Q: What is Travel Disruption Cover (TDC) and what does it protect against?
Please note: This is a guide to help you understand your coverage. A full, comprehensive list of all specific exclusions and special conditions relating to claims can be found directly within your policy wording document. All cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, exclusions, and any applicable excess.
A: If you have purchased the optional Travel Disruption upgrade (and it is listed on your policy schedule), the policy is split into two protective options. It handles your situation differently depending on whether your holiday must be canceled entirely or if it can be rescued with alternative travel arrangements.
Here is how the cover distinguishes between the two paths:
Option A: Canceling or Cutting Short Your Trip
If an unexpected emergency completely breaks your travel plans before you leave or mid-trip, this option refunds your unused, non-refundable expenses. You can claim for Cancellation (before departing) or Curtailment (cutting the trip short) if:
No Alternative Flight Found: Your public transport is delayed or canceled, and no suitable alternative is provided within 12 hours of your original departure time.
Missing Half Your Holiday: A public transport failure, road accident, vehicle breakdown, or severe traffic delay causes you to miss your outward international departure, resulting in you missing 50% or more of your trip because no alternative travel can be set up.
Major Schedule Overhauls: Your public transport provider alters or rearranges your departure or return schedule within 7 days of your original date, causing you to lose 50% or more of your holiday.
Insolvency or Disaster: Your accommodation provider or their booking agent goes completely bankrupt, or a natural catastrophe (such as an earthquake, wildfire, or hurricane) devastates your destination.
Document Theft Before Leaving: Your passport or travel visa is stolen within 72 hours of your scheduled departure, physically preventing you from taking the trip.
Option B: Making Alternative Arrangements to Continue Your Journey
If you are already at the airport or mid-travel and your goal is to keep your travel plans active rather than calling off the holiday, the policy converts into an assistance tool. It provides the necessary funding to cover unexpected, mid-journey alternative arrangements:
Involuntary Denied Boarding (Overbooking): If you are bumped from a flight or public transport due to overbooking and no alternative transport is provided within the policy timeframe, we will pay for reasonable additional room-only accommodation and economy public transport tickets so you can successfully catch up to or continue your trip.
Severe Destination Delays (Over 12 Hours): If a public transport delay causes you to arrive at your final destination more than 12 hours late, the policy provides cash benefits to help pay for meals, refreshments, and necessary phone calls during the delay, alongside covering a proportion of any travel or accommodation costs you missed out on while stuck in transit.
Catastrophes & Accommodation Bankruptcy Mid-Trip: If a natural disaster hits your resort area or your hotel goes out of business while you are already traveling, the policy will pay for reasonable additional accommodation and public transport travel expenses (matching the standard of your original booking) so you can safely continue your holiday or move to an alternative location.
What is Important for You to Know
Seek Local Compensation First: In the event of a flight delay or cancellation, you must first invoke your rights under Air Passenger Rights legislation (such as EU/UK airline regulations) and seek financial compensation, assistance, or refunds directly from your travel provider before claiming through us.
Cutting Your Journey Short: If a crisis occurs mid-trip and you must return home early, you must get prior approval from our Emergency Medical Assistance Service to confirm it is necessary before booking any return travel.
Recoverable Costs & Package Holidays: This add-on does not cover costs that are legally recoverable from your airline, accommodation provider, travel agent, ATOL protection scheme, or credit card/PayPal companies. It also will not cover your package holiday if the tour operator cancels the holiday or if travel rules change.
Major Restrictions: Claims arising directly or indirectly from war, terrorism, pandemics, regional quarantines, or FCDO advice changes are strictly excluded. The policy also does not refund Air Passenger Duty (APD) or trips missed due to personal journey planning errors or failure to allow adequate travel time.
