Tag Archives: airports

Will you be covered by your travel insurance?

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We are in worrying times and faced with the ultimate decision would you choose health over money. Is it worth the risk?
Insurance is a necessary evil and an added expense designed to safeguard travellers. It could be a saviour if you are caught in a difficult situation once you are on your holiday. But will it cover you if you want to cancel your holiday and stay at home?  

Insurance rules for epidemics and pandemics

Unfortunately, everything comes down to the stuff we hardly ever read – the small print. Previous outbreaks of world-threatening viruses like SARS, Ebola and Zika, have influenced insurers to be cautious and include only the necessary coverage for such events. And epidemics and pandemics have become excluded from most insurance coverage. Leaving holidaymaker covered for what will happen to them, but not what might happen to them. The World Health Organization has declared the latest virus outbreak as an international health emergency. However, although the insurance companies agree, they aren’t surprised by the newest virus to reach epidemic proportions, and to them, it is an expected risk they have already factored into their policies

Despite the lockdown happening in Italy at the moment, Europe is not on code red yet. There has been no official warning from the FCO not to travel in Europe. Special care should be taken in areas of South Korea (Daegu & Cheongdo) and China is still a no go zone. An FCO warning is the deciding factor for the airlines, travel agents, holiday and insurance companies, to motivate them to cancel flights or holiday packages and issue refunds.

Should I take my family on holiday?

The general insurance small print on the matter of epidemics or pandemics states that most claims will be assessed based on individual cases. But this doesn’t give much assurance to an average family about to embark on an international flight. And it doesn’t provide enough information for anyone debating whether to put health & safety first and stay at home instead. At the moment The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)  and the government are asking travellers to reconsider their need to travel rather than giving a direct warning. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean much to the insurance companies and asking the public to contemplate whether it is wise to travel will not entitle them to a refund for their holiday. Deciding to travel without heeding the advice of the FCO may forfeit your right to claim back any of your medical expenses or costs of repatriation. However, if your destination was not on the ‘no go’ list when you travelled but has subsequently been upgraded, you will fall into an insurance grey area, and any settlement will be based on discretion when you make a claim. In some areas, the risk may be low, but that doesn’t mean that in the worst-case scenario, it won’t escalate or in the best-case, diminish to nothing. Cancelling a holiday you have promised your kids for months. Or have saved your pennies to make happen, is a tough choice. But there may be other factors to consider when making a final decision. Do you need to go? Is your health good? Is anyone you will be travelling with vulnerable (young, elderly, or has a suppressed immune system? The decision will be a real tug of war between your head and your heart.

Best and worst-case scenarios

If you’ve planned your trip a long way in advance. Hopefully, you booked your insurance before the latest epidemic scare started too. If so, it is likely you will be refunded if the FCO advises against travel to your destination, and your journey is cancelled, rescheduled or shortened by the providers. Unfortunately, if the FCO haven’t declared your destination a ‘no go’ zone, it is unlikely that you will be able to recoup any of your initial your costs unless you can change or defer your holiday. Hotels are usually more forgiving in these cases. And some airlines are more forgiving when changing flights than others. However, the budget airlines tend to be strict unless you have taken precautions in advance and booked a trip with extra adaptability. If you decide to take the risk and travel to a destination not banned by the FCO, you should be medically covered if something happens, as long as your insurance policy was booked in advance. However, the level of cover differs between companies and policies. And make sure you take appropriate precautions to reduce the risk of infection. Otherwise, it is unlikely you will receive any compensation at all.

Ten Years After 9/11, Widespread Concerns About Terrorist Attacks on Airports, Mass Transit and Public Gatherings Persist

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Ten Years After 9/11, Widespread Concerns About Terrorist Attacks on Airports, Mass Transit and Public Gatherings Persist, According to Unisys Research

Overall security concerns at highest levels in many countries, with financial and personal security concerns top of mind

Nearly ten years after 9/11, a majority of citizens surveyed in the U.S., Europe and Latin America report that they are “extremely” or “very” concerned about malicious or terrorist attacks on airports, airplanes, railroads, buses, subways or large gatherings of people at office buildings, sporting events or other locations, according to new research conducted by Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS).

The findings are part of the bi-annual Unisys Security Index, conducted in February, which surveyed more than 11,500 people in 12 countries for consumer opinion on four areas of security: financial, national, Internet and personal safety.

“We’ve made significant progress in bolstering security in the decade since the attacks of 9/11, but we still have more work to do to increase the speed with which we adopt and implement technology solutions to secure our air cargo, rail transportation and other critical infrastructure systems as attacks become more sophisticated,” said Steve Vinsik, vice president, enterprise security, Unisys. “However, recent events such as the Yemeni cargo bomb as well as highly publicized attempted terror attacks in public spaces have raised awareness of security vulnerabilities in countries around the world. Governments and businesses worldwide must work together to address ways to protect our supply chains, public spaces and transportation infrastructures.”

When asked about their level of concern about locations they believe are vulnerable to attacks, well over half of respondents in nine of the 11 countries in which that question was asked said airports and airplanes are highly vulnerable.

In general, Europeans surveyed were most concerned, with the highest percentages of those seriously concerned residing in Germany (79 percent), the UK (74 percent) and Belgium (74 percent). High levels of concern were also reported in Mexico (70 percent), Brazil (69 percent) and the Netherlands (67 percent). In the United States, 59 percent of those surveyed said they were seriously concerned.

New Zealand and Australian citizens were the least concerned about attacks on airports and airplanes, at 42 and 48 percent respectively.

Similarly, more than half of respondents in all countries except Australia and New Zealand expressed serious concern about attacks on mass transit locations such as railroads, buses and subways. And in seven of the 11 countries where the question was asked, at least half of respondents said they believe cargo is also vulnerable to attacks.

General increase in concern worldwide

Overall, the latest results of the Unisys Security Index survey found that citizens around the world are significantly more concerned about nearly all aspects of their security compared to six months ago.

Results showed that financial concerns were top of mind in many countries, with bankcard fraud as the top concern worldwide and concern about the ability to meet financial obligations jumping significantly, especially in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand. Concern over national security also climbed in nearly all of the countries where financial security concern rose.

On a level from zero to 300, the overall global Unisys Security Index score jumped more than 17 percent in six months, from 125 to 147, to the highest levels since the survey began in 2007. While nearly all countries reported increases in overall concern, countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom reported their highest levels of concern ever.

Measures of financial and personal security rose to a serious level of concern for the first time. The financial security index moved to 159, the highest level yet, with bankcard fraud identified as the top financial concern in every country. Similarly, the personal security index rose to an all time high of 151, with identify theft the second highest overall concern in every country except Mexico.

About the Unisys Security Index

The Unisys Security Index is a bi-annual global study that provides insights into the attitudes of consumers on a wide range of security related issues. Lieberman Research Group conducted the survey in Latin America, Europe and the U.S.; Newspoll conducted the research in Asia-Pacific. The Unisys Security Index surveys more than 11,500 people in 12 countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. The study measures consumer perceptions on a scale of zero to 300, with 300 representing the highest level of perceived concern. For more information, visit www.unisyssecurityindex.com.