Aviva : Dream holidays on hold with cancelled holidays costing millions

24 May 2016

Aviva Reveals 2015 Claims Statistics For Cancelled Travel Plans

Aviva, the UK's leading insurer, has revealed it paid out over £19.2m last year to UK holidaymakers whose holidays had to be cancelled before they started.

Despite the number of holiday cancellations, just a quarter of would-be holidaymakers take out insurance at the same time as booking their trip. A third (32%), buy it the month before their trip and 10% of travellers don't bother with insurance at all, leaving themselves at risk from hefty medical bills or losing their holidays altogether.

Across its travel insurance business, the insurer received 30,000 claims from disappointed travellers whose holiday plans had to be put on hold due to family bereavements, illness or other circumstances. The data also revealed:

• The average cancellation claim was £640
• It received over 60 claims for cancelled trips worth over £10,000
• The highest claim was for £26,000

However, Aviva research also shows that only 40% of people say they always take out travel cover when going on family holidays and a further 20% say they only take out cover when travelling abroad.

Commenting on the findings, Adam Beckett, director of products at Aviva's UK general insurance business, said: 'As the peak holiday season approaches, it's important holidaymakers make sure they have enough cover in place if the worst happens and they're not able to travel.

'Many travellers assume travel insurance just protects them while they're on holiday and they might not take out cover until just before they jet off for sunnier climes. While we hope the worst never happens, it's a sad reality that sometimes our plans have to be changed or cancelled due to illness or other unforeseen events. Taking out travel insurance at the same time as booking the holiday will avoid any unnecessary and added stress if holidaymakers aren't able to travel.'

To help holidaymakers make the most of their break away, Aviva has put together the following travel insurance tips:

• Be protected from the start: take out your policy when you book your holiday
• Make sure you inform your insurer of any pre-existing medical conditions
• Check you have the right documentation before you go and check visa/passport requirements. Recent changes to entry requirements in America mean travellers without biometric passports could be left stranded and denied entry to the country
• If you have personal belongings cover as part of your home insurance, you may not need additional baggage cover on your travel insurance
• Check before you go - visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and follow the latest travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for your holiday destination

Aviva's travel insurance product has been awarded a 5 star Defaqto rating. Full details of Aviva's travel insurance policies are available at http://www.aviva.co.uk/travel

Ends

Media enquiries:

Liz Kennett on 01603 685461/07800 692675 liz.kennett@aviva.com

1 - Analysis of 2015 Aviva travel insurance claims. Total claims £19.2m
2 - Research conducted for Aviva by ICM during June 2015
3 - Research conducted for Aviva by ICM during January 2016

Notes to editors:

• Aviva provides life insurance, general insurance, health insurance and asset management to 33 million customers, across 16 markets worldwide
• In the UK we are the leading insurer serving one in every four households and have strong businesses in selected markets in Europe, Asia and Canada. Our shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and we are a member of the FTSE100 index.
• Aviva's asset management business, Aviva Investors, provides asset management services to both Aviva and external clients, and currently manages over £289 billion in assets.
• Aviva helps people save for the future and manage the risks of everyday life; we paid out £30.7 billion in benefits and claims in 2015.
• By serving our customers well, we are building a business which is strong and sustainable, which our people are proud to work for, and which makes a positive contribution to society.
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