Black Friday travel deals – don’t forget your travel insurance

Consider buying your travel insurance as soon as you book your Black Friday trip so you’re protected from the moment plans are confirmed – not just while you’re away. 

Key reasons:

• You can claim back your costs if you need to cancel before you travel. 
• You’ll have cover for emergencies and lost belongings while you’re away. 
• Buying early means your trip’s protected from the date you choose.

Black Friday is one of the best times of year to find great deals on flights, hotels and dream getaways. But in the rush to grab a bargain before it’s gone, travel insurance often gets forgotten. The truth is, it’s most useful when you buy it the same day you book your trip – not the day before you leave. 

Buying travel insurance early doesn’t just protect you while you’re away – it also covers you between booking and travelling. So, it’s a simple way to make sure your Black Friday holiday is protected right from the beginning. 

Once you’ve booked your holiday, your money is at risk if something unexpected stops you from travelling. 

Buying travel insurance at the same time as your Black Friday deal means your cover starts as soon as your deposit is paid. 

If you wait until just before you travel, anything that happens in the meantime won’t be covered. So, if illness, an accident or a family emergency means you have to cancel, you could lose what you’ve already paid. 

Sorting your travel insurance early keeps your Black Friday bargain protected. 

Travel insurance can cover the cost of a cancelled trip if something unexpected stops you from travelling – as long as the reason is included in your policy and the cover was bought before the event happened. 

Typical reasons you may be able to claim include: 

• you, your travelling companion or a close relative becomes seriously ill or injured 
• you’re made redundant and can no longer afford to travel 
• a bereavement means you need to stay at home 
• you’re called for jury service or emergency work duty 

So, if you’ve booked a discounted Black Friday holiday and later can’t go, your travel insurance could help you recover the money you’ve paid. 

For example, if you book a Black Friday trip and later fall ill, which prevents you from taking your trip, you could claim your costs back if your policy was already in place. Without it, you’d likely lose the money you spent. 

When buying travel insurance, you’ll be asked to declare any pre-existing medical conditions. It’s important to answer truthfully and accurately, even if your symptoms feel minor or stable. 

If you don’t declare a condition and later need treatment for it while abroad, your claim could be refused – and you may have to cover the cost yourself. Declaring your conditions ensures your policy is valid and tailored to your health needs. 

Staysure’s medical screening is simple and confidential and can often be completed online in just a few minutes. It’s designed to give you the right cover for your circumstances – so there’s no reason to skip it. 

Once your policy is in place, it protects you from many of the most common travel problems. Depending on your level of cover, this can include: 

• trip cancellation before you travel 
• emergency medical treatment abroad 
• medical repatriation if you need to return home early for health reasons 
• lost, stolen or delayed baggage 
• extra accommodation and travel expenses if your journey is disrupted 
• travel delays or missed departures caused by events outside your control 

Buying early could add months of protection you wouldn’t otherwise have. 

You can buy travel insurance after booking, but your cover only starts from the date you take out the policy. Anything that happens before then isn’t included. 

For example, if you book a Black Friday holiday in November but wait until just before you travel in March to buy insurance, you wouldn’t be covered if something happened in between – like breaking a bone in February and having to cancel. In this case, your cancellation costs wouldn’t be covered. 

Buying travel insurance early means you’re protected throughout the whole journey – from booking to coming home. 

Before hitting ‘pay now’, take a moment to make sure your trip is fully protected: 

• ✔ Consider arranging travel insurance as soon as your holiday is confirmed.
• ✔ Declare any pre-existing medical conditions.
• ✔ Check cancellation and baggage cover limits are suitable for your trip.
• ✔ Add optional extras if needed – such as cruise or gadget cover.
• ✔ Save your policy number and emergency contact details both digitally and on paper.

A few minutes spent now could save you hours of worry later if something goes wrong. 

Travel insurance isn’t just for when you’re away – it also safeguards your money before you even set off. 

Buy your policy when you book, and you’ll be covered right from the start. 

Get a quote today and travel with confidence.  

Should I buy travel insurance when booking a Black Friday deal? 

Buying travel insurance at the same time as your holiday means that you're covered immediately if you need to cancel your trip for a valid reason.  

Can I buy travel insurance after booking a Black Friday deal?

You can, but your policy will only cover you from the day you buy it. Anything that happens before that – such as illness or injury that prevents you from travelling – won’t be included. 

Does travel insurance cover cancelled Black Friday trips? 

Yes – as long as you bought your policy before the reason for cancellation happened, and the reason is covered by your policy (such as illness, injury or bereavement). 

Do I need to declare medical conditions? 

Yes. Failing to declare pre-existing medical conditions could invalidate your travel insurance policy or lead to a rejected claim if you need treatment abroad. 

What if I forget to buy travel insurance until just before I travel? 

You’ll still be covered for medical emergencies and baggage issues during your trip, but you will only be covered for cancellation from the time you buy your policy until your departure date.