ABI advice on British Airways’ strike
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI advice on British Airways’ strike
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has issued advice regarding the proposed industrial action at British Airways (BA).
Strikes are planned for the three days from 20th March, and the four days from 27th March, and the ABI reminds travellers that BA is responsible for flight arrangements and should therefore be contacted to discuss the options [...]
Hard-up travellers warned against skipping insurance
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Hard-up travellers warned against skipping insurance
According to new research from Aviva, the torrid weather of winter has fuelled an understandable desire to holiday abroad.
However, the insurer has discovered that, worryingly, the ongoing economic difficulty and consumer belt-tightening has led 31% of would-be travellers to state they intend to skip taking out travel insurance or were considering going without it.
Sixty-two percent [...]
Football fans urged to take out travel insurance
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Football fans urged to take out travel insurance
Direct Travel Insurance has advised football fans heading to South Africa for the World Cup not to neglect taking out travel insurance.
Travellers are advised to take out coverage as soon as possible, enabling them to have cancellation coverage in place earlier.
Last year those who had to cancel or break off a holiday in South Africa [...]
Halo launches with car rental excess cover
by Gill Montia
Story link: Halo launches with car rental excess cover
Halo Insurance Services has been launched today.
The underwriting agency, which is backed by Bridges Ventures and Magenta Partners, will focus on niche personal lines offerings for both wholesale and retail customers.
The firm has set out with a suite of car hire excess products available through brokers and affinity partners under the Halo Insurance brand, and [...]
Allianz launches online safe deposit for travellers
by Gill Montia
Story link: Allianz launches online safe deposit for travellers
Allianz has joined forces with Mondial Assistance to develop an online safe deposit and assistance solution for Air France travellers.
Allianz Protect claims to be a first in this area of protection, combining as it does the secure storage of electronic documents with Mondial’s emergency services.
The safe deposit system is accessible from www.airfrance.com and allows customers [...]
IPP alert on subtleties of “package travel” regulations
by Gill Montia
Story link: IPP alert on subtleties of “package travel” regulations
International Passenger Protection (IPP) is warning that many companies are contravening 1992 Package Travel Regulations.
According to the financial failure specialist, which operates the protectmyholiday.com brand, they are therefore risking large penalties for acting outside consumer law.
The firm explains that under the current rules, a booking can become a packaged trip, even when it involves just [...]
Romantic travellers urged to take out insurance
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Romantic travellers urged to take out insurance
With Valentine’s Day approaching, Direct Travel Insurance has urged couples going away for a brief break to ensure they have adequate insurance coverage.
Lack of insurance will leave couples exposed to a financial hit if they should suffer an accident, detracting from a holiday intended to be romantic.
This time last year, the average claim for an [...]
Wesleyan launches Private Clients service
by Gill Montia
Story link: Wesleyan launches Private Clients service
Wesleyan is launching a new service aimed at affluent professionals with busy lifestyles.
The mutual has developed a dedicated home, motor and travel insurance offering, promising a more personal approach and flexible cover.
Private Clients Insurance provides immediate cover on newly purchased items, a 24-hour customer call centre based in the UK and an advice service for [...]
Equalities Bill allows exception for insurers
by Gill Montia
Story link: Equalities Bill allows exception for insurers
Insurers suffering from anxiety over the Equality Bill currently before the House of Lords will be relieved to hear that Michael Foster, a junior minister in the Equalities Office, has announced a specific exception to allow financial services providers to treat people of different ages differently.
The Bill aims to put an end to age discrimination [...]
Age Concern expects pensioner travel boom
by Gill Montia
Story link: Age Concern expects pensioner travel boom
Older Britons are increasingly opting for overseas travel, according to Age Concern.
The advocacy group recorded a 41% rise in sales of its Enterprises annual worldwide travel insurance in 2009, while sales of winter sports cover increased by 20%.
The charity therefore concludes that the UK’s pensioners are keeping more active and are keener to take off [...]
British skiers drunk on alpine slopes
by David Masters
Story link: British skiers drunk on alpine slopes
British holidaymakers on alpine getaways are skiing and snowboarding with nearly double the drink-drive limit of alcohol in their bloodstream.
Research by More Than Insurance found over half a million Brits have gone skiing the morning after a drinking session with seven units of alcohol still pumping through their body.
Nearly three quarters (74%) of British skiers [...]
AXA launches broker travel extranet
by Gill Montia
Story link: AXA launches broker travel extranet
AXA Insurance has launched AXA Travel extranet, an online portal for brokers.
According to the insurer, the new facility is easy to use and allows registered brokers with an imarket login to AXA’s broker website to provide “quality travel insurance from a recognised provider”.
Users can then actively manage their clients’ travel portfolios through the extranet, [...]
Direct Travel Insurance provides ski accident stats
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Direct Travel Insurance provides ski accident stats
Interest in skiing holidays may rise due to the prolonged wintery conditions, particularly as some French ski operators are cutting prices.
Direct Travel Insurance has reported that the Association of Mountain Doctors in France (Médecins de Montagne Résultats Nationaux 2008/2009) dealt with 140,000 injuries last year incurred on such holidays.
Amongst these were 16,439 collisions on slopes, [...]
Travellers urged to ensure they have airline failure cover
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Travellers urged to ensure they have airline failure cover
Global leader in travel financial failure International Passenger Protection Limited has stated that the recent Globespan collapse has reaffirmedhow important it is that travellers have appropriate travel insurance.
Last month travel protection site ProtectMyHoliday.com warned that there would be airline failures during the Christmas period, a warning which has unfortunately proven accurate.
Three out of four Globespan [...]
Direct Line covers airline failure
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Direct Line covers airline failure
Recent days have seen much turmoil in the world of airlines, with Flyglobespan becoming the latest airline to fail, leaving thousands of holidaymakers stranded overseas.
Scotland’s Daily Record has reported that some 5,000 have been stranded abroad due to the failure.
Over the course of the last two years around 60 airlines have failed, creating a minefield [...]
ABI offers advice to BA travellers
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI offers advice to BA travellers
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has issued advice to travellers likely to be affected by the proposed industrial action at British Airways (BA).
If the strike proceeds, the first step is to contact BA to discuss the options available.
Where alternative travel plans are made, travel insurance can usually be altered to cover the new arrangements.
In [...]
Scottish airline collapse leaves 5,000 stranded abroad
by Gill Montia
Story link: Scottish airline collapse leaves 5,000 stranded abroad
Edinburgh-based airline, Flyglobespan, has been placed in administration.
According to Scotland’s Daily Record, around 5,000 holidaymakers have been left stranded abroad and a similar number have had their Christmas and New Year holiday plans disrupted.
Meanwhile, the BBC reports that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is preparing to repatriate around 1,100 of the airline’s passengers, although over [...]
BA strike action could cost insurers millions
by Richard Kilner
Story link: BA strike action could cost insurers millions
Leading online travel insurer Insureandgo has warned that thousands of holidays and millions of pounds could be lost due to the recent decision of British Airways’ (BA) cabin crew to go on strike.
The strike action is due to begin on 22 December and run over Christmas itself.
Insureandgo estimates that cancelled flights cost £9.7m in 2008, [...]
Heath Lambert provides new offering for people with autism
by Gill Montia
Story link: Heath Lambert provides new offering for people with autism
Heath Lambert has teamed up with The National Autistic Society (NAS) to provide travel and life insurance for those living with autism.
The broker is extending its “Unique” offering, which specialises in cover for people with pre-existing medical conditions, their families, carers and supporters.
In what the firm claims to be an industry first, Unique has arranged [...]
Minister to review ATOL scheme
by Gill Montia
Story link: Minister to review ATOL scheme
Travellers who book flights on the Internet could soon be better protected financially, as the Government announces a review of the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) scheme, which was set up in the 1970s.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis also wants to clarify the situation for holidaymakers who opt to “mix-and-match” carriers and accommodation, rather than buy [...]
