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Coronavirus Travel Rights
Latest on travel restrictions being lifted, plus refunds and travel insurance help
After months of Covid-19 restrictions UK holidays are back on the cards and some overseas holidays are now allowed again, though widespread limitations on travel remain. Whether you're wondering if you can now book a trip or are still trying to get money back for a cancelled one, this guide has key info on the latest rules, travel insurance, refund rights and more.
Important: This is a fast-changing situation. The info below is the best we have currently, but we'll be updating this guide. If you've a question that isn't covered below, please let us know at news@moneysavingexpert.com (though unfortunately we can't respond to every email).
Looking for other help? This guide focuses on travel, but also see:
- Coronavirus employees' help for the latest on the furlough scheme.
- Coronavirus self-employed help for the latest on support schemes.
- Coronavirus universal credit & benefits for info on help available.
- Coronavirus finance & bills for help with mortgages, rent, debts and bills.
- Coronavirus life in lockdown for help with shopping, weddings, MOTs etc.
Plus we've specific info on: Wedding cancellation rights & WFH tax reclaiming
Travel restrictions have been easing gradually since the start of spring – travel within much of the UK is now allowed and some overseas holidays have resumed.
As restrictions are lifted, a new suite of rules has been put in place. There are three key points to bear in mind before you book:
- Check the UK's traffic light system for what you need to do on your return. You can jump to How the new traffic light system works below – or read on.
- Check the UK Foreign Office's advice on whether it's safe to travel. This is key for travel insurance cover and your rights to a refund. If the Foreign Office advises against "all but essential travel" or "all travel" you aren't supposed to go, and this may trigger a refund. Travelling in defiance of the advice may also invalidate your insurance.
- Remember, even if the UK Government says it's OK to travel, there's no guarantee your destination will let you in (many currently won't). For example, Australia is on the green list from a UK perspective, but it's not letting holidaymakers in. Iceland is also green but visitors need to be double-vaccinated.
There's still a huge amount of uncertainty, as the rules could change unexpectedly. Essentially, before booking anything it's crucial to make sure you fully understand the financial risk, and book flexibly wherever possible.
The latest on UK and overseas travel restrictions – the key need-to-knows
Travel restrictions vary depending on which part of the UK you're in. To find out the exact rules which apply in a given area, see the following Government websites for: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – but here's a summary:
How the new traffic light system works – will I have to self-isolate?
It's no longer illegal to leave the UK to go on a holiday abroad. As part of a system of new rules on international travel, countries have been placed in one of three categories, as set out below. (Currently, destinations are categorised in exactly the same way by England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales though that could change in the future.)
The first review of the traffic light lists took place last week. The table below sets out the current position now that the latest changes – including Portugal moving to the amber list – have come into effect.
Traffic light system – summary of the rules across the UK
| Category | Destinations on list | Rules on returning to England/ Northern Ireland/ Scotland/ Wales |
 Green |
11, incl Australia, Gibraltar, Iceland, Israel, New Zealand & Singapore. See full Eng list / NI list / Scot list / Wal list | • Must take pre-departure test before returning • Must also take PCR test on or before day two of arrival • DON'T need to quarantine on return, unless you get a positive result
|
 Amber |
170+, incl much of Europe (eg, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal & Spain), the USA, Morocco & Sri Lanka. See full Eng list / Scot list / Wal list (no separate NI list) | • Must take pre-departure test before returning • Must also take PCR test on day two AND day eight after arriving • Must self-isolate for 10 days after arrival – can be at home • You can end self-isolation early on day five by taking extra test (Eng only) |
 Red |
50, incl Brazil, Egypt, India, Maldives, South Africa & UAE. See full Eng list / NI list / Scot list / Wal list | • Must take pre-departure test before returning • Must also take PCR test on day two AND day eight after arriving • Must undergo 10 days of managed quarantine in hotel, which could be pricey (currently single adult travellers are charged £1,750) |
Day two/eight tests and managed quarantine packages must be booked before departure. If booking tests, see our Covid test cost-cutting tips, though in Scot and Wal tests must be booked via the CTM portal and in NI tests must be booked from a UK Government approved provider. Also see help booking hotel quarantine packages in Eng, NI, Scot and Wal.
The Government has said its traffic light lists are based on factors including the percentage of the country's population which has been vaccinated, the rate of infection, the prevalence of variants of concern, and the country's access to reliable scientific data. A 'green watchlist' has also been introduced to help identify countries most at risk of moving from green to amber.
Crucially, the traffic light list above is subject to change. It will be reviewed every three weeks – and the Government's also said it will "not hesitate to act immediately" should the data show that countries' risk ratings have changed. The traffic light system itself will be formally reviewed by 28 June and then again no later than 31 July and 1 October.
Check the Foreign Office's advice - it may not match the traffic light system
It's important to note that the traffic light rules detailed above don't give the whole picture, as they're primarily about what you have to do on returning to the UK. While the Government says you shouldn't travel to amber destinations, this doesn't legally stop you from going there on holiday – though you will need to self-isolate when you get back. And if a country's on the green list, that doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to go.
So you also need to check the UK Foreign Office advice for travelling to your destination. This is key because if it advises against travel to where you're going and you decide to go anyway, it may invalidate your travel insurance. It may also make it easier for you to get a full refund if the Foreign Office advises against travel - see more on Refund rights if the Foreign Office warns against travel below.
Crucially, don't assume the Foreign Office's verdict will align exactly with the traffic light system. For example, currently the whole of Spain is 'amber' on the traffic light list (so according to the Government, you shouldn't go).
Yet while the Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to most of Spain, that warning DOESN'T apply to the Canary Islands. So those with trips booked to the Canary Islands – unlike those booked to go elsewhere in Spain – are unlikely to invalidate their insurance if they travel, but are also not guaranteed refunds for package holidays if they don't go.
Many countries have their own entry requirements or have banned Brits
In addition to checking the UK's traffic light system and Foreign Office advice, you also still need to check your destination's entry requirements.
Countries across the globe have imposed various bans over the past year on Britons arriving from the UK. Australia, for example, has had a ban on travellers from the UK since the start of pandemic - that's despite it being on the UK's green list.
Even where there's no outright ban, there may be other restrictions in place, eg, you'll likely have to provide a negative coronavirus test and may have to quarantine on arrival. Check the Foreign Office website, as well as directly with the country itself (or its UK embassy website), for the latest before travelling.
Top 15 holiday destinations – what are their rules?
The table below, which we're updating regularly, shows the latest situation for the top 15 travel destinations for Brits. Always check for yourself before travelling or planning travel, as this is a fast-moving situation – if you spot something in the table that needs updating, please let us know.
Top 15 holiday destinations from the UK – what are the travel restrictions?
| Country | Traffic light list | Foreign Office approved travel? | UK holidaymakers allowed in? | Can I go without quarantining on arrival? | Can I go without Covid test? (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Amber | ✘ (excl Canary Islands) | ✓ (2) | ✓ | ✓ |
| France (3) | Amber | ✘ | ✓ (if fully vaccinated) (2) | ✓ (if fully vaccinated) | ✘ |
| USA | Amber | ✘ (excl Northern Mariana Islands and US Virgin Islands) |
✘ | N/A | N/A |
| Italy | Amber | ✘ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (but 10-day quarantine required if no test - and test must be taken for travel by air) |
| Germany | Amber | ✘ | ✘ | N/A | N/A |
| Greece | Amber | ✘ (excl Rhodes, Kos, Zakynthos, Corfu, Crete) | ✓ | ✓ | Depends (not unless vaccinated) |
| Portugal | Green (amber from Tue 8 June) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✘ |
| The Netherlands | Amber | ✘ | ✘ | N/A | N/A |
| Turkey | Red | ✘ | ✓ | ✓ | ✘ |
| Croatia | Amber | ✘ | ✓ | Depends (not unless you have negative test) | Depends (not unless vaccinated or hold a certificate of recovery) |
| United Arab Emirates | Red | ✘ | ✓ | ✓ | ✘ |
| Canada | Amber | ✘ | ✘ | N/A | N/A |
| Austria | Amber | ✘ | ✘ | N/A | N/A |
| Switzerland | Amber | ✘ | ✘ | N/A | N/A |
| Australia | Green | ✓ | ✘ | N/A | N/A |
Last fully checked 7 June 2021 – please let us know if you spot anything that needs updating. Top 15 countries from Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) data. (1) This shows if you need to take a test before entry – whether that's before travelling, on arrival at the airport or both. (2) May need to show proof of accommodation (eg, hotel booking confirmation or utility bill for holiday home) at the border. If staying with friends/ family an official letter confirming this may need to be sought (and possibly paid for). (3) Applies to France only – French overseas territories considered separately.
How can I prove my vaccination status?
If you're registered with a GP in England, the Government says you can use the existing NHS health app to show your vaccination status when abroad – though it's best to check your destination will accept this before travelling. Alternatively, you can request paper validation.
Elsewhere around the UK:
- In Scotland, you can view your vaccination record online or request a copy via the Covid-19 Status Helpline.
- In Wales, you can request a certificate if your travel is 'urgent' and the certificate is the only way to meet your destination's entry requirements (the Welsh government says it's working on delivering digital certification via the NHS app).
- In Northern Ireland, the government says it's working on solutions to enable proof of vaccination but notes that neither GP practices or other public health organisations are able to issue letters for travel purposes – so it's unclear what travellers can do in the meantime. We've asked and we'll update this guide when we know more.
With some countries around the world banning Brits and operators cancelling travel services, it may mean some UK travellers have been or could be stranded abroad. If so, here are your rights...
As restrictions ease, many will be considering booking a holiday in the UK or abroad. But with millions of trips cancelled as a result of the pandemic and ongoing uncertainty about the future, you may be concerned about what happens if you can't go.
Fear not. Whether you're looking at booking a new trip or trying to get a refund for a cancelled one, we've a round-up of your rights below. (The following applies to overseas and UK bookings, but for extra help on your rights domestically, see UK holiday bookings below.)
Travel firms SHOULD refund you for cancelled trips – though many have dragged their feet
As a general rule, if you've paid for a trip and then the travel firm cancels, you should be due a refund. Yet that hasn't always proved easy with cancellations due to the pandemic. While coronavirus has been devastating across the travel industry, firms have been treating customers in very different ways – as shown by several major MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) surveys we ran last year.
Even if some firms have previously been slow to refund customers, your right to a refund is clear:
- With most cancelled flights, you're due a full refund within seven days. Most cancelled flights will fall under flight delay rules (which have been written into UK law, and cover all flights leaving the UK or EU, as well as flights to the UK/EU on a UK/EU airline). These state you're entitled to choose between:
• EITHER a refund for the flight that was cancelled.
• OR an alternative flight (airlines call this re-routing) to your destination.
We've seen some airlines pushing customers towards getting a voucher instead, but you are absolutely entitled to a refund in this situation. In theory and according to the law, this should also be paid in seven days, though aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) acknowledged it was "very challenging" for airlines to sort it that quickly at the height of the pandemic. While refund backlogs should now have been cleared, refunds may still take longer in the future if restrictions suddenly change and there's a spate of cancellations.
- With cancelled package holidays, you're due a full refund within 14 days. Package holidaymakers whose trips are cancelled are also entitled to all their money back under the Package Travel Regulations.
Technically you're due this refund within two weeks, but in practice it could be longer – the Chartered Trading Standards Institute previously told us that insisting on a 14-day turnaround could be tricky given the volume of refunds travel firms were grappling with. While most of these backlogs should now have been cleared, it may still be advisable to show forbearance and not push the law as far as it can technically go on the timescale. But the important thing is that you are due a refund.
With other travel bookings (hotels, car hire etc), the rules are less clear-cut but you SHOULD still get a refund. Generally speaking, if the service you have booked isn't provided, you should be refunded – and that's a principle the UK competition watchdog has clearly supported. Enforcing it may be tricky though, especially if the firm is abroad where local laws may be different to those in the UK – so there are no guarantees.
Some countries may require you to show a negative test result on arrival. If you've taken the test but the trip is then cancelled, you need to contact the provider you ordered the test from to see if it'll refund you – but there are no guarantees. If you've paid for the test but not yet taken it as your trip was cancelled, you may find providers are more willing to give refunds.
Struggling to get a refund? You can also try your card firm or insurer – though there are no guarantees
If you're having real difficulties getting the refund you're owed for a cancelled trip, there are other avenues you can try – though none are guaranteed to work:
- You may be able to claim from your card firm. If you paid by debit or credit card, you can also try getting money back via your card firm. Try claiming from your card provider under chargeback (or Section 75).
Under chargeback, which isn't a legal requirement, just a customer service promise, your bank will try to get money back from the bank of the firm you bought from – you can try it on debit card purchases and those which are less than £100. Alternatively, under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, if you pay for something costing between £100 and £30,000 on a credit card, the card firm's equally liable if something goes wrong, so you may be able to claim. See full Section 75 and Chargeback info.
MSE founder Martin Lewis suggests you try chargeback first though: "Even if you actually have a credit card and qualify for Section 75, I wouldn't ask for that at this stage. I would ask for a chargeback. That's because under the chargeback process, which is part of the Visa, Mastercard or Amex rules, your bank is asking for money back from the holiday firm's bank, which your bank is unlikely to have an issue doing."
You can try speaking to your insurer... but it's tricky. Most travel insurers have told us if you're entitled to a refund from a firm you've booked with, you'll need to chase that firm for a refund rather than claim on your insurance. This also applies if you're offered a voucher when you're legally entitled to a cash refund.
Just because insurers say they won't accept your claims though, that doesn't mean there's no point trying. Insurers want to avoid paying out when they can and, while you should seek a refund from the provider first when you're legally owed one, if you're really struggling, ask your insurer if it can help – even if it's by goodwill. Plus if you are unhappy with your insurer's decision you can also take it to the independent arbitrator, the free Financial Ombudsman Service.
If all else fails, there's the legal route. Even though some insurers say you must do this before going to them, in practice this is probably the last resort – we've put it last because it could cost money, may be time-consuming and you'll need to weigh up seriously whether the sum you're chasing is worth it. How you do it will depend on what you're claiming for. A good first step may be to threaten court action in a letter – then you could end up having to file a county court claim online. See our Small Claims Court guide for full help.
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NB: Here we're only talking about trips, either overseas or within the UK, which AREN'T cancelled by the firm you booked with. If your trip is cancelled, see above for full help on how to get a refund.
Important. Check refund policies and DON'T automatically rush to cancel your trip yourself
The table below goes through different airline, tour operator etc refund policies. If you can't go and you can get a refund, then simply claim that money back and you're done.
But if you're not certain to get a refund, and your trip has NOT been cancelled by the firm you booked with, don't make a rash decision and automatically cancel the trip yourself. That's because if it later cancels it (given how fluid the situation is, that may yet happen) you're due a refund, so it's a bit of cat and mouse.
However, don't leave it too late and miss out on a voucher or the ability to change the ticket, as there are often deadlines to invoke these policies. Even if there's a fee, that's better than losing all your money.
Remember, though – if you booked a cancellable hotel, or your airline lets you cancel for no charge, then you can cancel at will.
Unable to travel due to lockdown restrictions or is a border you want to cross closed? You may get a refund
We've an overview of the different scenarios, and what your travel firm or airline should do for you in each:
- Your trip's still going ahead but lockdown restrictions don't allow you to travel. General guidance from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) states that you should get a full refund if it would be illegal for you to use a booking, for example, if there's a full lockdown or 'stay at home' directive in place.
Yet this isn't a definitive interpretation of the law, and the CMA has been investigating travel firms which only seem to offer vouchers in this scenario – so getting a refund may not always be plain sailing. Plus if you've flights that start in other countries, or hotels booked there, you're at the mercy of your travel provider and the country it's governed by.
- You can go on the trip but your destination won't let you in. If your trip is still going ahead AND you can leave your region BUT the destination you're going to won't let you in, then you're also at the mercy of your travel provider – check its cancellation policy to see if it'll refund you.
Plus the Package Travel Regulations state if "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances" occur which "significantly affect the performance of the package," you're due a full refund even if YOU cancel. So this may offer some protection if you can't get to your destination.
- You can leave your area, and your destination will let you in, but you simply don't want to travel. You're unlikely to get your money back as the provider is still offering the service you booked, unless you have a flexible flight and/or flexible or cancellable hotel booking.
If your flight or holiday is still running and you have travel insurance, it might cover you for overseas trips where it's illegal for you to travel – but only if your policy covers coronavirus cancellation. This will usually only be the case if you took out the insurance and booked the trip before mid-March 2020, but check. If the trip or hotel was booked later, travel insurance is very unlikely to help you.
The same goes for those who simply change their mind – travel insurance won't cover this scenario regardless of when you took out the policy or booked the trip. See more in I've bought travel insurance – am I covered? below.
What are travel providers' cancellation and rebooking policies?
The table below covers the cancellation policies of major travel firms, split into your rights when the firm cancels and your rights when you cancel – this applies for usually inflexible tickets.
Be aware though that the situation is changing fast, so it's best to double-check with your travel provider directly before making any decisions:
Travel firm cancellation and rebooking rights
| Travel firm | Refund policy if firm cancels | Refund policy if you cancel |
| Airbnb | Full refund | Full refund if you cancel 24hrs+ before check-in if host has 'flexible' policy or 5 days+ before check-in if 'moderate flexibility'. Cancellation fees apply with other policies |
| British Airways | Some flights cancelled until late summer (check yours here) – full refund, voucher or rebooking | For flights before 30 Apr 22 – can claim voucher until check-in closes |
| Easyjet | Full refund, voucher or rebooking | For flights up to 30 Sep 21 – full refund, voucher or rebooking if lockdown travel ban means you can't fly. Otherwise cancellation fees may apply. |
| Eurostar | Full refund | For trips up to 30 Sep 21 – up to 7 full days before departure, can claim voucher to use before 30 Dec 21 or rearrange trip without paying fees (must pay any fare difference) |
| Hoseasons | Refund or voucher where accommodation must close | TBC |
| Jet2 | All flights and hols up to 1 Jul 21 (excl Jersey) cancelled – full refund | Full refund if destination has mandatory quarantine that you can't exit with negative Covid-19 test. Can rebook without fees in some other cases (must pay any fare difference). Otherwise change/cancellation fees apply |
| Logan Air | Full refund or rebooking | Full refund or rebooking (but must pay any fare difference) if UK Govt restrictions mean you legally can't fly. Otherwise change/cancellation fees apply |
| Loveholidays | Full refund or rebooking
|
Cancellation fees apply. May be able to rebook without fees in some cases |
| Ryanair | Full refund or rebooking | Cancellation fees apply. For bookings up to 29 Sep 2021 – up to 7 full days before departure, can rebook without fees for travel by 30 Dec 21 (must pay any fare difference). |
| Tui | Full refund or rebooking | Cancellation fees apply. May be able to rebook without fees in some cases. |
| Virgin Atlantic | All Orlando & some Caribbean flights from Heathrow/Manchester up to late Jun 21 cancelled – full refund, voucher or rebooking | Cancellation fees may apply. For flights up to 30 Apr 22 – can rebook without fees (but must pay any fare difference) or claim voucher to be used by 30 Apr 23 |
The information in this table is constantly changing. This was the situation when we last checked on 7 June 2021.
When it comes to car hire, we checked the websites of several major car hire firms and saw that Avis and Budget say that bookings can be cancelled for free. If you've already paid, you can get a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the day your rental was due to begin (though fees will be deducted from your refund if you cancel within 24 hours or don't show up). If you were due to pay on collection, you can cancel right up to the time your rental was set to start.
What if the Foreign Office advises against travel?
Between March and July 2020, the Foreign Office warned against all non-essential travel overseas. That blanket warning has now been lifted for some countries, but remains in place for others.
As well as being a useful safety guide, Foreign Office warnings are important in the following scenarios:
- Package holiday firms should refund you if there's a Foreign Office warning. If a Foreign Office warning is put in place under the Package Travel Regulations, you SHOULD be able to get a refund within 14 days – even if the trip's not been cancelled – though always check first with the firm before you cancel.
This isn't the case if with DIY trips where you've booked hotels and flights separately. In that situation you can still ask try asking the companies concerned for a refund, but you don't have the same legal protection or rights.
- If you travel when there is a Foreign Office warning, most travel insurance becomes totally invalid. This applies even for non-Covid issues as the whole policy is usually invalid. As there are some exceptions, do check.
Foreign Office advice doesn't exactly align with the traffic light system - and it can be the key factor when it comes to refunds. For example, currently the whole of Spain is 'amber' on the traffic light list, but while the Foreign Office warns against all but essential travel to most of the country, that warning doesn't apply to the Canary Islands. That means those with package holidays booked to most of Spain should be entitled to a refund if they decide not to go, but that won't apply to those going to the Canary Islands.
Can I get a refund if I need to quarantine on arrival at my destination?
If the country you're going to insists you must quarantine for a certain amount of time on arrival, it's unlikely that airlines or hotels will offer a refund if they're open and running services. You also won't be able to use credit or debit card protection, because the service is still available.
However, if you've a package holiday, you MAY be able to get a refund from the travel firm. Where the destination country puts a mandatory quarantine in place for all arrivals, this could be considered a 'significant change' to your holiday. Package travel association ABTA says travel companies should offer an alternative or a full refund in those circumstances.
What if I can't or don't want to go because I have to quarantine on my return?
We've previously been asked by users if they'll legally be able to get a refund on travel bookings (for example, a flight or package holiday) if they are unable or unwilling to quarantine on their return, and are therefore unable to take their trip. The short answer is no, as the company would not have to refund you for your disinclination to travel – though some firms may agree to help out, so it's worth asking.
Your travel insurance is also unlikely to cover you if you have to quarantine. However, insurance trade body the Association of British Insurers says you should ask your insurer directly to be certain, as some insurers may consider exemptions if you will be disproportionately affected, eg, if having to quarantine on your return will affect your employment.
Similarly, if an overseas destination moves from the green list to the amber or red lists in the new traffic light system, it's unlikely that you'll be able to claim a refund from travel firms or your travel insurer, as the change wouldn't impact the delivery of your holiday – only what happens when you get back. However, if your destination is reclassified, it's possible your travel provider may choose to cancel your booking itself – in the event this happens, the normal rules on cancellations would apply.
The Government has also said it will maintain a 'green watchlist' as part of the traffic light system to help identify countries most at risk of moving from green to amber, which could provide an added bit of certainty when booking – though it remains to be seen how this will work in practice, particularly as it's also said it "will not hesitate" to act immediately if a country's risk rating changes.
While the above sections on cancellations apply to both UK and overseas holidays, there are some specific extra points to consider with UK holidays – especially if you're still chasing a refund for a cancellation as a result of a previous lockdown.
As with overseas holidays, a key factor in whether you're owed a refund for a UK trip is whether your holiday firm has cancelled your booking. If yours does, then in simple terms you're likely due a full refund.
If you've booked a package holiday, then under the Package Travel Regulations you are entitled to get all your money back within two weeks of cancellation. But even if it's not a package, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) says as a general rule firms MUST offer cash refunds for cancellations. So if your holiday or accommodation booking is cancelled, you're likely due a full refund and should ask for one if it's not offered.
Holiday not cancelled? Your refund rights depend on rules in place at the time of your trip
Things are more complex if your holiday is running and your accommodation is open but you're unable to go due to lockdown restrictions either at your holiday destination or in your local area. The key to your rights here is the legal status of the restrictions which are stopping you travelling:
If travel's illegal under coronavirus rules, you're likely due a full refund
The good news is in this situation the CMA says you should expect a full refund. Its guidance states that consumers should get their money back if they're not provided with a service due to lockdown laws, or can't access what they paid for "because, for example, lockdown laws in the UK or abroad have made it illegal to receive or use the goods or service". This would apply both to not being able to leave their area or to get to an area where the accommodation is based – and it will apply in the majority of cases due to current lockdown restrictions across different areas of the UK.
It's important to note however that CMA guidance isn't a definitive interpretation of the law, and this is a new scenario which hasn't been tested – so while you can direct your holiday accommodation provider to the guidance, complain to the CMA or even pursue legal action, there are no guarantees.
If travel's advised against but not illegal, your refund rights are less clear
If your trip is to or from a part of the UK where travel is advised against but is not illegal, things could be more complicated.
Unfortunately, in this situation you may find it more difficult to get your money back if you decide not to travel. The CMA's guidance says if the restrictions which prevent a service being used aren't legal restrictions, it's not clear whether a consumer would be entitled to a full refund.
This doesn't mean you're definitely not entitled to a refund. The CMA says if a consumer would be at serious risk if they went ahead with a contract (such as a holiday booking) against Government guidance, the contract could be deemed to have been "frustrated" – in which case you could be owed a full refund. But it's much murkier – and again, you need to remember these are untested situations and ultimately only a court can decide how the law applies in different scenarios.
The best bet is to speak to your holiday or accommodation provider and ask what it'll offer. You may be able to cancel under your usual terms and conditions, or ask for more flexibility such as a date change. If you can't come to an agreement you're both happy with, you'll need to weigh up how hard to push for a refund. You can try the steps we outline above, but there are no guarantees and you may be less likely to have success if your trip isn't technically forbidden by law.
If you're still allowed to travel but decide not to go, you've no automatic right to a refund
If you are still permitted to go on your holiday under official restrictions and guidance, it's important to understand you don't have any automatic right to a refund if you choose not to go.
If your holiday's still on or the hotel's still open, your refund rights will simply depend on the terms and conditions you agreed to when you booked. Of course, these may still let you cancel for free or move your trip, and some firms are also offering extra flexibility to all their customers at the moment due to coronavirus, so it's still worth checking what your options are.
What if I've booked a trip for multiple households?
If your holiday is to and from a permitted area, but would break the rules because the travellers are from multiple households, CMA guidance suggests you'd be owed a refund (though it's not completely clear-cut and there are no guarantees).
When we checked back in September, all the major UK firms we've spoken to said they would pay out – see more details in our Social gatherings of more than six banned – your refund rights MSE News story.
We need to make one thing clear from the outset – going forward, travel insurance WON'T cover cancellations due to future UK or foreign government no-travel rules.
No mainstream policies we know of cover cancellations where coronavirus rules mean you can't travel, or where you need to quarantine on your return and can't go as a result. Nor will they cover you cancelling if the rules will let you go, but you don't feel safe.
This is because coronavirus became a "known event" in March 2020 and insurance is usually only there to protect from unexpected events.
So whether you need to cancel because you legally can't travel due to a local lockdown being reimposed, the Foreign Office has advised against travel to your intended destination, or the country itself won't let you in, the result is the same – you're very unlikely to be able to claim on your travel insurance.
However, there are still a couple of scenarios where your insurer may still offer some level of cover:
- You or a family member get coronavirus before you're due to go. Some policies still cover coronavirus medically, and will pay out if you (or a family member or travelling companion) catch coronavirus and therefore can't go on holiday.
- You booked both the holiday and the insurance before March 2020. If this is the case, your travel insurance should still cover you, as both were booked before the pandemic was deemed a known event. However, you will be expected to seek refunds from your airline or travel firm first.
It's important to note that other reasons you may need to cancel a holiday, such as bereavement, illness, accident or redundancy, for example, should still be covered as normal (provided you're not travelling against Foreign Office advice). And many of the other normal reasons to get travel insurance still apply.
So if you're booking trips for the future, get cover ASAB (as soon as you book) – see our Cheap Travel Insurance guide for help choosing a policy. All our current top picks cover you if you catch coronavirus on holiday and need medical help, and many cover cancellation if you can't go because you catch it in the days before your trip. We also have a few picks which let you add cover to travel against Foreign Office advice.
If you already have insurance but you're not sure what you're covered for, read your policy and ask your insurer. It should be able to advise you if you have a claim or not. If you're convinced you do, but it's turned down your claim or not treated you fairly, we've help in the questions below about what you can do.
Quick travel insurance questions
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If you are one of the many who had to postpone your 2020 holiday and rearrange it for 2021, you might find that you can still use your current travel insurance policy. To move the insurance dates, or extend your annual travel insurance policy, you will need get in touch with your insurer. But in short:
- If you have a single trip policy, you may still be covered if you take the holiday within a year of the original travel date. For single-trip policies, the rearranged holiday would need to be within 365 days of the original departure date to do this.
- Got an annual policy? You might be able to extend it by up to three months. There is some flexibility for annual travel insurance policies, with many insurers giving the option to suspend the policy for three months, or get an extra three months of cover. For example, if you moved your holiday to February next year, and your travel insurance policy ends December 2020, you might be able to extend it to March next year.
- It won't cost you anything as long as your holiday is like-for-like, just at a different date. If your rearranged holiday is to a new destination seen as 'riskier', or for a longer trip, it is likely you will be asked to pay extra, eg, if you decide to swap your week in Spain for 10 days in South Africa.
- Your cover stays the same except for the coronavirus cover. While your original travel insurance policy might have included cancellation cover if the Foreign Office advice was not to travel due to coronavirus, it is likely you will lose this cover for any extension period of an annual policy or a rearranged single-trip policy. But you should still be covered if you need to cancel because you or a family member is diagnosed with coronavirus before you go (many give this, but not all). Plus when you are on holiday, you will still have medical cover, including repatriation, if you need medical help abroad due to coronavirus.
Everything else will stay the same – so, for instance, if you were to break your arm, be made redundant or suffer a bereavement before travel, your usual cover will remain in place.
- You can ONLY move your policy if it's due to Foreign Office advice or travel disruptions (eg, local lockdown). If your holiday has been rearranged because you no longer want to go this year, it may not be possible to change the insurance dates (as it will be viewed as disinclination to travel), but it is always worth asking.
- If you can't extend it, you might be able to get a refund instead. Many travel insurers are now offering pro-rata refunds to customers who've ruled out travelling due to coronavirus and want to cancel their policy. But you'll need to request a refund to get one – and should only do this if you're certain you no longer need the cover. Importantly, you can only do this if you haven't already made a claim on your policy. For more, see our Can I get a refund? section.
Here is a table showing what some insurers will let you do if you need to move your holiday because your original holiday has been cancelled. If your insurer is not listed, and you have feedback to share, let us know.
Which insurers will let you change your policy to your new travel dates?
Single-trip policy Annual-trip policy AllClear Yes Yes (1) Axa Yes No Churchill Yes No Cover4You Yes Yes (2) Coverwise Yes No Direct Line Yes No Insurefor.com Yes Yes Leisure Guard (3) Yes Yes LV Yes No Saga
Yes Yes Trailfinders Yes Yes (1) If purchased from 1 Jan - 14 Jul 2020, a three-month extension is added. The extension will also apply for renewing customers up until 10 Aug 2020.
(2) Three-month extension request ends 31 Jul 2020.(3) Applicable to Leisure Guard policies purchased before 18 Jun 2020.
- If you have a single trip policy, you may still be covered if you take the holiday within a year of the original travel date. For single-trip policies, the rearranged holiday would need to be within 365 days of the original departure date to do this.
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