The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has updated its France travel advice, warning Australian travellers as wildfires affect parts of the country with large-scale evacuations underway.
The updated France travel advice flags that evacuations across southwest France, including tourist areas, may disrupt Australian travellers’ plans, prompting questions about what travel insurance will and won’t cover.
Extreme heat, wildfires and poor air quality have impacted travel and triggered health warnings across parts of Europe and North America in recent weeks.
Australian travellers in parts of France and Spain have be warned they may be forced to evacuate, while Canada and parts of the US are also facing significant fire and smoke-related disruptions.
For advisors, a heatwave on its own is generally not grounds for a covered cancellation, but a wildfire or evacuation that directly disrupts a trip may be.
Can travellers cancel over a heatwave?
Comparetravelinsurance.com.au spokesperson Natalie Smith said extreme temperatures alone rarely meet the threshold for a claim.
“As heatwaves and wildfires affect parts of the Northern Hemisphere, travellers heading overseas are understandably concerned about the impact on their plans,” she said.
“That being said, a heatwave alone is generally not a valid reason to cancel or reschedule a trip under travel insurance. Unless your destination becomes uninhabitable or the Australian Government issues a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning, choosing not to travel due to extreme heat is unlikely to be covered.”
Travellers wanting to change plans because of the heat are advised to speak to their airline, accommodation provider or tour operator about flexible or refundable options, though any costs incurred are unlikely to be recoverable through a policy.
“A change of mind would generally not be covered by travel insurance. Travellers concerned about high temperatures should speak directly with their travel providers to explore any flexibility, as changes will depend on their individual terms and conditions,” Smith said.
What wildfires and natural disasters change
When a heatwave leads to a natural disaster that disrupts a trip, such as the updated France travel advice, the picture shifts for insurance coverage.
“While a heatwave itself is generally not a claimable event, travel insurance may provide cover if it leads to a natural disaster, such as a wildfire, that directly disrupts your trip,” Smith said.
“Depending on your policy, this could include cancellation costs, additional travel expenses or compensation for unused prepaid bookings if your destination becomes uninhabitable or your travel plans are significantly affected.”
“Likewise, if a prepaid travel booking, such as a sightseeing tour or day trip, is cancelled by an operator due to extreme weather, travellers may be able to claim for any non-refundable costs, depending on the terms of their policy,” she said.
Where DFAT and Smartraveller stand
Beyond the France travel advice update, DFAT has not issued a formal travel warning in response to the extreme weather affecting parts of Europe and North America, although its Smartraveller website has published guidance on travelling during periods of extreme weather.
Its advice for destinations, including Greece and Spain, notes that heatwaves and wildfires can lead to evacuations and travel disruptions. Advisory levels matter here because they can affect the validity of a travel insurance policy.
Medical cover for heat-related illness
Illness during a trip, including heat-related conditions such as heatstroke, would generally be covered, Smith added.
“If you become ill during your trip, including from heat-related conditions such as heatstroke, a comprehensive travel insurance policy would cover for your medical treatment, as well it may cover cancellation costs or unused prepaid travel arrangements, provided a medical practitioner advises that you are unable to travel or continue your trip. Travellers with pre-existing medical conditions should ensure they have declared any relevant conditions to their insurer,” she said.
KARRYON UNPACKS: France is among the top Euro summer destinations for Australian travellers, so the wildfire warning lands as bookings peak. A heatwave alone rarely triggers cover, but an ensuing wildfire or evacuation often can, so checking each policy and current DFAT advice is the practical next step.
