Airline passenger news and views

From this month, Aviva travel insurance customers are able to protect against cancellation caused by airspace closure with an addition to their annual or single-trip policies.

For £5 per person for a single trip or £10 per person for annual policies, the upgrade covers £5,000 per person for unrecoverable costs. The rules are a bit complicated with two main options being offered.

Policyholders can opt for £100 per person for each day that they are unable to return home, up to a limit of £1,500. This is irrespective of any help given by the travel provider or airline.

Alternatively, the policyholder can accept up to £1,000 per person for any necessary and reasonable travel expenses incurred after 24 hours to make immediate arrangements to get home. The policy will also pay for emergency medical supplies needed to prevent exacerbation or deterioration of a pre-existing medical condition.

Although the obligation of the airlines under EC Regulation 261 is now much clearer than it was back in March, this is a useful and relatively low cost addition to travel insurance. It has to be welcomed, even if only as a second string to passengers’ legal rights.