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Columbus Direct provides extra protection to customers stuck abroad by Ash Cloud or any other unforeseen circumstance

Wednesday 19, May 2010

In response to the chaos caused by the Icelandic Ash cloud and the subsequent confusion many passengers felt in regards to what their travel insurance covered them for, Columbus Direct has acted swiftly by adding a new “Emergency Travel Upgrade” as an option on its gold policy range.

This new cover is at present unique in the travel insurance market, in that it covers passenger in the event of any unforeseen circumstance preventing their return Home. So for example, in addition to further “ash cloud” disruption, it would also cover for things such as unforeseen strikes by airline/air traffic staff or other major weather or natural disasters.

The upgrade, worth up to £4,000 per policy, is intended to cover customers for the cost of alternative accommodation, or to enable them travel by alternative means, (e.g. to allow them to use a train if flights are cancelled, or to take a flight if a ferry is cancelled) to get them home.

This latest move is not the first time Columbus has put itself at the forefront of the travel insurance market, as it was also among the first major travel insurance brands to offer Scheduled Airline Flight Insurance (SAFI) which covers people should their airline go bust –something Columbus offers at no extra cost to customers!

Graham Linney, Director of Columbus said "Not all travel insurance is the same, and we are very proud to be the first provider to offer such comprehensive cover that will help compensate people through very difficult circumstances such as the ash cloud, and who knows what else in the future.”

POLICY DETAILS for Emergency Travel Upgrade 

In the event of unforeseen circumstances preventing Your return Home as pre-booked, for at least 24 hours from Your booked Return Journey, We will pay You up to £1,500 for alternative emergency reasonable accommodation costs (on a bed and breakfast basis only and for a maximum of £100 per night or equivalent in other currency) or alternative emergency reasonable transport expenses incurred by You to make arrangements outside of Your original plans to get You Home (car hire is limited to £150 per 100km and train, bus, ferry or alternative flights are limited to economy basis only). The total payable for all insured persons under this policy is £4,000.

This cover is independent of other sections of this policy and does not include cover under the Scheduled Airline Failure element of this policy. This cover is intended to enable You to travel by alternative means, (e.g. to allow You to use a train if flights are cancelled, or to take a flight if Your ferry is cancelled) and to arrange accommodation required as a result of these alternative travel plans. Reasons for cancellation of intended travel must be unforeseen and not specific to the individuals named on the policy.

What is not covered: 

• The first £60 of each claim, per person (unless You have paid the additional premium to waive all Excesses);
• Any expenses that You can recover from any tour operator, airline, hotel or other provider of services;
• Any expenses that You would normally have to pay during the period of Your journey/holiday;
• Any claim resulting from You travelling against the advice of the appropriate national or local authority;
• You must give Us a written statement from an appropriate public authority confirming the reason and nature of the disaster, when it started and how long it lasted;
• Any event that results in a claim under this Section, which was known about before You purchased this policy;
• You must provide evidence of all the extra costs You had to pay;
• Any claim for lost accommodation or cancelled travel arrangements if You are claiming under this section;
• Any claim for costs which are not reasonable or not an emergency to get You Home;
• Anything listed in "Exclusions Applicable to the Whole Policy", in the policy wording.

You can get a quote from Columbus Direct here.

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