By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A multi-risk travel insurance worth $500,000 designed to provide passengers with a truly unique offer for stress-free and hassle-free travel has been introduced by Emirates.
This cover is the first of its kind in the airline and travel insurance industry and it is being offered by Emirates at no additional cost to its customers.
The policy, which allows air travellers to fly with even greater assurance and peace of mind, is provided in collaboration with AIG Travel.
A statement issued by the firm disclosed that this new multi-risk travel insurance and COVID-19 cover will automatically apply to all Emirates tickets purchased from December 1, 2020, and extends to Emirates codeshare flights operated by partner airlines, as long as the ticket number starts with 176.
It was stated that Emirates customers will be covered when they fly to any destination, in any class of travel and will get Out-of-Country Emergency Medical Expenses & Emergency Medical Evacuation up to US$500,000, valid for COVID-19 (contracted during the trip) and other medical emergencies while travelling abroad; Trip Cancellation up to $7,500 for non-refundable costs if the traveller or a relative (as defined in the policy) is unable to travel because they are diagnosed with COVID-19 before the scheduled trip departure date, or for other named reasons – similar to other comprehensive travel cover products.
The package also offers Trip Cancellation or Curtailment up to $7,500 if the school year is extended due to COVID-19 beyond the departure date, and the traveller or a relative (as defined in the policy) is a full-time teacher, full-time employee, or a student at a primary or secondary school.
Customers will also get Trip Curtailment up to $7,500 for non-refundable trip costs and additional costs to return to their country of residence if the traveller or a relative (as defined in the policy) falls critically ill, for instance, contracts COVID-19 while travelling abroad.
In addition, they will receive Travel Abandonment up to $7,500 if the traveller fails a COVID-19-related test or medical screening at the airport and is required to abandon the trip.
Furthermore, customers will get $150 per day per person, for up to 14 consecutive days if, while outside of their country of residence, the traveller tests positive for COVID-19, and if they are unexpectedly placed into a mandatory quarantine outside their country of residence by a governmental body.
Commenting, the CEO of Emirates, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, stated that, “Emirates was the first airline to offer complimentary global COVID-19 cover for travellers back in July and the response from our customers has been tremendously encouraging.
“We’ve not rested on our laurels and instead continued to look at how we can offer our customers an even better proposition. We’re very pleased to be able to now provide this new multi-risk travel insurance and COVID-19 cover, which is another industry first, to all our customers.
“We see a strong appetite for travel around the world, especially heading into the winter holidays as people seek warmer climates and family destinations like Dubai. By launching this new multi-risk travel insurance and COVID-19 cover, we aim to give our customers even more confidence in making their travel plans this winter and moving into 2021.”
