Middle East conflict – general advice for Network Insurance clients

Both the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) advises against all but essential travel. For the latest travel advice in the Middle East, please visit the FCDO website. In addition, the FCDO have advised any British National travelling to certain areas of the Middle East to shelter in place and not attempt to leave.

The below is intended to provide some general advice, however we would ask you to contact us directly with any questions or concerns so we can give more specific advice tailored to your circumstances and insurance policy.

• Policies will exclude claims where the customer knows the circumstances before purchasing the policy, or booking their trip, which could reasonably have been expected to lead to cancellation or cutting short of the trip. It is therefore likely that NO COVER will be provided for any policies purchased on or after 28th February where travel advice existed at the time of booking the trip or purchasing the policy (There was some advice not to travel to certain areas of the Middle East prior to 28 February 2026).
• Cancellation (Package Trips) - If your package provider has cancelled your booking, you should speak to your tour operator to rearrange the trip or arrange a refund. You will be protected under ‘The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018,’ or ‘The European Package Travel Directive’ where they are entitled to a full refund;
• Cancellation (Non-Package Trip) - As the FCDO have advised against all but essential travel, there will be cover for you to cancel the trip (if you have purchased this cover within the product). If you need to make a claim, you should first speak with your travel provider to claim a refund or postpone the trip. If the provider refuses to refund the booking or you wish to claim other pre-paid charges, cover can be considered. If your flight is cancelled by the airline, you will be legally entitled to a full refund of the flight, under the EU Denied Boarding regulations;
• Cutting short your trip (Package Trips) - If you are on a package trip and need to return home, you need to speak to your tour operator. You are protected under ‘The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018,’ or ‘The European Package Travel Directive’, where the package provider will arrange alternative accommodation, new flights etc.
• Cutting Short your trip (non-package) - If you have booked an independent trip (flights and accommodation separately) and need to return home early, there will be cover for customers to cut short the trip if FCDO cover is present within the policy wording. You should speak with your airline to see if they can offer an alternative flight in the first instance.
• Extending the trip/policy - Regardless of whether cover for any trouble in returning exists the majority of insurers are automatically extending the period of coverage at no additional charge providing you accept the first alternative offered and do not delay your return.

The latest travel advice can be located at: Foreign travel advice - GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice 

Please note, this advice is subject to the current information available and is subject to change.

Should you have any immediate queries or concerns, please call us on 01481 701400 or email us at personal@network.gg or claims@network.gg