Whether you need to have a return flight booked before travelling depends on your CoverForYou travel insurance policy type.
Our travel insurance policies are designed for temporary trips that start and end in the United Kingdom, but the requirements differ between Single Trip, Annual Multi-Trip and Backpacker policies.
Yes. You must have your return flight booked before departing the UK.
Single Trip policies are designed for holidays with a planned departure and return date.
You must have a return journey booked before your trip begins.
Your trip must start and end in the UK.
Your policy must cover the full duration of your journey.
Important: If you leave the UK without a return journey booked, your Single Trip policy will not provide cover.
If you're planning an open-ended journey without a booked return flight, a Single Trip policy is not suitable for your travel needs.
No. You do not need to have a return flight booked before travelling on a Backpacker policy.
Backpacker policies are designed to accommodate longer trips and more flexible travel arrangements.
However, there are important conditions to understand:
Your trip must still be intended to end in the UK.
Your policy will not pay for an ordinary return flight that you have not booked.
You remain responsible for arranging and paying for your journey home.
If you experience a serious medical emergency abroad and our Emergency Medical Assistance Service determines that repatriation is medically necessary, we may arrange your return to the UK.
In these circumstances:
Your repatriation must be medically necessary.
The arrangements must be approved by our Emergency Medical Assistance Service.
If you did not have a return flight booked, the standard cost of an economy-class return ticket will be deducted from your claim settlement.
This means you remain responsible for the cost of the ordinary return journey you would otherwise have needed to purchase.
Find out about Emergency Medical Assistance
You do not need to have a return flight booked to purchase an Annual Multi-Trip policy.
However, each insured trip must be a temporary holiday that:
Starts in the United Kingdom.
Is intended to end in the United Kingdom.
Falls within the maximum trip duration allowed by your policy.
Meets all other policy terms and conditions.
Important: An Annual Multi-Trip policy is not intended to cover permanent relocation or indefinite travel abroad.
If an insured event means your return journey needs to be rearranged, the amount payable may depend on whether you already had a return flight booked.
Where your claim is covered, your policy may pay eligible administration or rebooking fees needed to rearrange your existing flight.
Any payment remains subject to your policy's terms, conditions and benefit limits.
If your claim requires us to arrange a flight home but you haven't purchased a return ticket, the standard cost of an economy-class return flight will be deducted from your claim settlement.
This is because your policy does not cover the ordinary cost of returning to the UK when you would have needed to pay for that journey yourself.
The remaining eligible costs will be considered under the applicable policy benefits and limits.
Policy Type | Return Flight Required Before Travel? |
|---|---|
Single Trip | Yes – You must have a return journey booked before leaving the UK |
Annual Multi-Trip | No – But each trip must be intended to start and end in the UK |
Backpacker | No – But you remain responsible for the ordinary cost of returning home |
If you're planning a flexible itinerary, extended backpacking trip or travelling without a confirmed return date, we recommend checking your eligibility before purchasing insurance.
Our customer service team can explain the different policy requirements and help you understand which options may be suitable.
Please note: All cover is subject to your policy's terms, conditions, exclusions, trip duration limits and any applicable excess. Emergency repatriation must be medically necessary and approved by the Emergency Medical Assistance Service.
