New Travel Insurance discussion area

FH_Brit

donnawood wrote: »

Travel policies i found in my searches including Scheduled Airline Failure cover are:-
Direct Line
AA Travel Insurance
Post Office
Direct Travel Insurance
British Airways
Flybe
EasyJet
Ryanair
Columbus
Saga

Others i came across had a policy excess or dubious exclusions

Came across this blog about the post office policy so may avoid this one

www cashquestions.com/forum/showthread.phb?t=11186

, they mention this cover is available stand alone if your policy does not include it. Cover available from ProtectMyHoliday.com

I can agree with most of what Donnawood says - but add this - the list above is not insurance companies - have a look at the bottom of the policy documents or scedule - or if on-line go to the very bottom of the "policy details" or "important information" page and it will say "this policy is underwriten by XXXXXX" that's how you will know who the insurer is - STAY AWAY FROM AXA.

My recommendation (based on my work results) is Post Office insurance by Fortis (or Fortis directly from a reputable Broker).

FH_Brit

Hairy G - yes I&G are reasonable and better than most.

FH_Brit

Malc B - There are always better websites than other - another reason I recommend the Post Office - their site will list a whole bunch of PEMC's and it is clear that unless you have more than 2 of these you then need to call and be medical screened.

Also gives clearly benefit limits (that exceed the Foreign Office recommendations for USA) and length of travel restrictions and extension costs.

I cannot understand that people will spend sometimes thousands of £'s on a family holiday and risk it all by not leaving enough time for the road travel and all it's possibilities. (not accusing you of being that type), but if you planned better and maybe even considered staying the night before at a hotel at the airport so no matter what you get a worry free drive and nights sleep as you can just walk to the terminal in some cases. Some Gatwick & Heathrow hotels (maybe others I don't know), will do deals that you stay the night before you travel and then they let you park your car free at their hotel as part of the bargain. As this somtimes can be the same cost as a car park for 2 weeks it's a free hotel night if you look at it that way.

malc_b

You're assuming a long motorway journey. I'm not. I live near the M4, Airports: Bristol, 40 miles, Cardiff 60 miles, Heathrow 75 miles. So how long to Cardiff, 1hr in normal, so allow 2, plus arrive 3hrs before, that's 5hrs before take off so worst case 3hrs in hand, 1hr journey arrive 1hr before when checkouts close. And BTW this happened to someone I know. Accident on the M4 and it was closed for 7hrs! Absolute chaos around Bristol, grid lock on the motorway. There is no way that even the most generous allowance would cover that.

The moment you get on a motorway you risk being stuck for hours while the police sort it out and these days the police seem more concerned with taking measurements than getting the traffic moving. And most major airports are approached by motorway, Cardiff, Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stanstead, etc.. You don't have to be going that far. You could just be going from the hotel to the airport. Once on a motorway you can't turn around and find another route. You're stuck.

Yet very few insurers include this cover. My advice would be to hit the car in front as most to cover you if you have an accident. Cheaper to lose some no claims than a families tickets to USA say.

Liz19

Sorry if this has been mentioned previously, I am looking to buy a single trip family policy for my husband, myself, son (18) and daughter (15) from the post office but it does not give me the option to include my son. Do I have to get one policy for us and our daughter and a separate one for him?

FH_Brit

Malc - point taken but (assume from airport distances from your house that you live Reading/Thatcham/Berkshire area. And you know if 5 hours is not enough to guarantee arival here are a few things you can do......

Drive on the A4

Dont use motorways then you don't get stuck.

Fly from a more local regional airport to Heathrow/Gatwick/Stanstead/Bristol/Manchester etc etc etc etc

As previously stated go the day before and splash out for a hotel room at the airport.

FH_Brit

Liz - Yes your son is an adult and he needs his own policy (unless full time student in some policies)

Let your son get his own insurance (even if you pay for it) I have seen families fall flat because Mum/Dad insist on doing it for their 18+ year old.

Remember in the eyes of the law he is an adult (even if you think otherwise) and you will not be able to act on his behalf because of privacy laws in numerous countries (you did not say where you are going). Remember if you needed to claim for him you will not be able to deal with Police/Hospitals/People like me etc because he is 18.

Your daughter you should have no problems as she is a minor.

Incapuppy

malc_b wrote: »

My advice would be to hit the car in front as most to cover you if you have an accident. Cheaper to lose some no claims than a families tickets to USA say.

So you are happy to use a public forum to advocate fraud?

malc_b

Incapuppy wrote: »

So you are happy to use a public forum to advocate fraud?

Fraud would be if you lied about hitting the car in front. If you really hit the car then the holiday insurance would cover you.

Anyway, it wasn't totally serious. I can't say I have any sympathy for insurance companies who mostly seem out to avoid their contractual obligations. If insurance companies can use the small print to avoid paying out then it seems quid pro quo to me if the customer employs the same tactics. Personally I always make sure I have cover for motorways. If everyone, or more people, did that then there would not be the issue. All insurance would have as if they didn't it wouldn't sell.

And FH Brit, not quite the right area. And you miss the simplest solution, take out insurance cover that does cover motorway. I've paid £54 (with the cash back), Martin says the cheapest is about £30 but I've looked at those and the total cover is not the same so say I've paid another £15. That's still cheaper than staying in a hotel, 1hr down the road for the night, or taking the long road to the airport.

Also, I'm sure I have seen some policies where you can include dependants not just students so I think that may also cover unemployed 18+ living at home. There are certainly group policies you can take out, not just single, couple, or family.

Conkers

I'm going to Morocco for 6 months and I will need travel insurance. All the policies suggested on the site are for trips up to 62 days, not half a year.

Does anyone know how I can make these policies valid, or if there's another way of getting medical / injury etc insurance for my trip?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Jon