Eurostar has announced that, following the fatal train crash in Belgium on 15th February, they will continue to suspend all services between the UK and Brussels until Sunday 21 February inclusive. Services between London and Paris/Disneyland Resort Paris are operating normally. There is a reduced timetable between Eurostar’s UK stations and Lille.

Eurostar is advising that passengers between the UK and Brussels are strongly to postpone or cancel their journeys and Eurostar passengers can exchange or refund their tickets. For those passengers whose travel is essential over the coming days the company is operating a regular shuttle coach service between Lille and Brussels to ensure customers reach their destination. Passengers travelling to the UK are being checked in at Brussels Midi station for their onward journey by coach to Lille and then by Eurostar to Ashford, Ebbsfleet and London St Pancras International.

Passengers travelling to Brussels are advised to check in normally at their Eurostar departure station. More information, including further details on alternative transport options, is available on www.eurostar.com or by telephoning 08432 186186/08432 186186.

For those caught up in this unexpected travel delay, you can limit the financial loss by taking out adequate travel insurance which will provide financial cover and compensation if caught up in such events. To start with, all travel insurance policies should have a travel delay section, generally to pay a fixed amount for each 6, 12 or 24 hours delay experienced. This is what is termed as a benefit so does not require receipts to claim but you will need a note from the Rail Company or station, such as St Pancras if departing from the UK, to confirm the number of hours delayed.

Secondly, most travel insurance policies will have a section for Abandonment. This is just another term for cancellation which permits the traveller, once they have experienced the required number of hours travel delay, to cancel their travel and holiday in its entirety and claim back the costs. Whether you choose this option will depend on many factors, such as the length of your trip away, how long the delay will be and personal preference but it is a very valuable addition to have in any travel insurance policy.

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Travelandinsure.com and its sister company, Trade Aid UK, have been able to respond rapidly to an appeal for urgent funds to help the Haiti earthquake victims, only days after a 7.0 magnitude quake shook Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, to its foundations, killing thousands and leaving over two million people without food, water, or shelter. We were approached to assist by the international charity, Medair, whose Emergency Response Team is working to meet the most urgent needs of medical care, clean water, sanitation, and shelter. This we were able to do.

There continues to be urgent need for safe, clean drinking water, medical assistance, and shelter for the most vulnerable. Even before the earthquake, Haiti had the lowest Human Development Index (HDI) ranking in the western hemisphere. This was already a very poor country in great need — now with the infrastructure of the country destroyed, people’s survival is dependent on emergency aid. Trade Aid Uk and Travelandinsure.com are pleased to support Medair.

Medair, has launched a 2 for 1 appeal where we will match the first £10,000 donations that the Charity receives from this appeal.You can support this appeal by logging onto www.medair.org/x2. Medair brings emergency relief and rehabilitation to over two million people a year in some of the most vulnerable countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, all countries that are severely affected by conflicts, natural disasters, or other crises. To this list, Haiti can now be added.

Medair responds to natural disasters, conflicts that uproot communities and crises, such as drought or disease. You can find out more about Medair and the work they are doing by logging onto their website at www.medair.org. You can see what other projects are supported by Travelandinsure.com and Trade Aid UK at www.tradeaiduk.com.

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A question often asked is can I claim compensation for delayed or missing bags when I travel? And none of us can safely say these days that it won’t happen to me. Rules regarding airline liability for mishandled luggage are laid out in the Montreal Convention, which sets the maximum payout at just over £1,000 to cover emergency items or to replace possessions which are damaged or irretrievably lost. But, in reality, passengers can find it hard to get a fraction of this sum. Airlines will ask for original receipts for items that are lost or damaged and, even if you are able to produce these, the airlines are unlikely to pay up in full, on the grounds of depreciation.

Losing a bag can be a distressing experience, made worse by the generally poor customer service at some airport’s lost luggage counters and, if it happens on the outward journey, what do you do? Do you make do with the clothing you have in the hope that the luggage will arrive or buy replacements? Tough decision to make and is all very stressful at a time when you should be enjoying your holiday?

There is no magic wand to wave here but you can help yourself by being adequately protected by having travel insurance cover in place before you go. What travel insurance should provide in these circumstances is an allowance, usually based on each 24 hours the luggage is delayed, for you to buy essential replacement items, such as clothing and toiletries, for you to survive until your bags arrive. There will be an upper limit to this daily allowance and your travel insurance company will be looking for receipts for these items to accompany any claim you make. This still requires you to pay first and claim back later but at least it means you won’t be too much out of pocket.

Do remember to obtain what the airlines call a ‘Property Irregularity Report’ from the Lost Luggage Section at the airport at the time your bags go missing. You will need to send this to your travel insurance company to substantiate your claim and they will also be looking for proof of when the bags were returned to you, so a signed and dated receipt will also be expected. If you don’t have these, then it is very possible that the insurers will not pay your claim.

If your bags become ‘irretrievably’ lost, then the insurance company will need a letter from the airline confirming this and you will then be able to claim for all the lost items under the Lost Baggage Section of your policy. But don’t let the thought of losing your luggage overly worry you. Just get the required paperwork, know what you can claim for and get on with your holiday.

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The stranding of nearly 2,000 tourists, when heavy rains and mudslides in Peru blocked the train route to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, is a dramatic example of what can go wrong on holiday. No serious injuries have been reported to date but the Peruvian government declared an emergency in the region and airlifted 20 elderly and ill tourists by helicopter but the remainder are having to wait for the rail track, covered by land slips, to be repaired before being evacuated.

Thankfully, these incidents are still few and far between, but perhaps not so when it comes to the less explored regions of the globe, As more travellers venture into remoter areas, there will be an element of risk that will invariably attach itself to such holidays so using reputable tour operators and having adequate travel insurance cover is an absolute must. Such incidents are a good example on why insurance is so necessary when going on holiday.

Most people tend to think about losing a bag or suffering a delay at the airport but travel insurance covers so much more. The list is long. Tourists, in such incidents, should be eligible for reimbursement of the rest of their holiday if they have to curtail it short; any hospital costs from injuries sustained should be covered with repatriation included where necessary; personal belongings will be covered, legal costs should also be covered for any subsequent litigation and any lasting injury or death, as a result, could be covered by the personal accident part of the policy.

Travel insurance won’t stop an incident occurring but will significantly ease the distress and pain in the aftermath. So when deciding on purchasing travel insurance for your next trip, do think of the bigger picture rather than the loss on an ipod.

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It appears that the threat of a British Airways strike may yet still happen. The airline faces the prospect of a cabin crew walkout in March after the Unite trade union announced plans for a new strike ballot. The vote is expected to take a month to organise and if nearly 13,000 cabin crew approve a walkout, as is widely expected, a strike could be held from around 4 March onwards.

Both sides are deeply entrenched in their respective positions, with BA adamant that cabin crew numbers on flights must be cut, including a contentious unilateral decision to reduce staffing on long-haul routes. Unite, angered by the fact that the changes were imposed, has demanded the reinstatement of crew levels along with the payment of extra fees as a form of compensation.

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Since January 2009, Britons have had to get permission in advance to enter the USA under the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) scheme. Launched last year, the US Authorities have, up to now, taken a charitable view to those travellers not using this system. But not now. This ‘honeymoon’ period is over with ESTA becoming mandatory from Wednesday 20th January 2010. British passengers travelling to America will definitely be refused entry unless they have completed an electronic approval form before departure.

The ESTA scheme replaces the old arrangement whereby passengers needed to fill out a green card to enter the USA. It applies to all 35 countries that enjoy visa waiver status. An approved ESTA is valid for two years and can be used for multiple entries into the USA. Both British Airways and American Airlines have given warning that they will not accept any passengers who have not been approved through the scheme and advised that travellers fill out the online form at least 72 hours before departure. ESTA applications can be made at the following ESTA website.

It is free to apply for an ESTA, although that is likely to change. The US Senate voted in September 2009 in favour of charging tourists from visa-waiver countries a minimum of $10 (£7) to complete an ESTA and enter the US. The European Union is very critical of such a move. Although the legislation must still pass through the House of Representatives, tourism officials expect the charges to be introduced in Summer 2010.

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UK airports are getting back to ‘business as normal’ after the disruption of the last week. Some airports are reporting delays and cancellations as airlines recover their schedules. The latest travel report for 14th January for UK airports is:

Gatwick Airport: the airport is open but with knock-on delays and cancellations after Wednesday’s snow disruption. Passengers expecting to travel from Gatwick are strongly advised to contact their airline before setting out for the airport.

Birmingham Airport: says it is “open and operational.”

Cardiff Airport: the airport has reopened but flights may be subject to delays.

Luton Airport: the airport is open. However, as a result of severe weather conditions at UK and European airports, passengers or those meeting people at the airport are strongly advised to contact the airline as flights may still be subject to delay and/or cancellation.

Southampton Airport: the airport is open and flights are operating, but delays and cancellations are expected due to the weather. For the latest flight information please check the airport website .

Bristol Airport: the airport is open but flights are subject to disruption. Passengers are advised to check with their airline or tour operator for further information or visit the Departures and Arrivals pages. The Flier coach service to the airport is operating but services may be disrupted.

Exeter Airport: the airport is open and it is anticipated that flights will operate without major delays or cancellations.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport: the airport is open but passengers are being advised that their flights could be cancelled or delayed and they should check with their airline for the latest information.

Glasgow Airport: the airport is open but passengers are warned to expect delays and cancellations on some flights from other affected airports.

Edinburgh Airport: the airport is open however flights to and from the airport may be subject to delays and cancellations due to bad weather in other parts of the UK.

Aberdeen Airport: the airport is open and operational, however passengers are being advised to check with their airline about delays due to bad weather in other parts of the UK.

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Fresh snow across the UK has led to airport closures, flight delays and cancellations. The latest travel information for 13th January for UK Airports and airlines is as follows:

Gatwick Airport has suspended all flights while it clears snow off the runway. It does not expect flights to resume until at least 4pm. Passengers should check with their airline before travelling to the airport.

Heathrow Airport is open but warning of flight delays and cancellations due to the weather. Passengers should check with their airline before travelling to the airport.

London City Airport is warning of flight delays and cancellations due to the weather, and the live arrivals board is showing flight diversions this morning. Passengers should check with their airline before travelling to the airport.

Stansted Airport and Luton Airport are open and operating as normal.

The Stansted Express and Gatwick Express are running as normal, but the Heathrow Express is warning of delays and cancellations.

Southampton Airport has suspended flights while snow is cleared off the runway, but is optimistic that flights will resume shortly. Passengers are being advised to check in as normal.

Birmingham International Airport has closed its runway and says no flights will operate until at least midday. Passengers are being advised to check in as normal unless they hear otherwise from their airline.

Bristol Airport, Exeter Airport, Manchester Airport, Leeds Bradford International Airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, East Midlands Airport, Bournemouth Airport and Humberside Airport are all open but flights may be subject to delay and cancellation.

Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports are open, but are warning of flight delays and cancellations. Passengers are advised to check with their airline before travelling to the airport.

In addition, Air Traffic Control strike action in Paris airports is also disrupting flights. It is scheduled to last until Friday.

British Airways is warning of continued disruption to flights today with cancellations and delays. It is advising passengers to check the status of their flight online or by accessing its mobile site, batogo.com. Passengers who are unable to get to the airport can re-book on to a flight to the same destination within the next 14 days. Passengers on cancelled flights can also rebook or claim a full refund.

EasyJet is warning of flight cancellations today, some of which may be last minute. It has launched an online flight checker tool for passengers to check the status of their flight. Passengers affected by cancellations are being offered an alternative flight or refund.

Ryanair has cancelled 18 flights so far today, mostly in and out of Birmingham and Gatwick. It has listed them in full on its website. Passengers affected by cancellations can apply for a refund or book an alternative flight.

Flybe has cancelled a number flights in and out of Gatwick, Southampton and Birmingham. The full list is on its website. Passengers whose flights have been cancelled are being offered alternative flights to the original destination or a refund.

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More snow is expected today in the South West of the UK. The snow travel report for UK Airports and Eurostar for 12th January is:

AIRPORTS

Heathrow Airport: the airport is open but suffering delays. Passengers are advised to check with their airline that their flight is operating before they travel to the airport.

Gatwick Airport: Gatwick remains open with some disruption to flight arrivals and delays to departures. Passengers should contact their airline for the latest flight information.

Stansted Airport: the airport is open but with further snowfall and icy conditions expected across eastern and southern England, passengers are advised to check with their airlines before travelling and allow extra time for their journey.

Birmingham Airport: the airport is open but delays are expected due to runway closures overnight.

Luton Airport: the airport is open. But passengers or those meeting people at the airport are strongly advised to contact the airline.

Southampton Airport: the airport is open and flights are operating, but delays and cancellations are expected due to the weather. For the latest flight information please check the airport website .

Manchester Airport: the airport is open. Services may be disrupted by the knock-on effect of poor weather elsewhere. Passengers travelling or people meeting flights are advised to check with their airline before travelling.

Bristol Airport: the airport is open but flights are subject to disruption. Passengers are advised to check with their airline or tour operator for further information or visit the Departures and Arrivals pages. The Flier coach service to the airport is operating but services may be disrupted.

Exeter Airport: the airport is open and it is anticipated that flights will operate without major delays or cancellations.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport: the airport is open but passengers are being advised that their flights could be cancelled or delayed and they should check with their airline for the latest information.

Glasgow Airport: the airport is open but passengers are warned to expect delays and cancellations on some flights, particularly to and from the south of the country.

Edinburgh Airport: the airport is open however flights to and from the airport may be subject to delays and cancellations due to bad weather in other parts of the UK. Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling.

Aberdeen Airport: the airport is open and operational, however flights may be affected by poor weather in other parts of the UK. Passengers are being advised to contact their airline before arriving at the terminal.

Leeds Bradford Airport: the airport is experiencing delays due to snowfall, but all passengers are advised to check in as normal. Live flight information is available on the airport website.

RAIL

Eurostar: A near normal service running 12 January, with only a few cancellations.

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Freezing weather is still causing disruption to Britain’s roads, railways and airports. Travel advice for UK airports and Eurostar for 11th January is as follows:

AIRPORTS

Heathrow Airport: the airport is open but suffering delays. BAA is urging passengers only to travel to the airport if they have confirmed with their airline that their flight is operating.

Gatwick Airport: Gatwick remains open with some disruption to flight arrivals and delays to departures.

Stansted Airport: the airport is open but with further snowfall and icy conditions expected across eastern and southern England, passengers are advised to check with their airlines before travelling and allow extra time for their journey.

Birmingham Airport: the airport is open.

Luton Airport: the airport is open. But passengers or those meeting people at the airport are strongly advised to contact the airline.

Southampton Airport: the airport is open and flights are operating, but delays and cancellations are expected due to the weather. For the latest flight information please check the airport website .

Manchester Airport: the airport is open. Services may be disrupted by the knock-on effect of poor weather elsewhere. Passengers travelling or people meeting flights are advised to check with their airline before travelling.

Bristol Airport: the airport is open but flights are subject to delay and cancellation. Passengers are advised to check with their airline or tour operator for further information or visit the Departures and Arrivals pages. The Flier coach service to the airport is operating but services may be disrupted.

Exeter Airport: the airport is open and it is anticipated that flights will operate without major delays or cancellations.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport: the airport terminal is open but passengers are being advised that their flights could be cancelled or delayed and they should check with their airline for the latest information.

Glasgow Airport: the airport is open but passengers are warned to expect delays and cancellations on some flights, particularly to and from the south of the country.

Edinburgh Airport: the airport is open however flights to and from the airport may be subject to delays and cancellations due to bad weather in other parts of the UK. Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling.

Aberdeen Airport: the airport is open and operational, however incoming flights may be affected by poor weather in other parts of the UK. Passengers are being advised to contact their airline before arriving at the terminal.

Leeds Bradford Airport: the airport is open but services are being affected by delays and cancellations. Please check with your airline or on the airport website.

RAIL

Eurostar: A reduced timetable is running. Customers who do have to travel should check-in as early as possible to be accommodated on the next available service. Disney and Ski services are running normally.

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