Which? Holiday warns against small print

A study by Which? Holiday has found many incidents not covered by travel insurance

Travel Insurance News - 05/04/2010

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Which? Holiday warns holidaymakers to read the small print in their insurance policies as research reveals that many could be left out of pocket. The study has revealed that increasingly common holiday mishaps, such as strikes, company closures and acts of terrorism are not covered by most insurers.

More minor incidents, such as a car breakdown on the way to a airport or public transport strikes resulting in a flight be missed, are also often excluded from policies. The study found that over half of insurance companies would also not pay out for a plane missed due to heavy traffic.

With the news of another airline going bust this week, only one third of insurers confirmed that they would pay out if a car hire company, hotel or airline went into administration during or before a holiday. This, Which? Holiday commented, is something most people would automatically expect to be covered by their travel insurance.

A spokeswoman for the consumer review publication commented that insurance companies need to up their game in order to provide their customers with policies they can rely on. She also called for small print to be made clearer and more digestible.

The publication found that people who drive to the airport are particularly vulnerable, as although breakdowns are generally covered if the recovery firm provides written confirmation, running out of petrol or getting a flat generally isn’t. The advice is to always read the small print of your policy and don’t assume that everything will be covered.

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