M&S Premier travel insurance covers independent travellers

As another airline operating from the UK files for bankruptcy, M&S travel insurance asks travellers to make sure they are covered if an airline or tour operator goes bust.

Most travel insurance policies do not provide cover if an airline or holiday company goes bust because travellers are protected if they have booked their holiday through a tour operator.

The rise in popularity of low cost airlines and online travel services has led to increasing numbers of travellers choosing to book their holiday independently.

In 2008 27.2 million independent holidays were taken by UK travellers - a 25% increase since 2003. Package holidays now account for just 41% of the overseas holiday market.

While many people are now opting for independent travel due to the greater choice and flexibility it affords, they do not benefit from the protection provided via a package holiday.

For example, an independent holidaymaker whose flight is cancelled could find they are unable to claim for subsequent connections, facing the cost of new flights or accommodation.

Independent Traveller cover is included as standard in M&S Premier annual multi-trip insurance, and is available as an optional extra with single trip travel insurance.

The additional cover offered by this part of the policy includes:

delayed departure compensation for delays exceeding 12 hours occurring at the departure point of any connecting flights or booked public transportation on both the outbound and return journeys

unused accommodation costs if you cancel your trip, or additional travel and accommodation expenses to reach your destination because your flight from the UK was cancelled, delayed for more than 12 hours or you were denied boarding due to the flight being overbooked

additional accommodation and travel expenses if you are delayed and miss any onward connecting flights or other public transport

irrecoverable unused accommodation costs or additional expenses if your trip is affected by insolvency of the providers, an outbreak of food poisoning or infectious disease or natural disasters such as fire, flood or earthquake

Steve Price, M&S Head of General Insurance, said: "Whilst passengers booking flights as part of a package holiday enjoy protection in the event of an airline collapse, travellers booking flights independently can often find themselves stranded and out of pocket.

"Traditional policies may not cover the increasing variety of eventualities faced by the modern traveller. The Independent Traveller cover provided by the M&S travel insurance policy has been designed to meet the changing needs of our customers."

For more information about M&S Travel Insurance or to apply, customers can visit marksandspencer.com/travelinsurance