Ok so there has been news and comments flying about since the volcanic ash cloud started causing transport problems during last week.

We know that this is a complete nightmare for people who have been looking forward to their holiday for ages. And there is a cloud of uncertainty (get it?!) as well in terms of what you can claim for your travel insurance.

So just wanted to let you know the exact details for you if you are an AllClear Travel policy holder and make it a little bit easier for you. The good news is that you are safe with AllClear as, unlike a number of other travel insurance providers, you can make a claim under your policy:

• Travel Delay or Trip Abandonment? The Association of British Insurers has warned that many policies do not offer cover to those affected by the UK and European airspace closure. However, at AllClear, those claiming under the Travel Delay and Trip Abandonment sections of the AllClear travel insurance policy, WILL be eligible to make a claim.
• Package Holiday? Where a traveller has booked a package holiday, there is an obligation for the tour operator to provide an acceptable alternative or a refund. But increasingly people simply book a flight and make their own arrangements for accommodation or car hire – in this case the airline will only compensate for the airline ticket. This leaves the traveller picking up the bill for a hotel room or villa which he can’t get to, though no fault of his own! The disappointment on missing out on the holiday is bad enough without having to payout for accommodation not used. This is where a reputable travel policy is important to limit these losses
• Claim: If you have not been able to travel because your flights have been cancelled AllClear is offering to reschedule the insurance to your new dates. AllClear has confirmed that those claiming under the travel delay and trip abandonment sections of the AllClear Personal travel policy, WILL be eligible to make a claim.

 To find out how to make a claim, please follow this link

Ok so that information should help if you are an AllClear Travel policy holder and have a holiday currently affected by the volcano. But what about if you have a holiday coming up soon and need to look at your travel insurance? What additional considerations might you need?

• Forward thinking for a new holiday? The volcanic ash cloud is costing the airlines and tour operators millions of pounds and it’s probable that not all will survive, so the next issue could easily be a spate of financial failures. AllClear has led the way in providing cover for this eventuality. You might want to check the small print for this option when shortlisting your travel insurance
• Does the policy have Dynamic Packaging Insurance? Package tours booked through a travel agent are usually protected by bonding such as ABTA or ATOL. But if you tend to book your travel separately – Accommodation, Flight, Car Hire, Excursions, etc., if one of the companies suffered financial failure, you may lose out without this cover.

We hope that information removes some of the cloud of confusion surrounding the travel disruptions from the volcanic ash. You might also want to check out our news article on this topic here.

If you have any other questions on how to make a claim, or the detail of your cover, please feel free to ask them in the comments box below. Alternatively, if you would just like to share your own experiences on how you have been affected by the volcanic ash cloud, please feel free to do so in the box below.