Travel insurance FAQs for Middle East conflict

We know how distressing and disruptive the evolving situation in the Middle East is for everyone affected. Your safety matters most, so it’s really important to follow all Foreign Office guidance and advice from local authorities.  

If your flight has been cancelled, your airline or travel provider will be the first point of contact. They can advise on rebooking or arranging alternative travel as soon as possible. 

Travel insurers are working closely with customers to provide clarity and support during this period. Many policies do not cover losses linked to a war, meaning disruption to your trip, or costs for unused accommodation, excursions, or transport, may not be covered if caused by the conflict. However, some insurers do continue to provide cover for a short period while you leave the area.  

Where cover does continue during a conflict, it may only apply to certain types of claims. It’s likely you will also be required to take reasonable steps to minimise your risk. Not following official safety guidance could also affect your policy. 

Approaches can differ between insurers, so it’s best to speak to your provider directly. They can explain exactly what your policy includes and how it applies to your circumstances. 

As the situation evolves, we can understand why people may be reconsidering their future plans to travel to the region. If you wish to cancel your trip, contact your airline, accommodation provider or tour operator in the first instance. They may be able to rebook parts of your trip or offer a refund. 

Travel insurance may not cover cancellations linked to the conflict, depending on your policy’s terms, any war exclusions, and when you bought it. Policies differ, and insurers may take different approaches, so it’s important to check with your insurer to understand what’s covered.  

If you’re thinking of changing your travel arrangements, speak to your travel insurer before taking any action. They may be able to transfer your policy to cover any new plans, but this could involve updating the policy to reflect a different destination. 

Travelling against FCDO advice could invalidate your travel insurance. If you need to travel, such as for a family bereavement, then you should check with your travel insurer beforehand. It may be possible to get specialist cover to certain areas where travel is not advised, but this must be arranged before you travel and will depend on the circumstances. 

If your flight was due to transit through the region and has been cancelled or delayed, it’s best to speak to your airline, accommodation provider or tour operator. They may be able to rearrange your travel plans or offer alternatives if your journey is disrupted. 

Many travel insurance policies exclude losses linked to conflict, so disruption caused by the situation may not be covered. However, every policy is different, so it’s worth checking with your travel insurer to understand what applies in your circumstances.  

Speak to your airline, accommodation provider or tour operator in the first instance, as they may be able to rebook or refund you for parts of the trip. As most policies will exclude loss arising from war, it is unlikely that trip disruption or other losses as a result of the conflict will be covered by travel insurance.

We appreciate this is an extremely difficult and unsettling situation, and some people may no longer feel comfortable travelling to areas close to the conflict. 

If you no longer wish to travel, it’s best to speak to your airline, accommodation provider or tour operator first, as they may be able to offer alternatives such as rebooking or partial refunds. If you paid for any part of your trip by credit card, it may also be worth checking whether you have any additional protections that could help you recover some costs. 

Travel insurance generally doesn’t cover cancellations where the reason for not travelling is a change of mind or increased concern about safety, known as ‘disinclination to travel’. Your travel insurer will be able to explain what your individual policy does and doesn’t cover, so it’s also a good idea to get in touch with them directly. 

This will vary by policy and provider, but ‘war’ in insurance policies generally refers to any armed conflict or hostile acts of sovereign powers or organised groups. Insurers do not typically require a legal or diplomatic declaration of war to apply war exclusions. You should refer to your policy for exact definitions and speak to your insurer if you have any questions.