Middle East Conflict – EU Travel Insurance Information

GLOBELINK TRAVEL INSURANCE - Advice applicable 01/05/2026

Most insurance policies (including Globelink) exclude claims directly caused by war or civil unrest. This means you cannot usually claim for cancellation or disruption costs due to this conflict.

However, extra support is available:

• Moving Dates: You can move your travel dates by up to 30 days at no extra cost if your trip is disrupted. Contact us to do this.
• Extended Cover: If you are stranded abroad, your cover automatically extends for up to 30 days. You do not need to contact us to extend the cover dates of your policy if you have been unable to return home because of this conflict. Your policy will be extended until such time you return home provided you have done so as soon as is reasonably possible. We would be grateful if you can advise us by email of your return date so we can monitor the impact of this event and improve our services for future clients.
• Stopovers: Connection cover in Middle Eastern hubs has been increased from 24 to 48 hours. Make sure you allow for these extended stopover times when planning a journey.

GUIDANCE NOTES ON THE CURRENT DISRUPTION EFFECTING GULF STATES AND CYPRUS

Travel Advice

Each EU member state issues its own advice, you should follow this if you are an EU citizen. We know that in certain countries getting clear government travel advice can be difficult, if in doubt follow the UK FCDO advice, it’s a great source of easy to access information on any country.

UK residents should follow the relevant Foreign Office advice which is regularly updated FCDO or https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. If the advice is against all but essential travel your policy will not provide cover. There are some exceptions if your journey is absolutely un-avoidable, check with us if you feel that is the case.

Air Passenger Rights

Your airline has legal obligations to assist you if flights are disrupted and they should always be your first point of contact after a disruption; this can include fuel shortages and other disruptions within their control.

In the EU see:

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm

Jet Fuel Shortages and UK/EU Passenger Rights

EU Governments have advised that there is no current need for passengers to change their travel plans. Airlines buy jet fuel in advance, and airports maintain stocks to support their resilience. The governments are working closely with the aviation industry to monitor risks and minimise disruption to passengers.

If your flight is cancelled, you have clear legal rights, including the right to a full refund or re-routing.

For EU residents the same general advice will apply please see the link below.

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm

Fuel Shortages and your Globelink Policy

Your Globelink travel insurance is primarily designed to provide a range of financial protections from travel risks where you cannot receive compensation from another source. The current situation in the Gulf is resulting from War which is a general risk that is not covered (excluded).

We will extend your policy automatically if you get delayed or will change the dates as explained above

Package Travel and Linked travel Arrangements Regulation and consumer rights.

EU law provides any consumer who has book a combination of travel and other travel related services with the same agent (travel agent, tour operator and booking sites that combine flights and accommodation or hire car etc) with extensive protection that is the booking agents legal responsibility. This includes delivery of pre-booked service, refunds and additional costs if disrupted.

In the EU see:

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/holidays/index_en.htm

Its not always easy to get the compensation you are entitled to. If you don’t mind paying a success fee of around 25% there are lots of companies who will handle these claims for you just search the Internet and make sure you understand the fees that they will apply, usually only if they succeed in getting you a payment.

Overview

With effect from Saturday 28th February travel in the Middle East has been severely disrupted by military action which is classified as a War risk by all travel insurance policies. Refer to current Government travel advice at all times.

War risks are generally excluded (NOT COVERED) under all sections of a travel insurance policy, and the following is some general guidance on how this applies to our policies.

The only exception to this exclusion is coverage that applies under the specific section of the policy for Force Majeure Travel Disruption Cover (TDC). TDC is only included in certain policies, and you should check if this applicable to your policy.

Planning a trip

At time of writing the current disruption is a known event and no coverage including TDC is covered for the current event if you book a trip after 28th February 2026.

Trips booked before 28th February

Cancellation

War risks are excluded and if you have not yet travelled your airline and/or tour operator (including travel agents who combine travel and other arrangements in one booking) is responsible for refunding or re-arranging your trip.

If your policy does include TDC then there is coverage for cancellation cost if you cannot travel and receive no refunds from any other source. See the TDC notes below for more detail.

Already Travelling

As with Cancellation war risk are excluded and your airline and/or tour operator is responsible for additional accommodation and travel costs and trip curtailment compensation.

Under our TDC coverage there is limited cover for additional accommodation and travel costs that are not recoverable from any other source. TDC does not provide any Curtailment compensation or unused pre-paid costs or for loss of enjoyment. See the TDC notes below for more detail.

If your policy dates expire

You do not need to contact us to extend the cover dates of your policy if you have been unable to return home because of this conflict. Your policy will be extended until such time you return home provided you have done so as soon as is reasonably possible. We would be grateful if you can advise us by email of your return date so we can monitor the impact of this event and improve our services for future clients.

TDC WHAT IS COVERED-Section S2 – TRAVEL DISRUPTION (FORCE MAJEURE)

You should refer to your policy documents for the full terms, conditions and exclusions of the TDC section of your policy (if applicable). The section of cover should be read in conjunction with the General Exclusions relating to all sections and the definitions of specific words used. Please make sure you review your documents before making a claim.

The coverage provided is only applicable if you have no other source of compensation including the obligations of your airline, travel agent and/or tour operator and if no refund is made by your credit card provider under the obligations they have under the consumer credit act (UK) and similar EU legislation. You will need to prove you made all such attempts to obtain compensation when making a claim.

The current situation is classified as a defined Force Majeure Event and is a War risk (defined words). As previously stated cover only applies to bookings made before 28th February 2026.

Coverage is split into 2 parts being pre-travel cancellation and post departure additional costs. Please refer to the policy documents issued to you for full details and exact amounts in £ pounds dependent on policy covered.

Pre travel

Provided your travel arrangements are disrupted by more than 24 hours (scheduled outward departure time) by this war event you can make a claim for irrecoverable pre-paid charges that could not be refunded from any other source. You will need to provide evidence of this disruption from your carrier/tour operator/travel agent and that no refunds or reasonable alternatives could be booked.

If you do make alternative arrangements, we will consider changing your policy dates provided the area of travel and duration remain similar to the original policy purchased.

Already Departed

We will cover reasonable (meaning of a standard similar in class and rating to that originally paid for by you) additional accommodation and travel expenses if your return journey is delayed by more than 24 hours due to force majeure.

The maximum we will pay per person insured under this policy for accommodation expenses on a bed and breakfast basis is €100 per day for up to 3 days and an allowance for food and drink of up to €20 per day. There is no cover for alcoholic drinks or the cost of telephone calls or other miscellaneous charges incurred.

MAKING A CLAIM

Your policy documents have details of the claims service appointed by insurers and you must contact them to make a claim. The company who sold you this policy has no claims authority. Please refer to the relevant sections of the policy regarding what information you need to make a claim.