Travel insurance that won't leave you stranded
Saga, the over 50s champion that provides holidays and insurance products, will be introducing a new comprehensive travel insurance to the market, in response to a variety of travel woes witnessed this year.
The new market leading cover will give travellers a top of the range insurance policy without having to pay an extra premium to add this cover on. The increase in cover is particularly relevant to those independent travellers who arrange their own holidays and are unable to get assistance by means of a refund or compensation from their transport operator or accommodation provider.
In direct response to April's ash cloud, Saga have fully reviewed their travel insurance offering with the aim to provide customers with cover for every eventuality when abroad. Saga insured travellers will now be automatically covered if air space is closed for 24 hours from when they were due to depart.
The upgraded policy will also cover people if they are unable to reach their destination or return home for a variety of reasons including delay due to airport closure and strike action. After the first 24 hours of being stranded abroad, customers will be covered either up to £100 per person per day (maximum of £1,500) for meal and accommodation costs) or up to £1,000 of cover for travel arrangements to reach their destination or return home. Under Saga's upgraded cover, incidents such as hurricanes or volcanic eruptions that make holiday accommodation uninhabitable will also be insured.
Saga is also responding to issues experienced earlier this year by Eurostar passengers, where trains were delayed and cancelled. The insurance will now offer customers up to £5,000 cancellation cover if their train is cancelled and they are unable to continue with their independently booked holiday (if closed for 24 hours from the date and time they were due to depart) or if they are denied boarding because there are too many passengers for the seats available.
Saga has also introduced a new service to take the stress away from customers who are unfortunate enough to lose their passports while abroad. A team of specialists will be available via a helpline to guide people through the process of obtaining a replacement and they will even contact the relevant embassy to ensure that new passports are delivered to the right place for collection.
Andrew Goodsell, Executive Chairman, Saga Group commented: "However well travellers plan their holidays, unforeseen circumstances are always a possibility. We're delighted to incorporate a range of provisions for exceptional circumstances into our existing cover at no extra charge."