Acts of God

Unpredictable Acts of God can ruin your holiday plans and cost you money.

Acts of God are some of the most far reaching and unpredictable events that can impact your travel and holiday plans. You'll find cancellation, curtailment and trip interruption clauses in most travel policies.

Acts of God Definition

The term, used in law for centuries, defines a category of events of "superior force" that are not man-made, avoidable, preventable, foreseen or anticipated and where nobody can be held responsible - except mother nature or God of course.

As a traveller AoG's can affect your carrier, accommodation, excursion and service providers.

Because Acts of God cause cancellations, delays, additional expense both providers or travellers can find themselves with contractual liabilities, and this is where insurance can help.

What is Covered

Many travel policies will insure up to a set financial value for irrecoverable unused travel and accommodation costs (including excursions) and other pre-paid charges which you have paid or are contracted to pay together with any reasonable additional travel expenses incurred if the trip is necessarily and unavoidable cancelled or curtailed or interrupted due to (including Acts of God):

• Government directive prohibiting all travel to, or recommending evacuation from, the country or area you were planning to visit or were staying in, as a result of natural disasters, such as:
  • earthquakes
  • fires
  • tsunamis
  • landslides
  • floods
  • hurricanes
  • epidemic(s) and pandemic(s)
• The Police or other authorities requesting you to stay at, or return to, your home due to serious damage to your home caused by:
  • fire
  • aircraft
  • explosion
  • tsunami
  • avalanche
  • hurricanes
  • storm
  • flood
  • subsidence
  • fallen trees
  • collision by road vehicles
  • malicious people or theft

Recent 'Acts of God' Examples

Florida and USA

A couple of years ago who'd have thought that holidaymakers would have to factor hurricane cover into their travel insurance policy?

Brits visiting Florida and New Orleans discovered to their cost that they hadn't got hurricain travel insurance. It pays to read the small print regarding cover for natural disasters.

If your travel plans are disrupted a result of a hurricane, then you're out on a limb if you don't have a travel insurance policy providing this cover.

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Check your policy documents for detail of the cover provided. And always heed the warnings of an impending disaster - the Foreign Office website www.fco.gov.uk is a good place to start.

Your policy could be invalid if you travel against their Official advice. You'll find up-to-date travel info on the 'know before you go' section.

Association of British Insurers

Suzanne Moore of the ABI (Association of British Insurers) says:
"If there was an unexpected earthquake, you should be covered...However, if you visited Mount Etna now, went walking in the local village and expected to be treated from lava burns you may have problems."

Citybond Suretravel

Cover includes: Medical emergency & repatriation, cancellation & personal baggage.

Seamless online policy purchase and medical screening 10% discount using Know-Insurance

Columbus Direct

"Additional travel and accommodation costs in the event of your outward or return journey being delayed due to an avalanche or bad weather conditions." Jan 20011, Summary doc.