Couple Lost £1,000 When Flight Was Cancelled — Because Their Insurance Didn't Cover War

Debbie and Ardon Rainbird, retirees from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, were stranded in Sri Lanka for approximately two extra weeks after their return flight through Doha was cancelled when conflict broke out between the United States, Israel and Iran. Although their tour operator covered some additional nights, the couple's annual travel insurance policy did not cover losses linked to war, leaving them approximately £1,000 out of pocket.

The Details

The Rainbirds' ordeal began after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 2 March 2026, prompting airspace closures across large parts of the Middle East and the cancellation of at least 23,000 flights to regional hubs. Gulf airports including Dubai were shuttered, and the couple's return journey through Doha was among those disrupted.

Debbie Rainbird described the experience: 'It is frustrating because you budget for a holiday... But we were incredibly lucky compared with others.'

Standard travel insurance policies across the industry exclude claims tied to acts of war and military action. Jodi Bird, a travel specialist with Australian consumer advocacy group Choice, said: 'When it comes to war, that is pretty much a blanket exclusion across all travel insurance policies. We aren't aware of any travel insurance policies that will cover claims that are directly related to war. And it's quite broad, unfortunately.'

The Insurance Council of Australia explained the rationale: 'These exclusions exist because the scale and unpredictability of armed conflict create risks that are difficult for insurers to price. Without this exclusion, premiums for all travellers would be unsustainable given the risks the coverage would need to account for.'

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) states that airlines are responsible for offering alternative flights or refunds when operational issues cause cancellations. Travel insurance might only cover unused non-refundable costs if cancellation cover is included and the cause is not excluded.

Travel expert Sally French of NerdWallet noted: 'There are many situations where travel insurance will not cover you.'

Context

The Iran conflict has caused widespread disruption beyond immediate airspace closures. The Strait of Hormuz closure is triggering fears of jet fuel shortages that could compound travel disruption during summer 2026. European Union rules require carriers to provide meals and hotel stays even during extraordinary circumstances such as armed conflict.

Analysts at Defaqto said holidaymakers now have far fewer travel insurance policies to choose from when visiting areas in or near the Middle East conflict. Travellers should also note that insurance becomes invalid if they travel somewhere the Foreign Office advises against; the current UK government advice is against all travel to Iran.

What's Next

Some insurers offer premium 'cancel for any reason' policies that may reimburse a portion of prepaid expenses, though these typically come with caveats including caps on total trip costs. While war itself is universally excluded from standard travel insurance, the 'domino effect' from military action — such as delayed flights or missed connections — may be covered under certain policies with separate travel delay benefits. Travellers should verify whether their plan includes such provisions and check current Foreign Office travel advice before booking, because insurance cover depends on it.