Travellers caught up in the current security alerts at UK airports are being advised by AA insurance not to panic, and to follow the advice of the police, security staff and airlines.

So far as travel insurance is concerned, the AA offers the following guidance:
If you are uncertain about the level of cover your holiday travel insurance offers, contact your insurer – numbers will be provided in the documentation. However, if the Foreign Office has issued advice to travellers not to go to particular destinations after their travel arrangements were booked, cancellation will normally be covered.

If you are disinclined to travel – in other words if you are so concerned about the situation that you prefer not to travel – this will not be covered in any travel insurance policy.

Policies from most reputable insurers do not have a total exclusion on terrorism and only have restrictions in relation to specific policy benefits, for example customers may still have cover for delayed departure/trip abandonment.

And most travel insurance policies cover delays in departure from 12 hours upwards. Some policies will allow cancellation if delay exceeds 12 hours. However this cover will be excluded with policies that contain a total terrorism exclusion.

Most policies require that travellers keep their valuable personal possessions (such as cameras) with them on board the aircraft. In the current situation travellers are required to pack such items in their baggage. Check with your insurer that under these circumstances your insurer will still cover your personal valuables, even if they are in the aircraft hold. (AA Insurance will provide cover in this situation).