police due to an "incident" rather than just traffic tailback delay caused by an accident somewhere up the motorway but not acceptable. Insurance is supposed to be there to help with unforseen events but ultimately it looks as if there are so many exclusions that apart from medical emergencies and repatriation it's not worth having.

A few years ago I had my house insurance with NFU and on the insurance was an old mountain bike. It was several years old and a bit worn but OK. My son bought a brand new £600 mountain bike and went off to stay with someone in Cambridge for a few weeks and took the new bike with him. He had only had it for three weeks and it got stolen. I wrote to the NFU stating that we had just got the new bike and hadn't had time to put it on the insurance and to my amazement they paid up in full.
I suspect that most companies wouldn't have paid up as it wasn't on the policy but it does explain why NFU are so expensive. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

NFU will not look at insuring our home. Apparently they are not interested in taking further business in my post code.

NFU being too generous has had a knock on effect as some local claims are not genuine. Easy enough to prove when you have CCTV as we have and if any had one cared to have asked.  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Northcroft wrote:

thankfully I cant afford to fly anywhere, even if I could I wouldn't, the Yorkshire Dales has everything I ever want, in the current climate, a touch of snow and frost, a week in a cottage in beautiful Dent for £195 is looking very tempting . .