Help and support Travel alerts

Following disruptive geopolitical events across the Middle East, airspace restrictions are currently in place across the whole region and airlines are currently cancelling or rerouting flights, with disruption affecting journeys to, from or transiting through the region.    

If you are due to travel imminently: 

We strongly recommend:   

• To follow the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice to the Middle East and neighbouring regions (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice). The FCDO is closely monitoring the situation and issuing regular updates. 

You can sign up for travel advice alerts by:   

1. Visiting https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice   
2. Searching for the country you are currently in   
3. Selecting “Get travel advice updates”   
4. Registering with your email address   

Once registered, you will receive automatic updates, removing the need to check manually.   

• If the trip destination is affected, customers should contact their tour operator, airline or travel provider for assistance in the first instance and before travelling to the airport. They are responsible for assisting with alternative travel arrangements once airspace reopens or providing refunds for cancelled services  

Already travelling? 

The FCDO advice has changed their advice since I travelled, am I covered to return home?  

No, there is no cover for disruption caused by war or war-like events as stated in your policy. You should continue to follow the travel advice for the country you are in (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) and also the advice of the local authorities. You should contact your tour operator or the airline directly.   

If you are in the following countries:
British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and United Arab Emirates can register their presence to receive direct updates from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).  

You can find a link to register on the individual countries site on the FCDO travel advice website (Foreign travel advice - GOV.UK).  

If I am stranded abroad and I cannot get home, will my policy continue to cover me?  

At this time, if you are unable to return home as planned, we may be able to extend your travel policy at no extra charge for unrelated claims until you can return home at the earliest opportunity.  Please contact us to request this. 

Email:  travelinsurancefeedb@postoffice.co.uk 

By phone:  0330 123 3690 

Available: Monday to Friday: 8.30am – 6.30pm and  Saturday: 9am - 5.30pm (1)

I am unable to return home as planned, I will incur additional parking fees, Kennel/Cattery fees for my delayed return, will my travel insurance policy cover these additional costs? 

Your travel insurance policy doesn’t provide cover for additional parking or kennel/cattery fees when your return is delayed.  If possible, speak to the parking provider/kennel /cattery directly and notify them of your circumstances. 

I have fallen ill, and I am currently stuck abroad – will my medical costs be covered? 

Your cover for medical claims remains the same, providing any injury or illness is not associated or linked to your participation in events, and you have not travelled against the FCDO advice. 

Before travelling?

I have a trip booked but now want to buy travel insurance, will I be covered?

As the attacks started in the early morning of Saturday 28 February 2026, from that date it was a known event and no cover would apply if you purchased your policy on or after that date.

My flights have been cancelled, what should I do? 

If the airline has cancelled your flights, then you will be entitled to a full refund (they may offer you a re-booking). Please speak to your airline (if you have booked directly), or your tour operator (for package holidays).  

My flight is due to transit through a Gulf State Airport, what should I do? 

You should contact your airline or travel provider to understand what alternative arrangements they are making and whether your flight will be rerouted, delayed or cancelled. If your flight is cancelled your airline will refund the costs of your flight or offer an alternative flight.

I have a single trip policy in place and now I wish to change my destination or duration, can I do that?  

Yes, providing you have not made or intend to make a claim in relation to the original insured trip. Your premium may be adjusted if the geographic region and/or duration of your new trip is different to your original trip.  

If your trip's rearranged, we can move the start date for single-trip travel insurance policies up to 12 months from their original purchase date. If not, you can apply for a refund of your single-trip policy. 

(Note: Under an Annual Multi-Trip policy you can change your trip destination/duration providing that your trip remains within the policy region and trip limits you agreed at purchase. You will find this information within your policy certificate).  

Please call 0333 123 3690. Lines are open 8.30am - 6.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am -5.30pm on Saturdays (1). 

I have purchased my policy, and I now no longer wish to travel, can I cancel my policy and get a full refund?  

Within 14 days of receiving your policy documentation, if you no longer feel the policy is suitable and you wish to cancel, we can cancel the policy and provide a full refund. After 14 days you may still cancel your policy, but there will be no refund.

I cancelled my trip after the FCDO advice changed to ‘against essential travel’ to the destination I was scheduled to go to. Can I get my money back for my trip?  

If your booking was part of a package holiday, you are entitled to a refund from the provider. If you booked elements of your trip separately and haven’t already had contact with the provider, you should contact them. Most reputable providers are allowing people to move their bookings to later in the year or enabling cancellations. 

If I have the Trip Disruption cover added to my policy and I still want to travel, will I be covered?  

No, any add-on will not provide additional cover when the FCDO advises against all but essential or against all travel. General war exclusions on the policy prevent cover under our terms and conditions.

If you are due to travel imminently:

We strongly recommend: 

To follow the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice to France and Spain (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice). The FCDO is closely monitoring the situation and issuing regular updates.   

You can sign up for travel advice alerts by:   

1. Visiting https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
2. Searching for the country you are currently in
3. Selecting “Get travel advice updates”
4. Registering with your email address

Once registered, you will receive automatic updates, removing the need to check manually.

If the trip destination is affected, customers should contact their tour operator, airline or travel provider for assistance in the first instance and before travelling to the airport. They are responsible for assisting with alternative travel arrangements or providing refunds for cancelled services.

If I need to cancel my holiday due to wildfires, am I covered by my Post Office Travel Insurance?

If the UK Government (FCDO) advises against all or all but essential travel to the area you are due to travel to, you may be able to claim for unused transport and accommodation costs up to the limits shown in your policy schedule. That travel advice must still be active within 7 days of your departure date, and you must have purchased your policy before 24 July 2026.

If there is no such Government advice but there are wildfires within 20km of your booked accommodation, and your trip start date is 14 days from 24 July 2026, you can make a claim on your Post Office Travel Insurance only if you added Trip Disruption Cover to your policy. Your policy and the Trip Disruption Cover add-on must have been purchased before 24 July 2026 for a claim to be considered.

I’ve a trip booked but now want to buy travel insurance, will I be covered?

Not against these wildfires, no. The wildfires became a known event on 24 July 2026 and no cover against the wildfires for any trip disruption would apply if you purchased your policy on or after that date.

However, you can still buy travel insurance if you've a trip booked to France or Spain. Travel insurance can cover you for emergency medical care, lost or stolen belongings, flight cancellations and more. Provided you're not travelling against Government advice, this would all still apply if you purchased travel insurance today.

What if I need to change my accommodation due to the wildfires?

If you added Trip Disruption Cover to your policy, you're covered if you are forced to move from your pre-booked accommodation after 24 hours, because the wildfires have made your accommodation uninhabitable, up to the limits outlined in your policy wording. Cover for substitute accommodation due to natural catastrophes (including wildfires) is not included in Post Office Travel Insurance at any level without the Trip Disruption Cover add-on.

Your policy and the Trip Disruption Cover add-on need to have been purchased before 24 July 2026 for a claim to be considered.

If you are already travelling:

What will happen if my flights get cancelled?

If your airline cancels your return flight due to wildfires, you should contact the airline or tour operator as soon as possible. They should assist with arranging alternative travel and may provide accommodation, meals and other reasonable assistance while you wait for your new flight. In some circumstances, they may also offer a refund of the cancelled flight.

Whilst you are delayed in returning home due to the wildfires, you may be entitled to a benefit under the travel delay section of your policy. This provides a fixed benefit (up to the limits in your policy schedule) to help towards additional costs and inconvenience caused by the delay. It is not intended to cover the full amount of costs you may incur.

Alternatively, in the event you are delayed in returning home by more than 24 hours beyond your original scheduled return date, you may be able to claim for additional transport costs to enable you to return home, provided your airline, tour operator or other travel provider confirms that they are unable to assist with alternative travel arrangements. Claims will be considered up to the limits in your policy schedule. (You cannot claim for both delay and transport costs). Your policy and the Trip Disruption Cover add-on must have been purchased before 24 July 2026 for a claim to be considered.

Am I covered if wildfires cause traffic delays which cause me to miss my flight?

If you added Trip Disruption Cover to your policy, you are covered for missed departures if wildfires cause major incidents on the road and you miss your pre-booked flight home. Cover against missed departures due to wildfires or other natural catastrophes isn't included in Post Office Travel Insurance at any level, so you need the add-on for a claim to be considered. Your policy and the Trip Disruption Cover add-on must have been purchased before 24 July 2026.

What if I need to come home early due to the wildfires?

You're covered if the FCDO advises you to return home as quickly as possible, claims will be considered up to the limits in your policy schedule and subject to standard terms and conditions.

If you added Trip Disruption Cover to your policy, you're also covered to cut short your trip if wildfires occur within 20km of your booked accommodation, claims will be considered up to the limits in your policy schedule and subject to standard terms and conditions.

Cutting short your trip due to wildfires or other natural catastrophes isn't included in Post Office Travel Insurance at any level, so you need the add-on for a claim to be considered. Your policy and the Trip Disruption Cover add-on must have been purchased before 24 July 2026.

What if my bags are lost or damaged during an evacuation?

If you have Post Office Travel Insurance, you are covered for lost and damaged items during an evacuation up to the limits in your policy schedule. When submitting a claim, you will need to provide evidence of the evacuation for your claim to be considered.