Travel quarantine Q&A: How protected are you from disruption?
Hopeful holidaymakers to Spain are attempting to recover what they can from the disruption caused by changes to quarantine rules at the weekend.
Many more will want to know how far they’re exposed to possible further changes, as the Prime Minister warns that a “second wave” has arrived in Europe. We sought answers to some of your travel-related concerns.
What’s the government’s new policy on foreign travel?
The government always warned that “countries and territories can be taken off or added to the exempt list at any time”, and British tourists to Spain got the first taste of that at the weekend. It has already been done before with Serbia, which was taken off the list the day it came into force.
The “exempt list” now extends to 63 countries in Europe and East Asia, where infection rates appear to have stabilised, including five from today: Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and St Vincent and the Grenadine Isles. All will be subject to constant review.
Will airlines refund my flight to Spain?
If you had booked a flight to Spain which has now been cancelled, you are legally entitled to a full refund directly from the airline.
If your flight is still on, you won’t necessarily be entitled to a refund if you choose not to travel. Some airlines, such as Ryanair, say they will continue to run flights to Spain and will not be offering refunds for those now disinclined to travel.
EasyJet has told customers who no longer wish to travel that they can transfer their flights to a comparable destination free of charge or apply for a voucher transfer. Refunds, they say, will only be possible if the quarantine continues into August.
What about accommodation?
Unless your host has cancelled, the same rules apply.
Will insurers cover me for disruption caused by changing government advice?
If you book a holiday to Spain now your insurance will be forfeit. That’s standard policy for destinations which the Foreign Office has declared out-of-bounds for non-essential travel.
If you had a holiday booked before the pandemic was declared, you are likely to still be insured according to the terms originally signed. That would include cover for travel disruption caused by circumstances outside your control, such as unforeseen changes to government regulations. This would only apply if you booked your holiday and insurance in February or earlier.
In March, however, “a lot of travel insurers pulled out of the market” and “plans taken out now are likely to have a Covid-19 exclusion clause” in place, according to Laura Dawson at the Association of British Insurers. “Most policies are now offering medical and repatriation costs, but not cancellation and disruption” as basic. If you now don’t want to travel, you probably won’t be covered unless you have purchased a special policy for the pandemic.
Aviva, for example, told us that they now only offer cover for travel disruption, such as changes to Foreign Office advice, as part of an optional “travel disruption cover” policy.
The Post Office likewise told us that “disinclination to travel is not covered by our travel insurance”. However, customers who have purchased a Single Trip policy since 17th June can move it to a later date within a year of taking out the policy. It won’t allow you to recuperate your costs now but lets you reschedule your holiday when borders re-open.
What if I am already in Spain?
According to Dawson, if you’re already in a country when FCO guidance changes, “your insurance is likely to continue to cover you until you return home”, but you should check with your provider directly. This will include extensions to your trip due to quarantine demands made in that country.
Aviva told us that customers will still receive “cover for medical expenses if they fall ill (including Covid-19) or are quarantined abroad”, while the Post Office stated that “cover for contracting coronavirus whilst overseas is now included as standard across the product range” which should ensure that customers “are protected for emergency medical and repatriation costs, should they fall ill” in the host country.
Can I claim for disruption related to quarantine once I return?
It is unlikely. According to Dawson, disruption to employment caused by having to work from home could fall under income protection policies, however most of these have a deferral period of 14 days. Quarantine may also allow individuals to apply for sick pay if they cannot work from home, which would kick in before any insurance measures.
Which countries are most likely to get the chop next?
“A significant change over the last week in both the level and pace” of infections determined the government’s decision on Spain.
Comparing data on infection rates from the past fortnight compared with the previous, similar increases are visible in Belgium and Luxembourg. The Netherlands has also recorded a significant increase in infections, but is starting from a lower base.
There is a chance that high infection rates in the Balkan states, not currently part of the exempt list, may spread into quarantine-free destinations such as Greece and Croatia.
Predictions for future travel changes are, however, complicated by the different measuring and tracking systems used by countries. According to the WHO, for example, the UK currently records a higher death rate than Spain, at 672 per million compared with 608.
The number of new cases must also be compared with population size and density to attain a clear picture of how the virus is circulating.
Clearly spikes in local infection rates are good enough reason to re-implement nation-wide restrictions. New cases in Spain are mainly reserved to the north-east, in Aragon and Catalonia, prompting criticism of the UK’s decision to implement the new proposal for all regions of Spain.
This is worth noting in light of recent outbreaks in meat-processing plants in Germany, despite overall incidence rates apparently falling in the country.
What about travel in the UK?
Travelling between regions and nations of the UK has become more confusing as the devolved administrations adopt different policies. Don’t be too intimidated by banners at the Scottish border but do be aware of how each administration has chosen to handle the pandemic.
Different regulations on freedom of movement can affect your travel policy.
While the devolved administrations reserve the right to impose their own foreign quarantine policies, travel rules currently apply for those returning to all four nations of the UK.
When will we be out of this mess?
I wish I could say.