US insurance firm spots gap in UK market for ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ travel protection

A ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ (CFAR) travel protection service is being introduced for UK travellers from today (Tuesday).

The California-based firm behind the concept claims to be introducing an entirely new category of flexible travel protection.

Safe Travels CFAR allows eligible travellers to cancel their trip for “virtually any reason” and receive reimbursement for up to 75% of eligible prepaid, non-refundable trip costs - unlike traditional travel insurance.

Global insurance and travel assistance company Trawick Holdings says the initiative offers a level of flexibility that has not previously been available in the UK.

Unlike traditional cancellation coverage, which typically requires a specific covered event such as illness, weather disruption, or other named perils, the new service allows reimbursement based on trip cost rather than the reason for cancellation.

This gives travellers greater control over protecting significant travel investments when plans unexpectedly change, according to the company which intends to expand the concept across Europe.

Safe Travels CFAR is available to eligible UK residents on trips valued up to £15,000. 

Cancel For Any Reason protection has become an increasingly established solution in the US travel market, but no comparable offering has previously existed for UK travellers, Trawick Holdings noted.

Safe Travels CFA will initially be made available in the UK by SureGo Assist as the first distribution channel for the new service, with additional channels planned as broader global expansion continues.

Administrative support for the service will be provided by SureGo Administrative Services, which manages cancellation requests, verifies eligible trip expenses, and oversees reimbursement processing.

Trawick Holdings chief executive Daryl Trawick said: “This launch represents a fundamental shift in what travellers should expect from trip cancellation protection.

“For too long, travellers in the UK have had limited options when plans change for reasons traditional travel insurance simply was never designed to cover. We recognised that gap and built a solution that fundamentally changes what flexibility looks like for travellers moving forward.

“The United Kingdom is one of the world’s most sophisticated travel markets, and travellers here deserve access to the same level of flexibility already established in more mature markets globally,.

“We are proud to be the company introducing an entirely new category of travel protection to the UK, and this is only the beginning of what comes next.”