I have some experience (even learning?) to share, so that the same doesn't happen to you.... My BMC travel insurance (which I have always assumed to be a very good policy) has cancellation cover included but only for very specific things (mostly illness related, or personal trauma). I have just been advised that it doesn't cover a trip being cancelled due to not enough people signing-up for it (it wasn't viable for the guide). The policy has a detailed list of things it covers and a list of things it doesn't cover and these circumstances are not on either list. I had booked non-refundable train tickets to Switzerland via Eurostar (the cheapest available, booked early.. ) and so I have lost £240....
Please don't let the same happen to you - and I would be very interested to know if you have an insurance policy that would cover such a cause for cancellation and also gives very good ski off piste/ rescue cover. I take out BMC insurance because I want very good cover for ski tours i.e. especially mountain rescue, health, accident etc But I am very disappointed and feel rather let down in this instance. £240 is a lot of money to lose.... If you have any other suggestions/tips, do please let me know. Perhaps you will say "read the small print" or don't book "non-refundable tickets"... or "check with the guide/coordinator how the trip bookings are going before you book the travel" I guess I am aware of these three...!!! Perhaps it is helpful for you to be aware of them too?!
Thank you, in advance for your advice/thoughts.
Regards
Jan
EllySchierbeek
Hi Jan, I have never yet come across cancellation insurance that covers anything other than illness/accident to oneself or a close family member that prevents you from travelling. Whether offered by the airline with the ticket, or by a third party provider. In your case you would just have to use the ticket anyway, and do something else skiing, or try to put together another guided group. Many bureaux de guides have group days, and as big ski resorts have numerous bureaux de guides, you could be out several days in the week. Just a suggestion for the future. I know it's really disappointing though when your plan falls through.
Anonymous (not verified)
Thanks for the warning;
I agree with Jan, this is a tricky problem as we are mostly self booking (and therefore fall outside the terms of most 'non-traumatic' cancellation clauses). I don't have a solution, but there are a lot more risks than just cancellation to consider. I use the AAC Membership for rescue cover, and normally book another winter sports insurance to cover the holiday aspects (kit insurance) in the hope that it covers everything.
www.defaqto.com is a good site for comparing normal travel insurance.
Check out http://eurostarclient.com/2009/08/22/buying-and-selling-second-hand-eurostar-tickets/ for discussion about 'offloading' spare tickets.
Note:-Ebay will not allow sale of valid tickets; as it's illegal, but they don't always get round to bouncing the adds for them.
AndrewKydd
I concur. Insurance companies never have, and never will, insure a risk that can be pinned on someone else. In this case that's the guide, and your first recourse for a compensation claim would be there. But I expect the guide will be able to avoid that liability somehow.
The second point is that, in travel insurance terms, you are not £240 down. It's a bit harsh, but in their eyes you would still be able to travel to wherever, even if you don't do what you originally intended there, even if you just watch TV all week. They didn't insure a fulfilling week's mountain adventure, just a trip to the alps. They would see it as your 'choice' not to travel and therefore would see no liability.
As Elly says, there's lots of choice for things to do in Switzerland. I hope you're able to find an alternative way to use those tickets!
Best wishes,
Andrew
Anonymous (not verified)
Dear Elly, Noel, Andrew
Thanks so much for your helpful replies and taking the time to post them - much appreciated. Quick reply mainly to say thank you. By the way I didn't go on the trip as it was a 'specialist tour' and I felt that if I went, but tried to do something else and on my own, that I would be spending even more money but not on a trip I wanted! So my thinking was to cut my losses now! But I can understand the perspectives you have shared on how insurance companies will view it and who is holding the risk. I think it's been a learning experience as we say...!!
Thanks again. Best wishes
Jan