Michael Pettifer, MPI Brokers Managing Director, says while many travel insurance policies will not pay for the consequences of missed connections arising from delays, such cover is nevertheless available.

The news report focused on the problems of Eurostar passengers who missed connections from other Paris railway stations either because their trains arrived late at Gare du Nord, or because online booking systems allowed too little time to cross the city by Metro.

“A limited number of specialist policies addressing the problem of delays have been around for some 40 years, and originated in the ski market, where Alpine arrivals and departures were often unavoidably delayed because roads to the resorts were blocked by snow,” says Michael Pettifer.

“That problem has been largely overcome by improved avalanche defences, and the concept of insurance against delays generally has been extended, with MPI Brokers playing a leading role.

“We offer arguably one of the most inclusive travel insurance policies in the UK, providing cover for additional accommodation and travel expenses if people arrive too late for either the outward or return trip for reasons beyond their control. The cover also includes delayed arrival at their destinations – outbound and inbound.”

He says: “Unfortunately, many people think they can make do with cheaper insurance policies – but they fail to realise that lower premiums invariably mean less cover. People should always read the policy wording carefully before buying travel insurance, to ensure there are no nasty surprises if they have a problem on their travels.”