Flight Cancellation Insurance

Forgot to purchase flight cancellation insurance?

If you forgot to purchase flight cancellation insurance, and later regretted it, you may still have options to claim compensation.

In fact, the vast majority of travellers make do without flight cancelation insurance so you are not alone in your negligence. However, if you travel a lot it is practically inevitable that at some point you will experience a delay or cancellation of some sort.

When this occurs, even the most harmless of delays can have unexpected consequences that lead to much greater upheavals down the chain; missing a connecting flight being but one example.

But in the absence of flight cancellation insurance does the consumer have any available options?

Start with a prudent approach. Consult the airline website regarding their flight cancellation and delays policy. Determine your eligibility according to their criteria, and if you qualify, proceed with your case. It will normally begin by contacting the airline directly (don't contact the airport you flew from). Any phone call will probably be a precursor to a formalised complaint letter.

Describe what happened in your letter, including the length of the delay or cancellation and the reasons given for it.  For example, did you stay in the airport or did you need overnight accommodation? Did you or the airline pay for your accommodation? Did you miss another flight as a result? Tell them how much it cost you and how much money you are demanding in compensation.

Should the above approach fail you, there is the further option of contacting the Air Transport Users Council on 020 7240 6061, and visiting complaints@auc.org.uk.

Our Guide to the Small Claims Court contains helpful information on this lesser used tactic.

Are you aware of Section 75 regarding credit card purchases? Assuming that you paid for your tickets with a credit card, then according to Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, you may have the right to claim reimbursement from the credit card provider to cover the costs of your delays. See our Section 75 Claims guide for more information on your statutory rights.