Thinking about a few of the common problems travellers experience and how well travel insurance does(n't) cover them. We all know that policies vary a lot, but what about where they almost universally fail to cover you? Here are issues I thought of, but would appreciate corrections or additions.
(1) travel delay/cancellation -- no cover if due to scheduling/cancellation/malfunction problems affecting your transport, except if due to weather/nature, strike, civil unrest, hijack, accident, terrorism.
* it seems that this applies to transport to the airport as well, so if your bus/train is severely delayed and you miss your flight, tough.
* even business-oriented plans do nothing to help you get to business engagements if your booked travel is delayed/cancelled. The only events eligible for alternative transport costs are usually weddings, funerals, conferences, sporting events or prepaid tours.
* I guess DJ passengers in Melbourne were not covered when the terminal had the mysterious chemical leak recently and all flights were cancelled.
* If flying a dodgy LCC like Ryanair, you have no recourse if they cancel your flight or divert you to an airport 200km away or...
* no cover for operator failure -- a clause now seen everywhere.
* meals seem to be excluded from most permitted expenses during a long delay.
(2) injury -- the usual term is 'accidental injury'. I assume this is so as to exclude suicide, but I can't work out if this also excludes injuries caused by an assault on your person by a third party.
(3) luggage damage/loss -- most of it is fairly common sense... don't leave your luggage unattended or in a car (except boot during daylight).
* If animals/insects damage or eat your luggage there's no cover.
* If your luggage gets wet for any reason, the damage isn't covered... so beware of deluges, floods, overflows.
* Not sure about luggage in lockers at airports/stations, or about luggage stored by hotels on your behalf.
* And the issue of depreciation is always a nasty shock for people when claiming.
(4) medical emergency -- just don't be depressed, already ill, needing extra medication, or have consumed alcohol or drugs before getting injured.
* and don't get injured because of war, nuclear accident, or any terrorist act.
(5) dental emergency -- most policies require 'external force' causing an injury.
* they exclude treatment necessary because of decay... so don't get an abcess or anything else!
* Not sure if breaking a tooth on a nut or with chewy toffee counts as 'external force'.
I hope some people find this useful, and I hope it elicits corrects/comments.
(1) travel delay/cancellation -- no cover if due to scheduling/cancellation/malfunction problems affecting your transport, except if due to weather/nature, strike, civil unrest, hijack, accident, terrorism.
* it seems that this applies to transport to the airport as well, so if your bus/train is severely delayed and you miss your flight, tough.
* even business-oriented plans do nothing to help you get to business engagements if your booked travel is delayed/cancelled. The only events eligible for alternative transport costs are usually weddings, funerals, conferences, sporting events or prepaid tours.
* I guess DJ passengers in Melbourne were not covered when the terminal had the mysterious chemical leak recently and all flights were cancelled.
* If flying a dodgy LCC like Ryanair, you have no recourse if they cancel your flight or divert you to an airport 200km away or...
* no cover for operator failure -- a clause now seen everywhere.
* meals seem to be excluded from most permitted expenses during a long delay.
(2) injury -- the usual term is 'accidental injury'. I assume this is so as to exclude suicide, but I can't work out if this also excludes injuries caused by an assault on your person by a third party.
(3) luggage damage/loss -- most of it is fairly common sense... don't leave your luggage unattended or in a car (except boot during daylight).
* If animals/insects damage or eat your luggage there's no cover.
* If your luggage gets wet for any reason, the damage isn't covered... so beware of deluges, floods, overflows.
* Not sure about luggage in lockers at airports/stations, or about luggage stored by hotels on your behalf.
* And the issue of depreciation is always a nasty shock for people when claiming.
(4) medical emergency -- just don't be depressed, already ill, needing extra medication, or have consumed alcohol or drugs before getting injured.
* and don't get injured because of war, nuclear accident, or any terrorist act.
(5) dental emergency -- most policies require 'external force' causing an injury.
* they exclude treatment necessary because of decay... so don't get an abcess or anything else!
* Not sure if breaking a tooth on a nut or with chewy toffee counts as 'external force'.
I hope some people find this useful, and I hope it elicits corrects/comments.