(TAN): Virgin Atlantic has introduced free COVID-19 insurance cover on all new and existing bookings.
The policy, which applies automatically to all flights booked with Virgin Atlantic will complement existing travel insurance and provide additional peace of mind for upcoming trips, whether customers are already booked or plotting a getaway.
In the event that they or anyone else on their booking becomes ill with COVID-19 while travelling, Virgin Atlantic COVID-19 Cover ensures related costs are covered, no matter how long the trip is or even if they’re visiting another destination on the same overseas trip.
The insurance policy is fulfilled by Allianz Assistance and covers emergency medical and associated expenses while abroad totalling GBP 500,000 (USD 668,000) per customer – the highest value of policy offered by any airline to date, with no excess payment required.
The policy also covers expenses incurred up to GBP 3,000 if a customer is denied boarding, at either departure or in destination, or has to quarantine due to positive or suspected COVID-19 during a trip.
Customers booked to travel from August 24, 2020 up to and including March 31, 2021 will automatically receive the new COVID-19 cover and Virgin Atlantic Holidays customers will also benefit, where the flights on their holiday booking are with Virgin Atlantic.
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Providing the customer is travelling on a Virgin Atlantic ticket, if the flight is operated by a partner airline or a joint venture carrier — Delta Air Lines or Air France-KLM — the cover will also apply. Tickets can be booked via virginatlantic.com, by phone or through a travel agent, including reward tickets on Virgin Atlantic flights.
Virgin Atlantic Chief Commercial Officer Juha Jarvinen said, “Our priority is always the health and safety of our people and customers and this industry-leading Virgin Atlantic COVID-19 Cover ensures customers can continue to fly safe and fly well with us.”
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Key features of the COVID-19 Cover include the following. Terms and conditions apply.
- 24-hour emergency medical assistance
- GBP 500,000 of emergency medical expenses if you are taken ill due to Coronavirus during your journey, including treatment, transport and accommodation costs
- Additional costs should a customer be denied boarding due to suspected or actual COVID-19, or if they are held in quarantine, including accommodation, transport charges, refreshments, booking amendment fees and other travel expenses
- Repatriation home, including private air ambulance where necessary
- No excess payable
- Cover for the whole trip, with no upper limit on the length of customer’s time away
- Cover for all passengers with no restrictions on age, travel class or length of journey
The cover starts from the point of booking and ends when the customer returns home or to a hospital or nursing home in their home country. One-way trips are also included, with the insurance cover valid until the end of the journey, which is defined as 12 hours after the arrival of the customer’s final flight.
