News

As the holiday booking season is in full swing, Saga is reminding people of the importance of taking out travel insurance as early as possible and warning people of the risks of buying insurance on price alone.

Shopping around for insurance has become the norm and can often mean people can get a better deal or more appropriate cover for their needs, but there are some inherent risks. When it comes to travel insurance it’s still all too common for people to leave it until closer to departure before buying insurance. However, with cancellation claims remaining the top reason people claim on their travel insurance leaving it late could be a very costly oversight.

Perhaps one of the more concerning trends is for people to purchase insurance purely on the basis of price alone. We all want a good deal on our insurance, but it is especially important to get the correct level of cover. With a number of insurers now offering low-cost insurance, some of the most important cover levels are being stripped out and it is therefore becoming even more important for consumers to know what they are buying. One in five people have told us that they have had to make a claim for medical expenses on their holiday, whether that is a slip by the pool or a broken leg while playing beach soccer and the cost of treatment in some countries can be exorbitant.

In addition, one in eight have sadly had to abandon their holiday part way through, mainly due to illness of them or their travelling companion, or because a loved one has fallen ill at home.  One in ten had a mishap during travelling as their baggage has been lost at the airport.

Although it is common for people to cut down on some elements of insurance such as cancellation, baggage or medical cover, it is in fact these areas of cover that are often needed most. Within the past 12 months, Saga Travel Insurance has paid out £206,000 for a claim in the USA, £73,500 in Greece and £48,500 in Turkey. It is therefore important to obtain a level of cover which reflects both an individual’s circumstances and their holiday type.

Kevin McMullan, Head of Travel Insurance at Saga, commented: “For most people, holidays are the highlight of our year and we spend a long time planning the best destination and itinerary to ensure we enjoy our break in the sun. We want people to know that they have peace of mind, so they can enjoy looking forward to their holiday, knowing that they have cover should anything happen before or after the plane takes off.  Taking out insurance at the same time as booking, goes some way to giving people peace of mind to enable them to enjoy the holiday countdown, but we would also urge them to make sure they have the right cover levels for them too.”

A new feature of Saga’s travel insurance is to give people access to an airport lounge if their flight is delayed by more than one hour.  Given 30% of travellers reported a flight delay within the last few years, with an average delay of over 3 hours, this service is proving incredibly popular with travellers.

Kevin McMullan said: “A short delay at the airport can give some extra time for a little retail therapy, however when the delay lasts a little longer it can start to really detract from that holiday feeling.  It also has an impact on your pocket, two thirds of our members said they had to spend additional money in bars and restaurants while they waited for their flight. - An airport lounge with complimentary food and drink, gives people the chance to relax and unwind away from the stresses of the departure lounge, letting even those that have suffered a delay to get their holiday off to a relaxing and luxurious start.”

Saga Travel Insurance is Which recommended and offers cover for all eventualities, including 24/7 worldwide holiday rescue, up to £10,000 cancellation cover, scheduled airline failure and delayed flight assistance.

ENDS