Travel Insurance News
Airlines un-tick Travel Insurance Box
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Changes in who and how travel Insurance is sold came into play from the 1st of January 2009, when the Financial Services Authority (FSA) took over the regulation of the sale of travel insurance.
From the 1st of January 2009 travel insurance only became available for purchase through FSA regulated agents, such as Andrew Yule Insurance, and last months Insurance Times Magazine reported that the EU is putting pressure on airlines to stop forced travel insurance sales on their websites.
They say more than 50 European Airlines, such as Ryanair and Easyjet, have now stopped adding travel insurance automatically to the price of online tickets under pressure from the EU regulators.
Previously some airlines websites used pre- ticked boxes, which meant consumers would have to un-tick the box if they wanted to opt out of taking and paying for the airline’s cover.
Now more than 50 airlines have reformed their online booking sites, or will do shortly, after the commission threatened to name and shame them in its first European Union wide consummer enforcement action.
The reform will stop the use of pre-ticked boxes, but Ryanair- although they have changed their site, said that they disagree with the change, as some passangers might now fly without travel insurance by mistake. However, we think that some passengers would no doubt argue that it’s unfair to automatically add the travel insurance to the price of their flight, without discussing the cover, cover options and what you’re getting for your money, when they also may already have travel insurance in place, or be unaware that cover has been added and purchase and pay for cover twice!
Travel Insurance is very important, and if you previously used to purchse your cover through your chosen airline, then it’s important that you now contact and purchase your travel insurance from a FSA regulated travel insurance expert like us, and make sure you get the right cover AND the right price!
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