Travel Insurance?

[Tamara (Homes Down Under)]

How many people take out travel insurance?

 

I remember a few years ago the problems that were caused by the volcano in Iceland delaying flights from the UK and the issues that caused for people moving here.

 

On the home front we have plenty of people stranded in Bali.

 

I often assume tat my credit card will have sufficient cover but there have been occasions that I have taken out additional cover.

 

The hidden costs of cheap travel

 

 

 

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• Anthony Keane Personal finance writer
  
• News Corp Australia Network
  
• July 18, 2015 8:30PM
  

 

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Hidden costs ... overseas holidays can cost more than you bargain for if you’re not careful.

 

 

 

DISCOUNT travel is raising the risk of a dream holiday becoming an expensive nightmare for Australians heading overseas.

 

As do-it-yourself holiday bookings boom through websites, budget airlines and new accommodation options, travel experts warn it has become easier to get slugged by unexpected costs such as excess baggage charges, inflexible no-frills airfares or being stranded overseas.

Tens of thousands of Australians were affected by the Bali volcanic ash cloud last week, many of them without travel insurance.

“If ever you need justification for buying relatively inexpensive travel insurance, the volcanic ash cloud is a good example,” said Boomers Travel Insurance managing director Ian Jackson.

A typical policy for 14 days in Bali — costing $100-$200 for a family or less than $80 for a single person — will pay for flight cancellations, extra accommodation, meals, injury, illness and other losses.

“We tend to focus on medical emergency issues as being the primary reason for taking out travel insurance, but volcanic ash clouds seem to be a recurring theme in different parts of the world,” Mr Jackson said.

Pays to be prepared ... the ash cloud from the Mount Raung volcano stranded many travellers to and from Bali. Picture: AFP PHOTO / WIDARSHA

 

 

 

He said Allianz Global Assistance, one of the travel insurance industry’s biggest players, had already received about 900 claim notifications ranging from Bali flight delays and cancellations to “extended stays for pets in catteries waiting for their owners to come home”.

Insurance Council of Australia spokesman Campbell Fuller said research by the council’s understandinginsurance.com.au program had found that 20-25 per cent of Australians holidaying overseas did not take out travel insurance.

“The ease of booking holidays and airfares online may be increasing the risk that other essential parts of a holiday are overlooked,” he said.

“Traditionally, if you booked through a travel agent the travel agent would be likely to recommend you take out travel insurance. However, now that’s less common.”

Flight Centre spokeswoman Kellie Carty said it was difficult for consumers to understand the confusing array of airfare deals, and many Bali travellers flying on no-frills fares had been left with few options last week.

“Travel agents understand fare rules and conditions,” she said.

A pretty boring way to spend holiday time ... last week’s flight delays left many stranded at airports. Picture: John Grainger

 

 

 

Online booking can offer travellers big savings but anyone choosing this option must read the fine print and understand the fees and rules around bookings and cancellations.

“It’s so overwhelming for people because there is so much choice on the internet,” she said.

“Understand what you are getting in terms of customer assistance and support. With travel agents you have 24-7 assistance but when booking direct the onus is on you to fix your own problems.

Money traps overseas are not limited to travel bookings and insurance.

Recent research by the Commonwealth Bank found that nearly one-quarter of Australians who travelled overseas had experienced travel money mishaps, ranging from credit card theft or fraud to difficulties changing money.

Delay doldrums ... passengers sit around the international terminal at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar waiting for flight information on July 10. Picture: AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA

 

 

 

CBA’s executive general manager retail products and strategy, Angus Sullivan, said preparing financially for an overseas trip was at the bottom of the list of priorities for three out of four Australian travellers.

“When you’re in an unfamiliar place, it’s better to be safe than sorry,” he said.

Mr Sullivan said travellers should take extra precautions, keep a close eye on their accounts and take a variety of payment options. “It’s always advisable to carry some local cash alongside your credit card and travel money card,” he said.

Holiday from hell ... passengers queue at Ngurah airport in Denpasar on July 14. Picture: AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA

 

 

 

Bali is the second most popular overseas destination for Australian tourists, after New Zealand.

Figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade show 48 Aussies lost their lives in Bali in 2013-14, about one death every eight days, while many more were admitted to hospital and 20 were arrested. Medical costs overseas can be massive.

“There’s a tendency for people, when it is closer destinations, to not be quite as emphatic about taking out travel insurance,” Mr Jackson said.

He said travellers should beware that their insurance claims might be rejected if they were affected by alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident. “That’s a biggie, especially for younger adventure travellers,” he said.

In Bali last week some Australians tried to head home through other countries, but this could cause problems with their travel insurance policies, Mr Jackson said.

[NicF]

I always take out travel insurance as soon as possible once I have booked my trip. I also make sure the cover will cover my full flight and accommodation cancellation costs as some only cover a small figure. I know some people don't bother when travelling to the UK because they can get free medical treatment in the UK but that fails to consider all the other potential costs if something goes wrong. I know of two people who have had medical issues while on holiday and have had to be repatriated to thier home country which has involved flying with a nurse. I hate to think what that would cost if you had to pay for it yourself. If you shop around you can get good cover for a tiny fraction of the price of your holiday so why risk it?

[Rammygirl]

We have annual cover. It is certainly more expensive in Australia, probably because they sell less!

 

ours needed renewing and as I was looking at quotes I realised that our Wespac Credit Card had changed and now had insurance as part of the deal. The insurance cover is good BUT you need to pay for all or part of the trip on the card. As I had booked the two upcoming holidays before the card changed I had used our UK card to pay as it doesn't charge fees for foreign transactions and we had plenty of cash sitting in the account.

 

So I have booked two single trip policies for these holidays even though one is in Australia (worth it for the hire car excess alone). Cheaper than another annual policy.

 

must remember to book using my Wespac card next time. As with all insurance it pays to read the small print!!

[Rammygirl]

My sister in law was travelling from UK to Aus for the test a couple of years back with her partner and their friend.

 

Good job the friend had good insurance. He fell over at Singapore airport on the way out and broke his hip. A bit of a freak accident but........

his insurance paid for his time in Singapore hospital, the operation to replace his hip joint which was shattered, recuperation, and ambulances plus first class seats for his return on the advice of the doctor and assistance on board. Plus refund of his accommodation etc.

 

It can happen.......... He might have missed the holiday of a lifetime but at least he wasn't out of pocket.

[Diane]

We have an ANZ card that includes family overseas travel insurance so I always use that to book flights. It also has domestic (and international) car hire excess reduction which was the reason we got it in the first place. There is an annual fee of about $80-$100 but it still works out cheaper than getting separate travel insurance for each trip. Doesn't cover my daughter's trips though, even if we use the card to pay for your flights and we pay her back, as the card holder has to be one of the travellers.

[snifter]

We get cover with our bank account if the person booking is travelling also. And we get it sorted within a certain timeframe.

 

This time round though, for my current UK trip I took out a different cover which has all the important stuff. Never travel withand t decent insurance and if you shop around you can find good deals.

[Keith & Linda]

We have used our Commonwealth credit card insurance for years now on our world travels, and it has no annual fee. We have had one major claim, had to stop the plane and turn it around, luckily it was only taxiing to the runway for take off, this was in Zurich enroute to UK, emergency surgery same day, insurance was a little slow to kick-in so had to pay some upfront but got it all back.

However be warned these policies are for ever getting amendments, so please ensure you get the latest, also regarding the care hire excess cover with these one must be careful as it is usually on condition that you have taken out all insurances offered to you by the car hire company, this may be read as 'available' by the insurers so not necessarily 'offered'

 

Our Bank has just changed provider so we now have to notify them of our travel dates to get the full cover otherwise just some very basic cover applies. I expect more amendments soon!

Happy and safe travels.