Has anybody had a positive experience claiming from a Travel Insurance Company?

Coraline

Hi all,

Just wondering because the more and more I look into travel insurance the vast majority (heck...almost all of them no matter the site/forum/whatever) are from people complaining how their travel insurance has screwed them over.

So does anyone have positive experience when they had to claim from these companies to share? I would most appreciate it.

I've never used travel insurance in my life and am wondering if I should start bothering now. Aside from the medical part (which I've always been covered for from other types of insurance)....what's the point?

Thanks!

pattycake

I claimed following an insect bite reaction whilst in the Caribbean. It was on my eyelid and swelled up until I looked like Quasimodo! I received treatment from a doctor and had to pay the bill which from memory was around $120. I submitted a claim on my return home and was paid promptly less the policy excess.

jhe

i used to buy annual travel insurance with the post office.only ever claimed once for a 22 hour flight delay, just had to send proof of the delay they paid out no problem.
current insurer is L&V they were competitive with our pre existing conditions, had another long flight delay of almost 28hrs in august, phoned L&V after a short phone conversation all sorted and £50 per person paid into bank account within days.
i would never travel abroad without sufficient travel insurance.

joerugby

We claimed £1,000+ a few years ago for cancellation when Mrs Joe had an ear infection and couldn't fly. Direct Line paid up without any probs.

They also charge very little extra for a pre-existing condition.

In our experience they are just what you want from a travel insurer

Coraline

jhe wrote: »

i used to buy annual travel insurance with the post office.only ever claimed once for a 22 hour flight delay, just had to send proof of the delay they paid out no problem.
current insurer is L&V they were competitive with our pre existing conditions, had another long flight delay of almost 28hrs in august, phoned L&V after a short phone conversation all sorted and £50 per person paid into bank account within days.
i would never travel abroad without sufficient travel insurance.

Thanks for the tip---is L&V Liverpool Victoria? I heard people say "London Victoria" but that always redirects me to the former.

What do they pay you for (£50 each) for the delay, is that meant to pay towards a hotel room because you basically had to wait a day to get your next flight? Or is it just cash on top of that, assuming the airlines put you up in a hotel?

I am asking this because a couple weeks ago my airline canceled all flights from one airport to another (very far away) for the next six months...and automatically booked me on another. From a different airport...and going through a country that would require me to stay overnight, AND get a transit visa!!

Luckily the airline sorted it all out and gave me a full refund and I rebooked on another airline.

I guess what I'm getting at is as I get older, I'm getting less tolerance of inconveniences on the road!

jhe

yes its liverpool and victoria.
thomsons put us up overnight in a hotel, but travel insurers pay out for delays over a certain amount of hours. we were actually delayed in lanzarote in august for the 28 hrs.
i would advise any quotes you apply for to read the questions carefully. some insurers ask 'have you ever suffered from' in my case i had high blood pressure over thirty year ago for a very short while that did not require treatment but i still had to disclose it! maybe thats how some insurers manage to wangle out of paying out claims!

budgetflyer

My BOS Ultimate Reward Acc travel insurance has been brilliant.
As well as covering my wife's medical condition free of charge, we have had 2 claims paid out with minimal fuss.
All our expenses during the "Ash Cloud" and then the following year, we had £800 worth of stuff stolen from our holiday apartment. Sorted, less the excess.

Coraline

budgetflyer wrote: »

My BOS Ultimate Reward Acc travel insurance has been brilliant.
As well as covering my wife's medical condition free of charge, we have had 2 claims paid out with minimal fuss.
All our expenses during the "Ash Cloud" and then the following year, we had £800 worth of stuff stolen from our holiday apartment. Sorted, less the excess.

That sounds pretty good--I had to google it but found "Bank of Scotland" as meaning BOS. Stupid question...do you have to be in Scotland to get such a current account?

From what I see it would cost £15/month £180 per year to have that account. I haven't looked at the excesses yet, but I would assume from what I've read they are usually about £100 or so, so if you travel frequently, £180 per year + worst case scenario £100 excess per incident is not too bad.

So assuming that I could "expect" more than ~£300 per year in losses (which has never happened but I'm thinking of what if scenarios) then that would be a good deal, right?

victor2

Have used BUPA travel insurance for several years. Claimed twice and they were brilliant. Once was for a cancellation of a planned trip to New York as I was unexpectedly hospitalised. Another was for cancellation (because we had to rebook to leave earlier) of a trip to the Far East when a close relative (at the destination) passed away a few weeks before we were due to go. Airline didn't want to know as the relative (sister in law) was not a blood relative, but BUPA covered it no problem.
They also cover existing medical conditions, as they were included in an extensive list they obviously had.
Could probably find cheaper cover, but based on our experience with them, I'm happy to remain loyal.

Coraline

victor2 wrote: »

Could probably find cheaper cover, but based on our experience with them, I'm happy to remain loyal.

One thing I learned in life, victor2 is you get what you pay for!!

(thank you for your post, off to google BUPA now )

zagfles

Coraline wrote: »

One thing I learned in life, victor2 is you get what you pay for!!

You've not been on MSE long then