MSE News
Coronavirus Travel Rights
Latest on UK and overseas travel restrictions, plus refunds and insurance help
The 'traffic light' travel system used to determine the rules for those travelling to the UK has been overhauled this month. We've full info on what's happening, including changes to testing and quarantining. Plus, this guide also has key info on 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
October travel shake-up announced, including lower test costs for many
Some key travel changes are taking place in October. Here's what's happening:
From 4am on Monday 11 October:
- 47 destinations will be removed from the red list leaving just seven destinations. This means travellers to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales from these countries and territories will no longer be required to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine. The seven destinations that will remain on the red list are as follows: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
- A further 37 destinations will be added to the list of approved foreign vaccination programmes for those travelling to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This means travellers arriving from these destinations who've been jabbed will soon be treated as 'fully vaccinated', allowing them to avoid pre-departure tests, self-isolation for 10 days on arrival, and taking day two and day eight post-arrival tests.
From 4am on Sunday 24 October:
- Fully vaccinated travellers to England will be able to take a cheaper lateral flow test instead of the day two PCR test. In addition, passengers taking postal tests in England will be able to send a picture of their lateral flow test to verify the result. See our Cheap Covid travel tests guide to find the cheapest test. Anyone testing positive will still need to isolate and take a free NHS confirmatory PCR test.
Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have yet to confirm their positions; we'll update this guide when we know more.
- If you change flights or trains on your return journey to England and Northern Ireland all that matters is your country of departure. We've asked the Scottish and Welsh governments if the same applies and we will update this guide when we know more.
The rest of this guide covers the rules as they currently stand across the UK.
Travel restrictions have been easing gradually since the start of spring – travel within the UK is now allowed and some overseas holidays have resumed.
As restrictions are lifted, a suite of rules has been put in place. There are three key points to bear in mind before you book:
- Check the UK's travel system for what you need to do on your return. You can jump to How the travel system works below – or read on. It's important to note that the rules don't give the whole picture, as they're primarily about what you have to do on returning to the UK, so you also need to follow the steps below.
- 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 – see more on refund rights if the Foreign Office warns against travel below. 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 (and many won't). For example, Australia is on the green list from a UK perspective, but it's not letting holidaymakers in. Even where there's no outright ban, there may be other restrictions in place, eg, you may have to provide a negative coronavirus test and quarantine on arrival. Check the Foreign Office website, as well as directly with the country itself (or its UK embassy website), for the latest.
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:
As part of a system of rules on international travel, destinations had been placed in one of three categories - green, amber and red. But on 4 October 2021, the green and amber lists were scrapped in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales and replaced with a red list and non-red list group of destinations.
From 4 October, pre-departure tests before arrival from a non-red list destination were also scrapped for fully vaccinated adults travelling to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, while children aged 17 and under who reside in the UK and who are travelling to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales can now follow the same rules as people who are fully vaccinated.
In addition, from 4am on Monday 11 October the red list shrunk from 54 to seven destinations - see the table below for both the rules.
| Category | Destinations on list | Rules on returning to England/ Northern Ireland/ Scotland/ Wales |
Non-red list destinations |
207+, incl Australia, Austria, the Azores, Barbados, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland and Taiwan |
Fully vaccinated travellers (or u18s): • No pre-departure test required • Must take PCR test within two days of returning to the UK (excludes u5s) • Don't need to quarantine on return, unless you get a positive result
Unvaccinated travellers: • Must take pre-departure test before returning. • Must also take PCR test on day two AND day eight after arriving back in the UK |
Red list destinations |
7 - Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela | Fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers (including u18s): • Must take pre-departure test before returning (excludes u11s) • Must also take PCR test on day two AND day eight after arriving back to the UK (excludes u5s) • Must undergo 11 nights of managed quarantine in hotel, which could be pricey (currently single adult travellers are charged £2,285) (1) |
Travellers arriving to the UK who've been in transit must follow the rules for the highest risk country they have been through in the 10 days prior to arrival. 'Transit' is where new passengers board or where people on board depart and mix with people outside. (1) Day two/eight tests and managed quarantine packages must be booked before departure. If booking tests, see our Covid test cost-cutting tips. Also see help booking hotel quarantine packages in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Top holiday destinations – what are their rules?
The table below, which we're updating regularly, shows the latest situation for 20 of the top travel destinations for Brits. It shows where tests are needed pre-departure, though you may also need to take a test at the airport and quarantine if it comes back positive.
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 holiday destinations – what are their entry rules and restrictions?
| Destination & traffic light status | Foreign Office approved travel? | Rules if fully vaccinated | Rules if not fully vaccinated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Non-red list |
✓ | Entry not allowed | |
| Austria Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry allowed - No quarantine or test required |
- Entry allowed with proof first vaccination received 21 to 270 days prior to travel - Or, entry allowed with negative test but must isolate for min 5 days - U12s must follow the rules that apply to their parents/guardians |
| Barbados Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry only allowed with negative test - Must also take PCR test on arrival & quarantine until negative result (0-48hrs avg) |
- Entry only allowed with negative test - Min 5-day quarantine (but u18s with fully vaccinated adult only need to quarantine until negative test result) |
| Canada Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry only allowed with negative test - No quarantine |
- Entry not allowed (u18s can enter with negative test but must quarantine for 14 days; u12s can enter with negative test with fully vaccinated adult without having to quarantine) |
| Croatia Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry only allowed with negative test (u12s exempt with adult who has negative test) - No quarantine required |
|
| France (1) Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry allowed - No quarantine or test required |
- Entry not allowed (u18s can enter with negative test with fully vaccinated adult; u12s exempt from testing) |
| Germany Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry allowed - No quarantine or test required |
- Entry not allowed (u12s can enter without a test with fully vaccinated adult but must quarantine for 5 days) |
| Gibraltar Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry allowed - No quarantine or test required |
- Entry only allowed with negative test (u12s exempt) - No quarantine |
| Greece (incl islands) Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry allowed - No quarantine or test required |
- Entry only allowed with negative test or proof of recovery (u12s exempt) |
| Italy Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry only allowed with negative test - No quarantine |
- Entry only allowed with negative test (u6s exempt) - Five-day quarantine (u18s exempt if travelling with vaccinated adult and show negative test. u6s exempt) |
| Malta Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry allowed - No quarantine or test required |
- Entry not allowed (u12s can enter with negative test with fully vaccinated adult; u5s exempt from testing) |
| Portugal – mainland (3) Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry only allowed with negative test (u12s exempt) - No quarantine |
|
| Portugal – Azores Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry only allowed with negative test (u13s exempt) - No quarantine |
|
| Portugal – Madeira Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry allowed |
- Entry only allowed with negative test or proof of recovery (u12s exempt) - No quarantine |
| Spain (incl Balearic and Canary Islands) (1) (2) Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry allowed - No quarantine or test required |
- Entry only allowed with negative test (u12s exempt) - No quarantine |
| Switzerland Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry allowed - No quarantine or test required |
- Entry not allowed (u18s can enter with negative test with fully vaccinated adult; u16s exempt from testing) |
| The Netherlands Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry only allowed with negative test (u12s exempt) - No quarantine |
- Entry not allowed (u18s can enter with negative test with fully vaccinated adult without quarantine; u12s are also exempt from testing) |
| Turkey Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry only allowed with negative test (u6s exempt) - No quarantine |
|
| United Arab Emirates Non-red list |
✓ | - Entry only allowed with negative test (u12s exempt) - No quarantine in Dubai or Abu Dhabi |
-Entry only allowed with negative test (u12s exempt) - 10-day quarantine in Abu Dhabi - No quarantine in Dubai |
| USA Non-red list |
✓ | Entry not allowed (although entry for fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed from 8 Nov - more details are to follow) | |
Last fully checked 11 October 2021 – please let us know if you spot anything that needs updating. (1) May need to show proof of accommodation, which might include a paid-for official letter. (2) Rules if travelling directly to the islands from the UK; if travelling from mainland Spain, other requirements may apply. (3) Only EU citizens with an 'EU Digital Covid Vaccination Passport' are exempt from testing before arrival. If travelling from the UK, you may be asked to show a negative Covid test result and/or vaccination certificate at border control.
How can I prove my vaccination status?
Here's how to prove your vaccination status:
- In England, if you're registered with a GP 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 online or by calling 119.
- In Northern Ireland, if you're travelling within the next three months, you can request a digital certificate and QR code online. Or, you can request a paper version by calling 0300 200 7814.
- In Scotland, you can view your vaccination record online or request a copy via the Covid-19 Status Helpline.
- In Wales, you can access your digital vaccination record online or request a paper certificate if you can't use the digital service or need a bilingual copy.
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 | Refunds vary depending on how far in advance you cancel and the host's booking policy. Eg, can usually get 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 and service fees may be non-refundable depending on your booking history. |
| British Airways | Some flights may be cancelled (check yours here) – full refund, voucher or rebooking | For flights before 31 Aug 22 – can rebook (must pay any fare difference) or claim voucher before check-in closes |
| Easyjet | Full refund, voucher or rebooking | For flights up to 31 Dec 21 – full refund, voucher or rebooking if a travel ban means you can't fly. Otherwise cancellation fees may apply |
| Eurostar | Full refund | Rearrange trip without paying fees (must pay any fare difference) |
| Hoseasons | Full refund, voucher or rebooking | Full refund if proof of positive Covid test. If you cancel for non-Covid reasons, refunds depend on how long before arrival you notify Hoseasons eg, 7 days or less = 5% refund, between 56 and 70 days = 50% refund, 70+ days = loss of deposit |
| Jet2 | Full refund | Full refund if destination has mandatory quarantine that you can't exit with negative Covid-19 test or proof of vaccination (must request 3+ days before departure). 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 new UK Govt restrictions mean you legally can't fly. Otherwise change/cancellation fees apply |
| Loveholidays | Full refund or rebooking
|
May be able to rebook without fees in some cases (but must pay any fare difference). Otherwise cancellation fees apply. |
| Ryanair | Full refund or rebooking | For bookings made before 30 Sep 21 – up to 7 full days before departure, can rebook without fees for travel by 30 Dec 21 (must pay any fare difference). Otherwise change/cancellation fees apply. |
| Tui | Some flights and hols up to 31 Oct 21 cancelled – full refund or rebooking | May be able to rebook without fees in some cases (but must pay any fare difference). Otherwise cancellation fees apply. |
| Virgin Atlantic | Full refund, voucher or rebooking | For flights up to 30 Apr 22 – up to day before departure, can rebook without fees (but must pay any fare difference) or claim voucher to be used by 30 Apr 23. Otherwise change/cancellation fees may apply. |
The information in this table is constantly changing. This was the situation when we last checked on 7 October 2021.
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 with DIY trips where you've booked hotels and flights separately. In that situation you can still 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 'red list' travel system – and it can be the key factor when it comes to refunds.
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 to the red list in the new 'red list' travel 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 affect 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.
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.
Of course, UK holidays are now generally allowed currently, but as that hasn't always been the case previously, and since it's possible restrictions could return, we've detailed your rights in different circumstances below.
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.
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 2020, all the major UK firms we'd 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, most new travel insurance policies 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. Similarly, if you or your family catches Covid-19 abroad then some policies will cover any treatment and costs. See our Cheap Travel Insurance guide for the top picks (all of which cover cancellation if you catch coronavirus before you go).
- You or a family member are told by the NHS to self-isolate before you're due to go. Under the NHS's Test and Trace system and the Covid-19 app, you may be told to stay at home (self-isolate) for 10 days. If you are told to do this, you'll be asked not to leave your home for any reason, and so, if you had travel booked during this period, you wouldn't be able to go.
Not all travel insurance policies will cover you in this scenario. If you have a policy that doesn't exclude coronavirus as a medical condition (this will be the case with most policies taken out before March 2020, but double-check), then the Association of British Insurers says it expects insurers to pay out to cover the trip.
But with newer policies, only some cover cancellations where you've had to self-isolate – if you're looking for new cover after booking a trip, see our Cheap Travel Insurance guide for the top picks (all of our top picks cover cancellation if you're told to self-isolate by the NHS).
Quick travel insurance questions
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If you are one of the many who had to postpone your holiday and rearrange it, 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:
- 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 may be able to 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, 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.
- 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.
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