Airlines forcing travel insurance
Fly me to the moon. But do not charge me for travel insurance
Monday, 29, Jun 2009 06:35
A number of major airlines are still leading customers to buy travel insurance by making buying cover as a default booking option.
Last November there was an EU directive stating extras such as insurance cannot be adding at the time of booking.
EasyJet, Jet2 and Monarch all automatically add travel insurance as a default option - where customers have to choose to untick option boxes to avoid paying for the insurance.
Lorna Cowan, editor of Which? Holiday, warned holidaymakers to be vigilant so they don't end up buying travel insurance they may not need.
"With airlines still opting people into insurance, consumers could unwittingly buy a product which is of no use to them, and at up to £10 per person this can add up," she said.
"Buying insurance at the same time as your flights may seem like an easy and convenient option. But if you've already got an insurance policy, or it doesn't provide the right amount of cover for you, it's as useless as no cover at all."
Which? has also hit out at the quality of airline insurance policies.
A spokesperson explained several airlines' insurance policies are failing to make the grade.
"Wizz Air's travel insurance is definitely not up to our best buy standards," she said, explaining it only provided £200,000 to cover medical expenses compared with the recommended £ 1 million.
She added polices by BA and RyanAir also fell short.
Ryanair failed to meet the best buy critieria as cover for cancellation or curtailment only stood at £500, not the recommended £3,000.
FlyBe and Monarch's travel insurance just missed out as their policies that did not covered old for new.
"The insurance offered by EasyJet did meet our best buy criteria, but we do not agree with the auto opt in," she added.