Airline passengers lose long-delay compensation right
by Gill Montia
Story link: Airline passengers lose long-delay compensation right
UK air passengers can no longer claim compensation from airlines for long flight delays.
According to a BBC report, the right has been suspended by the High Court.
In November of last year, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the damage sustained by air passengers in cases of long delay is comparable with that of [...]
World First Travel Insurance enjoys record year
by Richard Kilner
Story link: World First Travel Insurance enjoys record year
World First Travel Insurance, the travel insurance specialist, has announced a quartet of new appointments.
The appointments follow a period of phenomenal growth for the firm, which has seen business growth exceeding 400% during the course of the last 12 months.
This record growth has occurred despite a number of challenging events, such as the volcanic ash [...]
Travellers urged to be wary of airline failure
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Travellers urged to be wary of airline failure
Airline insolvency is an issue largely ignored by travellers when booking tickets, new research from Ipsos Mori on behalf of the Air Transport Users Council (AUC) has revealed.
Of the 2,072 people surveyed only five considered the matter when booking tickets, a perhaps surprisingly small number given that 65 airlines have collapsed since the financial crisis [...]
World First tips for choosing the right travel policy
by Gill Montia
Story link: World First tips for choosing the right travel policy
World First has drawn up a series of tips aimed at helping those about to purchase travel insurance.
According to the firm there’s a lot to consider before buying a policy and going for the cheapest isn’t necessarily the best option.
Managing partner, Martin Rothwell, explains: “I’d urge people to … speak to specialists in [...]
Travellers spend hours researching insurance
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Travellers spend hours researching insurance
Travel insurer World First has discovered that travellers seeking specific insurance coverage can spend as much as six hours acquiring it, longer than the time it takes to fly to Greece.
Those with more complicated insurance needs average 12 calls to insurers, according to World First, with calls taking up 25 minutes, plus 15 minutes spent [...]
Travel insurers pay out £5.3m a week
by Gill Montia
Story link: Travel insurers pay out £5.3m a week
Travel insurers have been spending £5.3 million a week helping Britons who fall ill abroad.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the cost of becoming ill overseas hit a record high last year, with medical expenses claims having leapt by over 270%, compared with five years ago.
In all 366,000 claims were settled by insurers, [...]
Travellers urged to take out insurance
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Travellers urged to take out insurance
UK holidaymakers looking to cut costs are being advised by Post Office Travel Insurance to browse their travel insurance options thoroughly.
Last year the number of overseas holidays taken by Britons declined by 14.5% as travellers sought to save money by taking fewer holidays or just staying in the UK.
Regardless of the longevity of the holiday, [...]
Travel insurance gaps plugged by ProtectMyHoliday
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Travel insurance gaps plugged by ProtectMyHoliday
Travel insurance policy gaps are being successfully filled by ProtectMyHoliday.com, the financial protection website.
Defaqto has recently found that more than three quarters (77%) of travel insurance products do not provide financial protection, leaving travellers exposed should airlines and other travel-related firms become insolvent.
The CAA does provide ATOL Protection, but this is only applicable where the [...]
BIBA secures initiative award for travel offering
by Gill Montia
Story link: BIBA secures initiative award for travel offering
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has won the Commercial Initiative award at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards.
The accolade recognises BIBA’s development of a personal travel insurance offering, created in conjunction with Tokio Marine Europe.
According to BIBA, the policy has helped reshape the UK travel insurance market by providing families with high [...]
Post-ash travellers seek out comprehensive cover
by Gill Montia
Story link: Post-ash travellers seek out comprehensive cover
Greenlight has reported a rise in search volumes for travel-related insurance, with searches increasing from 896,000 to 932,000 since January.
According to the search engine marketing agency, the recent volcanic ash cloud episode has prompted consumers to seek out policies that offer more comprehensive cover.
By contrast, searches for home insurance products dropped from 1.3 million to [...]
Long-haul holidays rise in popularity
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Long-haul holidays rise in popularity
More and more Britons are opting for long-haul travel, with nearly a quarter of policies sold by swiftcover.com being taken out by British travellers heading for far flung lands.
Only five years ago the figure was one in five, with the recent rise backed up by research commissioned by swiftcover.com.
According to research 23% of people would [...]
LV= urges travellers to have jabs
by Richard Kilner
Story link: LV= urges travellers to have jabs
Travel insurer LV= has commissioned research showing that British travellers may be putting their health in jeopardy by avoiding recommended travel vaccinations.
The findings, which come as GPs report a rise in the cost of jabs, indicate that 26% of travellers during the last year went without vaccinations for diseases including diphtheria and typhoid.
A majority of [...]
Airline failure a particular threat to independent travellers
by Gill Montia
Story link: Airline failure a particular threat to independent travellers
A recent report from Defaqto suggests independent holidaymakers should review their travel insurance policies to see whether they cover the failure of scheduled airlines.
According to the independent financial researcher, only 20% of insurance policies provide this feature and while many offer cover of £1,500 or more, limits may not be sufficient when taking into account [...]
Single trip insurance could save travellers money
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Single trip insurance could save travellers money
Defaqto, the independent financial research firm, has reported that travellers enjoying a single holiday this year could benefit more from single trip insurance, rather than an annual policy.
Head of Research and report author Brian Brown has said that it makes sense to cut back spending whilst retaining an adequate level of coverage.
Brown pointed out that, [...]
Travellers urged to take out travel insurance
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Travellers urged to take out travel insurance
UK travellers have been advised by Post Office Travel Insurance to remember to take out travel insurance.
Over the course of the last three years one in three Britons have had a health/well-being holiday, according to recent research.
Post Office Travel Insurance has urged those going on holiday, even if going for a relaxing spa break, that [...]
Over-65s get “raw deal” on travel and car insurance
by Gill Montia
Story link: Over-65s get “raw deal” on travel and car insurance
Many insurers are hitting the over-65s with significantly higher premiums for car and travel cover, according to new research from Which? Money.
The consumer watchdog found a “huge range” in premiums for travel insurance, with steep increases when passing from one age group to another.
According to the study, a 74-year-old currently paying £383 for an annual [...]
Direct Group hired by FirstAssist
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Direct Group hired by FirstAssist
Direct Group has enlarged its travel claims operation following its appointment by FirstAssist Insurance Services Ltd to handle FirstAssist’s travel claims.
Direct Group Travel Services handles travel claims for a number of major firms, offering high quality customer service and excellent management of indemnity spend.
Direct Group Chief Executive Derek Coles has expressed his delight at the [...]
“Family” redefined by travel insurers
by Gill Montia
Story link: “Family” redefined by travel insurers
Defaqto is calling into question whether insurance policy definitions of “family” are up to date, and urging parents to check their travel insurance policies to ensure children have adequate cover.
According to the firm’s head of research, Brian Brown, many travel insurers will insure children and step-children as long as they live with the policyholder, [...]
Travel insurers buck the trend with 9.5% rise in policies
by Gill Montia
Story link: Travel insurers buck the trend with 9.5% rise in policies
Demand for overseas travel has declined in the UK as a result of the state of the economy, belt tightening by consumers, rising unemployment and a fall in the value of sterling.
According to a new report from Defaqto’s head of research, Brian Brown, overseas travel by UK residents fell by almost 16% in 2009, with [...]
World Cup insured for £6.2bn
by Richard Kilner
Story link: World Cup insured for £6.2bn
The World Cup, the world’s most watched sporting event, begins this month, and Lloyd’s has stated that it is insured to the tune of £6.2bn.
The World Cup began in 1930, and has grown into the biggest sporting spectacle of the global stage, with huge support from all corners of the planet and tremendous financial implications [...]
