Travel Insurance and British Airways

stormy1

On a trip to Finland in April one of our bags was completely trashed and a lot of the contents ruined. Our complaint was not dealt with very well by BA online customer relations so I went straight to the top and wrote to the Chairman with a copy for every other director. Result. A phone call from BA, a complimentary hamper, which arrived this morning, a new bag, and a cheque on the way. The only thing we couldn't get compensation for was our camera and now it seems that even our travel insurance won't cover it because it was in checked in luggage. However, if they did accept our claim it would have involved them contacting our home contents insurers to ask for a contribution. Why? I was told that if we could claim for our camera from them then they could ask for a contribution from our travel insurers. Why? I was told 'because all insurance companies are linked'. I remember this sort of thing being dealt with on Watchdog a long time ago, where people claimed on their travel insurance only to find out that it affected their home insurance. Something to do with a 'claw back' clause. Why is this allowed when you are paying for two separate policies with two different companies? Apart from medical cover what use is travel insurance then?

richardw

There's cancellation cover, many don't realise this and only sort out the insurance the week before they go having paid for the holiday 8 weeks before they go.

dzug

The basic rule is you can't insure the same thing twice. As your house policy (presumably) predates your travel policy, it's the one that bears the risk.

Some travel insurance companies offer a discount for omitting baggage cover.

RibAd

no offence, but you should really read your home insurance and travel insurance policy terms and conditions, cover to cover.

It is standard within insurance, that yes, blah blah, they can contact your home insurance regarding your travel insurance claim....and so on.
As is the same in any insurance, you can only make a claim off one policy.


Things like eg cameras are typically covered by home insurance, hence, that's why you'll find it defined under "Valuables" within travel ins to a mimimal amount, but may already be covered under home ins to a higher amount..

At the end of the day, you should be happy (i have no doubt you are) that you got a nice compensation from BA