Will the Middle East conflict cancel your travel insurance?
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has left thousands of Aussies stranded. Here's what you need to know
Major airports and airlines within the region have suspended their services as the Iran-US conflict continues.
Dubai Airport, one of the busiest international airports, has halted all flights at its international terminals while airspace over the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other parts of the region are also closed.
"Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport at this time and to contact their respective airlines directly for the latest updates regarding their flights," the Dubai government's media office shared on X.
At the time of writing, the Australian government's Smartraveller website has updated its travel advice to 'do not travel', the highest level of concern.
Will your travel insurance cover you during acts of war?
Put simply, no.
Acts of war or political disruption are rarely covered under any travel insurance policy.
According to our research, of the 22 travel insurance policies in our database, every single one excluded acts of war.
Travel insurance also won't cover you if you travel to a Do Not Travel country.
As Dubai Airport remains the most popular layover choice for many Australians travelling aboard, it's expected that thousands will now be left feeling confused about their next move.
"Whenever you're stranded, your first point of contact will always be your airline. Travel insurance can cover additional expenses, but they'll expect you to have got what you can from your airline first," explained Finder travel expert, Angus Kidman.
"If you really need to get back to Australia from Europe, you could consider flying back via the US, Canada or South America. Just remember you'll need a valid ESTA to transit through the US – even if you're boarding another flight home, you'll still need to clear customs and immigration."
Kidman also reminded Aussies who recently locked in travel plans that taking out a policy after tensions escalate also may not guarantee protection.
"Insurers are also unlikely to offer insurance for newly-booked trips to the Middle East while the conflict continues."
Sources
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