Swine Flu and Travelling

Thu, 23 Jul 2009
As the summer holiday season begins the swine flu epidemic appears to be gathering momentum. Airlines not allowing passengers who display symptoms to board and certain travellers are discovering that they are being quarantined once abroad.

Lots of people are forecast to get the swine flu virus, so the UK government is recommending that we all travel with a valid EHIC card to cover any medical expenses incurred.

Lots of holiday makers may also have travel insurance . So what can happen if swine flu forces you to make change in your plans for the summer .

Will my travel insurance policy pay out should I have to cancel my trip?

Your travel insurance policy ought to pay out should you have written confirmation from a doctor that you are suffering from or are suspected of suffering from the illness.

Should you be suffering flu symptoms, call your GP. If you are turned away should you go to the surgery in person, then the GP will take you through a short list of questions to work out whether or not you are infected. If the GP confirms that you have swine flu, that information ought to be enough for your insurer to commence with the claim process; that can be completed once the GP forwards you written confirmation.

Do note that travel insurers are not going to pay out should you have a "general disinclination" to travel due to the virus,

Pregnant women were advised not to travel during the last outbreak of bird flu.

With swine flu, pregnant women are most at risk so they should see their GP as soon as possible should they consider they have swine flu, but they should not be deterred from travelling for this reason alone.

Will my insurance policy pay out should the airline refuse to fly me?

You ought to be covered given that the decision to turn you away is arrived at by someone medically qualified and the airline gives you written confirmation as to why it turned you away. It may not be possible for the airline to provide you with written confirmation straight away, however, insurers ought to pay out once it has been provided. Should you be turned away by a non-medically qualified professional, like member of the cabin crew or check-in staff, you are going to have to negotiate compensation from the airline itself.

What if someone I am travelling with is turned away by the airline?

Should you be travelling with your spouse, children or other relatives who are covered by the same insurance policy, the payout ought to cover cancellation for all included on the policy. However, if you are travelling with friends and have separate insurance policies, those who are not suffering or suspected of suffering flu will not be covered if they decide not to travel.

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