Don't be undone by done print
In his blog ‘The Dirtiest Fine Print I’ve Ever Seen in Contracts’, Sean Kernen claims that almost 91% of users do not read contract terms and conditions in full before signing. Come to think of it I sometime don’t. The point he makes out is that “The most dangerous fine print is subtle enough to move their liability over the line and into your lap”, is very true.
Since March 2020, it has been one heck of a struggle…and still is. Thankfully though, more people are getting vaccinated, the number of unvaccinated is shrinking, and the confidence level to travel is moving up – albeit continuing risks and restrictions. For instance, you can kiss goodbye to that incredibly low airfare if you are unvaccinated. Airlines will simply not allow you to board. End of discussion!
To those who are fully vaccinated; have put aside a near seventeen month holiday saving; want desperately to release that ‘pent up’ desire and take a vacation to de-stress, the window of opportunity appears to be opening. Be aware thought, that the travel you plan, in the hope of relieving all that built-up stress may have certain mis-steps. In many ways, travel has become more stressful.
With COVID-19 spreading uncertainty on all forms of travel, one of the most ignored aspects of international travel, namely travel-related insurance assumes huge importance. All those pre-COVID insurance coverage against missed connecting flights, lost baggage, injury or illness abroad, loss of travel documents, loss or damages caused because of weather related problems will be there, but now, on a massively unpredictable scale. Yes, unlike in the ‘normal’ past as we knew it, more people are likely to get stranded between flights and many pieces of luggage will get lost several times.
For starters, look closely at your travel policy – especially the fine print. Does it cover cancellations for ‘epidemic-related reasons? For example, assume you were able to travel to another country and you arrived there safely. However, just as you were preparing to return to your home, the host country you visited, experiences a spike in corona cases, compelling that country to immediately suspend all incoming /outgoing air travel by shutting its borders. Stuck in the host country, until such time as you can return home, how do you live out your unexpected extended stay? Only with insurance cover that bails you out of the additional expenses during the enforced lockdown.
Thus you need to carefully read the fine print on the policy to avoid any surprises. Establish what type of coverage you have even if it claims to cover COVID. Since the WHO declared coronavirus a pandemic in March last year, your insurance company could consider it as a foreseen event and may not cover it, taking the stance that ‘you should have known about the potential risks but still chose to travel’. Arising from this, the cost of travel and its consequences are on you! With that in mind, check with your insurance provider about the ‘known’ or ‘unforeseeable’ clauses relating to the coronavirus outbreak and how it can affect your specific coverage.
Claims due to known foreseeable or expected events, epidemics or fear of travel are usually not covered and if they are, can vary. Almost all travel insurance policies have a “fear of travel” clause. Trip cancellation for fear of travel associated with sickness, epidemic or pandemic, including coronavirus is not covered. Bottom-line: If you purchased a ticket, then became afraid to travel because of any sickness, which is probably not a ‘covered’ reason. If you seek the ultimate flexibility in cancelling your trip for any reason, consider “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) travel insurance coverage.
If you are paying for something as important as travel insurance…it pays to know exactly what you are covered for.
Shafeek Wahab - Editor, Hospitality Sri Lanka, Consultant, Trainer, Ex-Hotelier
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