Columbus Travel Insurance - delayed luggage claim

[adrian]

I guess that a fair few people are insured on this forum with Columbus Travel Insurance. I have a multi-trip policy with them.

Some of you may not have read the policy word-for-word, in which case you may not realise that you are only covered for Emergency Replacement of Delayed Luggage when your luggage is lost or delayed on the "outward journey".

I was caught out when my luggage was temporarily lost mid-trip. I was about half way through a multi-destination trip, when my luggage was delayed by AA for greater than 24hrs into London in the middle of winter. With no suitable clothes for my meetings next day, nor anything warm to wear, I had to buy some replacement clothes, and my claim has been rejected.

I can understand not being covered on the return journey home, but to only be covered for the outward journey makes this insurance policy a bit useless for me, and possibly many others who travel on multi-destination trips and round-world tickets.

On the other hand, Citibank's annual multi-policy covers travellers for delayed luggage on every leg of your trip, except for the leg that brings you home.

 

[Keith009]

That sucks. I've never noticed that bit about the T&Cs as well. There has to be a reason why they're so cheap...

 

[tuapekastar]

I've used them a few times (no claims), but will scrutinise the T&Cs a little more closely before using them again - thanks for the info.

 

[Mal]

That is a little nasty, although I have heard of similar clauses before.

So does this mean that SYD-SINx-HKGx-SYD (for example) would only have baggage protection until SIN?

 

[straitman]

That is a little nasty, although I have heard of similar clauses before.

So does this mean that SYD-SINx-HKG-SYD (for example) would only have baggage protection until SIN?

A good question Mal.

I wonder when on a multi stop journey how do they define where the outward leg finishes :?:

 

[serfty]

I purchased an annual Columbus policy once, but went another direction after one year.

There were too many gotchas.

e.g. Min stay away from home of two nights and need to travel at least 500Km before any cover kicks in.

 

[JohnK]

That is a little nasty, although I have heard of similar clauses before.

So does this mean that SYD-SINx-HKGx-SYD (for example) would only have baggage protection until SIN?

It sounds like only SYD-SIN would be covered as the rest is no longer an outward journey. It would be interesting to define the outward leg when on a RTW trip and not using any airports more than once, eg SYD-LAX-JFK-LHR-SIN-SYD.

Glad I have cover with Travel Insurance Direct and they had no hesitation in paying for a claim for delayed luggage in the middle of a Oneworld RTW award.

 

[anat0l]

A lot of Columbus's terms oddly enough only cover (for international trips) the outward trip from country of origin and inward trip to country of origin.

Not only does that make it hell for any trips whilst you're well away from home, but if I mix domestic and international trips, I'm dubiously not covered for domestic sectors.

I still bought it for my Euro trip as I customarily need it, but to be fair, except for possibly medical, I'm almost not covered for any scenario which I could conceivably require a claim for.

Now that I'm with Amex Plat, I only quickly scanned their PDS (covered by Ace Insurance), but I hope they're a little better; after all, they are free (yes I am aware there is a thread about this...)

 

[megan12392]

That is ridiculous! I can't believe that. Travel insurance is tricky... I'd recommend medicaltravelinsuranceinfo . com to help figure out exactly what your insurance does and doesn't cover before your next trip.

 

[adrian]

That is a little nasty, although I have heard of similar clauses before.

So does this mean that SYD-SINx-HKGx-SYD (for example) would only have baggage protection until SIN?

When I called the Claims Dept for clarification, they told me that they consider the outward journey ends where you are stopping for greater than 24hrs. Not that that definition is anywhere in the policy T&Cs.....

So, really it is all a little vague, and unsatisfactory.

I haven't had the chance to compare Columbus to Citibank clause for clause, but I will aim to do that before my next renewal. However, my partner's claim for mid-trip delayed baggage with Citibank was paid out without question

 

[Keith009]

I haven't had the chance to compare Columbus to Citibank clause for clause, but I will aim to do that before my next renewal. However, my partner's claim for mid-trip delayed baggage with Citibank was paid out without question

Citibank is QBE which seems a bit more reputable.

 

[Mal]

When I called the Claims Dept for clarification, they told me that they consider the outward journey ends where you are stopping for greater than 24hrs. Not that that definition is anywhere in the policy T&Cs.....

If I was denied by a vague clause, then I'd be chatting to the Financial Ombudsman Service - Financial Ombudsman Service :: Home Page