Take a careful look at your holiday insurance policies post Sept 11. I have used Advantage Travevel Club, TSD Sigma as advertised in the forces discount brochure, for several years. Post 911 they suspended the leave cancellation clause on new policies. I don't know if this cancellation is still in force. Even good insurance policies do not always help. A couple of years ago I went on a trip to the states due to get back a full 13 days before my leave was due to begin. ( Trip to Capetown £1000ish). We arrived at Goose on the return leg 10 days late, u/s with a 3 day estimate for receipt of spares. I phoned the squdron to ask if I could be replaced. Certainly they said, if I paid for my own Air Canada flight home. ( £270 and covered by my insurance), and paid for a business class flight for my replacement (£2000 ish, and not covered by any policy). I did eventualy get back in time (just) but it is caring attitude like that that kept me in the service (not)