In our opinion there is nothing worse than reaching the departure lounge just to see the dreaded word 'delayed' next to your flight number - especially if it's the early hours of the morning and you have a tired toddler to keep happy!
So, what exactly is a departure delay, and what cover can you expect from your travel insurance?
In travel insurance terms, a departure delay is when your scheduled transport — such as a flight, ferry, or cruise ship — is delayed beyond its planned departure time due to circumstances outside of your control.
What does Departure Delay cover?
Industrial action, severe weather, or unexpected mechanical faults can all wreak havoc on travel plans — sometimes leaving you stuck in the departure lounge for hours.
If your departure is delayed, travel insurance typically offers two types of cover: trip disruption and trip cancellation ( If you are on your outward journey).
Trip disruption provides a set amount of compensation for every qualifying period your journey is delayed — usually for each full 12 hours, although some policies pay out every 6 hours. To qualify, you’ll need to have checked in on time. This cover is designed to help with unexpected expenses such as meals, drinks, and other essentials while you wait.
Trip cancellation covers any pre-paid holiday costs that can’t be recovered elsewhere if you choose not to travel following a significant delay — typically after your departure has been delayed by more than 24 hours.
Is Departure Delay covered under my travel insurance?
Most travel insurance policies include cover for departure delays, but it’s important to check the policy wording carefully before purchasing. The level of cover can vary significantly between insurers, and some providers may not include travel delay cover for long-stay trips.
Will the airline compensate me if my departure is delayed?
Before contacting your travel insurer, it’s worth checking whether your airline can offer alternative travel arrangements or compensation. In some cases, airlines may be responsible for delays caused by issues within their control, such as technical faults, operational problems, or poor scheduling.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), if you are travelling from the EU or flying with an EU airline, you may be entitled to compensation if your flight arrives more than three hours late. The amount you can claim will depend on the distance of your flight, measured in kilometres, provided the delay was not caused by “extraordinary circumstances”.
The CAA defines ‘extraordinary circumstances’ as situations outside an airline’s control that could not have been avoided, even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Examples include severe weather, air traffic control restrictions or strike action.
How do I claim for Departure Delay?
As long as you checked-in on time and obtain written confirmation from your travel provider confirming the scheduled departure time, the length of the delay, and the reason for it, you should be eligible to submit a claim under either trip disruption or trip cancellation cover depending on the policy that you have purchased.
Before you go
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