We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Nationwide Flex Plus Travel Insurance - Issue with Avios

Options
Be aware that Nationwide's travel insurance will NOT re-imburse you for any Avios lost when travel arrangements are cancelled - I have just lost 58200 Avios as a result of having to cancel flights at the last moment.
It's only rock 'n' roll ...
«1

Comments

  • phatbear
    phatbear Posts: 4,059 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    why wouldnt you get the points back from Avios. I have cancelled many a flight and got the points back, thats kinda the big selling point of using airmiles 
    Live each day like its your last because one day you'll be right
  • silvercar
    silvercar Posts: 49,528 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Name Dropper
    phatbear said:
    why wouldnt you get the points back from Avios. I have cancelled many a flight and got the points back, thats kinda the big selling point of using airmiles 
    You need to give 24 hours notice of the first flight on the booking, I'm guessing OP wasn't able to do this.

    There is the argument with the insurer that they should reimburse the cost of buying the equivalent amount of avios.
    I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.
  • Keep_pedalling
    Keep_pedalling Posts: 20,762 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    This is not an issue just with NW, it is down to which underwriter is used. Last year NW switched to Aviva and the cover for trips paid for with Avios was lost. 
  • Keep_pedalling
    Keep_pedalling Posts: 20,762 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    silvercar said:
    phatbear said:
    why wouldnt you get the points back from Avios. I have cancelled many a flight and got the points back, thats kinda the big selling point of using airmiles 
    You need to give 24 hours notice of the first flight on the booking, I'm guessing OP wasn't able to do this.

    There is the argument with the insurer that they should reimburse the cost of buying the equivalent amount of avios.
    That argument would be lost as the policy document specifically excludes this. I think this is the case with most, if not all, insurances with packaged bank accounts. Barclays have a different underwriter and it is excluded there as well. People often don’t read the policy document or if they do think the risk of cancelling within 24 hours of flying is too low to worry about. 
  • DullGreyGuy
    DullGreyGuy Posts: 18,613 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    This is not an issue just with NW, it is down to which underwriter is used. Last year NW switched to Aviva and the cover for trips paid for with Avios was lost. 
    For an organisation the size of NatWest it is down to them. 

    When NatWest went to market to tender the contract they could have asked people to have quoted on the identical terms they had at the time, ask for the standard product, asked for a quote on identical terms and a second quote on simple cost saving etc. 

    They have enough clout to have told Aviva they wanted Avios points covered and Aviva would have told them the price they'll be charged for doing so. That may have been just a running cost or could have been a setup and running cost. 

    Another large retailer wanting to leverage their brand into insurance went as far as requiring a seat on the pricing committee etc which I've never heard of before... at best with other deals the insurer charges a wholesale price for the policy and the retailer adds whatever margin they want. 
  • alfista
    alfista Posts: 73 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    phatbear said:
    why wouldnt you get the points back from Avios. I have cancelled many a flight and got the points back, thats kinda the big selling point of using airmiles 

    I had to cancel at last minute (within the 24 hours prior to flight departure) - rules say you lose the Avios :>((
    It's only rock 'n' roll ...
  • alfista
    alfista Posts: 73 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    silvercar said:
    phatbear said:
    why wouldnt you get the points back from Avios. I have cancelled many a flight and got the points back, thats kinda the big selling point of using airmiles 
    You need to give 24 hours notice of the first flight on the booking, I'm guessing OP wasn't able to do this.

    There is the argument with the insurer that they should reimburse the cost of buying the equivalent amount of avios.

    Insurer terms (Aviva) exclude any compensation for Avios.
    It's only rock 'n' roll ...
  • NoodleDoodleMan
    NoodleDoodleMan Posts: 4,261 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    This is not an issue just with NW, it is down to which underwriter is used. Last year NW switched to Aviva and the cover for trips paid for with Avios was lost. 
    For an organisation the size of NatWest it is down to them. 

    When NatWest went to market to tender the contract they could have asked people to have quoted on the identical terms they had at the time, ask for the standard product, asked for a quote on identical terms and a second quote on simple cost saving etc. 

    They have enough clout to have told Aviva they wanted Avios points covered and Aviva would have told them the price they'll be charged for doing so. That may have been just a running cost or could have been a setup and running cost. 

    Another large retailer wanting to leverage their brand into insurance went as far as requiring a seat on the pricing committee etc which I've never heard of before... at best with other deals the insurer charges a wholesale price for the policy and the retailer adds whatever margin they want. 
    I think NW refers to Nationwide, not Nat West ? 

  • DullGreyGuy
    DullGreyGuy Posts: 18,613 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    This is not an issue just with NW, it is down to which underwriter is used. Last year NW switched to Aviva and the cover for trips paid for with Avios was lost. 
    For an organisation the size of NatWest it is down to them. 

    When NatWest went to market to tender the contract they could have asked people to have quoted on the identical terms they had at the time, ask for the standard product, asked for a quote on identical terms and a second quote on simple cost saving etc. 

    They have enough clout to have told Aviva they wanted Avios points covered and Aviva would have told them the price they'll be charged for doing so. That may have been just a running cost or could have been a setup and running cost. 

    Another large retailer wanting to leverage their brand into insurance went as far as requiring a seat on the pricing committee etc which I've never heard of before... at best with other deals the insurer charges a wholesale price for the policy and the retailer adds whatever margin they want. 
    I think NW refers to Nationwide, not Nat West ? 

    Whichever bank it is the same would apply
  • NoodleDoodleMan
    NoodleDoodleMan Posts: 4,261 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 18 July at 6:29PM
    The OP's problem is with Nationwide, not sure how Nat West comes into the issue.
    Aviva provide cover with the former but not the latter.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.