Travel disruption: your insurance questions answered

2026 is shaping up to be a challenging year for travel. With political uncertainty continuing to affect travel to the Middle East and beyond, our business insurance expert Richard Wright, answers your questions about business travel and insurance:

1. Am I covered for commercial travel?

The validity of commercial travel insurance is heavily influenced by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

But there’s a BIG difference between the FCDO advising against ‘all but essential travel’ and advising against ‘all travel’. If the FCDO advise against ‘all travel’, your insurance probably won’t cover you for travel to that country. If the FCDO advise against ‘all but essential travel’, your commercial travel insurance is still likely to be valid.

However, if you are travelling to somewhere where there is conflict, it’s ALWAYS best to check with your broker or insurer before you travel to make sure your insurance is valid.

2. What if the FCDO says it’s ok to travel, and their advice changes while I’m away?

As long as the advice isn’t against ‘all travel’ when you leave, the duration of your trip will be insured even if the FCDO travel advice changes mid-trip.

Travel advice can change very quickly so it’s important to check and double check before each visit. Some travel insurers like AIG and Chubb have a customer portal for up-to-date travel advice and Dos and Don’ts for certain territories. Still not sure? If you’ve arranged your insurance through Macbeth, we can check with the underwriter for you in real time.

3. My business travel plans have been affected by the situation in the Middle East, can I claim on my insurance?  

If your travel plans have been disrupted, the best (and quickest) approach is to act as if you are uninsured:

• Ask your airline if they can book you onto an alternative flight
• Ask if you can take a flight that reroutes a different way, with a different stop-over
• If you are delayed enroute, ask your airline for food and accommodation (most have a duty to provide this depending on the length of the delay)

When travel is disrupted, the most important thing is to take action and find alternative arrangements. And that can often be achieved without needing to make a claim or incurring extra costs. Travel insurance policies are reactive by nature, so most insurers will do whatever they can to help you there and then, but it may be quicker and more effective to get it resolved by your airline or carrier.

4. What’s included in commercial travel insurance cover?

 Typical group travel insurance polices include cover for:

• Medical expenses (outside country of residence)
• Business equipment & personal belongings
• Money
• Disruption (cancellation, curtailment or delay)
• Serious disruption (evacuation, alteration of itinerary or curtailment)
• Personal liability
• Legal expenses

A group commercial policy can cover all employees and directors (and often spouses and children) for business travel as well as incidental travel if a holiday is added to the start or end of a business trip.

5. What’s the difference between personal travel insurance and business travel insurance?

A group commercial travel insurance policy normally has fewer conditions and excluded territories than a personal travel insurance policy, whereas personal travel insurance policies can be more restrictive and carry more terms and conditions.

Want a second opinion on your business insurance portfolio? Email us or call and ask to speak to Richard.