The cover under our policies is limited if you travel against Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice, 'all but essential travel'. The FCDO define essential travel as follows "Whether travel is essential or not is your own decision. You may have urgent family or business commitments which you need to attend to. Only you can make an informed decision based on your own individual circumstances and the risks." We understand that this does not provide much clarity so we have outlined below reasons which we would routinely consider to constitute essential travel.
The following reasons are deemed to constitute essential travel. If you travel against FCDO advice, all but essential travel for one of the reasons listed below you will have full cover under your policy.
Visiting Friends or Family
There are many reasons that you may feel it is essential to visit friends or family. For example visiting a new addition to the family, childcare, health concerns, providing care etc
Work and Education
Examples Include: Visiting an office, colleague or supplier; Attending a job interview or starting a new job; Charity work; Attending an educational course or taking part in work experience
Major Life Events
Examples Include: Attending Births, Adoptions, Weddings (and Civil Partnerships), Funerals
Property and Legal
Examples Include: Visiting estate/letting agents, viewing properties, buying or selling a property; Maintaining a property; Moving House; Fulfilling a legal obligation, participating in legal proceedings
Medical
Examples Include: Attending medical consultations or appointments either for yourself or with friends or family
Sports and Performing Arts
Examples Include: Structured Training, Taking part in events or competitions; Performing at events
The following reasons are not considered essential travel. If you travel against FCDO advice, all but essential travel for one of the reasons listed below you will not receive any cover for a claim related either directly or indirectly reason the FCDO advice against travel is in place. For example if the advice is in place due to COVID then you will not have any cover for being unable to travel or becoming ill with COVID but will have all other cover in place for example for becoming ill for other reasons, needing to claim for lost baggage etc.
