Holidaymakers are advised to be careful as they may not be covered by their travel insurance for routine disruptions such as hotel problems, transport strikes or even flat tyres. In a report released today, Which? Holiday stated that claims such as airline failure, acts of terrorism and strikes are not covered by many insurance companies. In addition, minor incidents that a traveller tends to assume are covered, such as missing a flight due to a burst tyre on the way to the airport, are also excluded from policies.

According to the travel group Abta, about two million holidaymakers are expected to travel abroad this weekend in search of warmer weather. Meanwhile, 20 million are likely to hit the roads, informed the breakdown company RAC.

The research found that 50 per cent of the insurers would not pay out if holidaymakers failed to board their flight due to heavy traffic, but might cover if people were late due to problems in public transport. Moreover, only a third of the insurance companies said that they would pay out for travellers if the car rental company, hotel or other service providers at their destination went bust.

Rochelle Turner, the head of research at Which? Holiday, said that holidaymakers usually presume that if they had applied for a travel insurance, they will be covered for incidents beyond their control. She added that insurance firms must provide policies travellers can rely on, or make their policies more transparent rather than putting exclusions in the small print.

In related news, travel disruption is anticipated with the current road works on the M25. Luckily, the four-day rail was cancelled on Thursday after Network Rail secured a temporary injunction against the walkout.