Most insurers don't provide cover that's related to volcanic ash. Our policy does. However, you must have purchased your policy before the risk of volcanic ash delays was announced - 8am on Sunday, 22nd May 2011.

Here's a video we've created providing more detailed information about the risk of further eruptions (the web site referred to in the video, www.volcanicashtravelinsurancepolicy.com is also our site):

If you are delayed for over 12 hours because your flight has been cancelled due to volcanic ash, you can claim under the Travel Delay section of the policy. You receive £20 for each block of 12 hours your are delayed up to £100 per person.

If you're delayed for more than 24 hours, you can choose to abandon your trip and claim up to the limit of cancellation cover, which will depend on the type of policy you've purchased. You're covered for travel and accommodation costs that are irrecoverable.

However, you need to have booked before the airport to which you're travelling has been closed because of volcanic ash and before any airspace you'd be travelling in has been closed, otherwise you won't be able to make a claim.

You will need to prove that your flight was cancelled for that length of time when claiming as flights will start to resume when the airspace ban is lifted.

IMPORTANT: Claims for delay or trip abandonment related to volcanic ash are relevant only if you have not yet left the UK. You must have purchased your policy before the risk of volcanic ash delays was announced. You can also be covered if you're delayed when returning to the UK by the Emergency Travel Upgrade. However, this is available only on some of the levels of cover we offer. You should therefore check whether Emergency Travel Upgrade cover is available to you. When you obtain your online quotation, you will see a tick box for Emergency Travel Upgrade at the bottom of the list of cover for the policies on which it is available (see the screen shot below):

What's covered by the Emergency Travel cover?

In the event of unforeseen circumstances preventing your return home as pre-booked, for at least 24 hours from your booked Return Journey, we will pay you up to £1,500 for alternative emergency reasonable accommodation costs (on a bed and breakfast basis only and for a maximum of £100 per night or equivalent in other currency) or alternative emergency reasonable transport expenses incurred by you to make arrangements outside of your original plans to get you home (car hire is limited to £150 per 100km and train, bus, ferry or alternative flights are limited to economy basis only). The total payable for all insured persons under this policy is £4,000.

This cover is independent of other sections of this policy and does not include cover under the Scheduled Airline Failure element of this policy. This cover is intended to enable you to travel by alternative means, (e.g. to allow you to use a train if flights are cancelled, or to take a flight if your ferry is cancelled) and to arrange accommodation required as a result of these alternative travel plans. Reasons for cancellation of intended travel must be unforeseen and not specific to the individuals named on the policy.

Full information and details of what is not covered can be obtained by clicking the information icon next to the Travel Upgrade option on the booking page.

If you are out of the UK and unable to return, your airline or tour operator has a duty of care towards you. They should provide you with food and accommodation.

Further information can be found on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's site, which has information on alternative travel options and contact details for the FCO and its embassies overseas: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/021-Flight-disruption-help/ 

The insurer of our specialist policy that includes cover for HIV is NOT including volcanic ash-related claims. In order for these to be covered, you will need to purchase the policy for people with no medical conditions on this site in addition to the policy you've already bought from us