As the credit crunch hits Britain harder it has been revealed that nearly a quarter of British travellers are no longer keen on taking out travel insurance before heading off abroad. According to the study from American Express many of the travellers, who try to escape the tough times in the country by going on holiday, only search for last minute holiday deals.
The insurance firm reminded that by not having a valid travel cover with them while abroad, such travellers are putting themselves at risk. It also explained that medical issues, flight cancellation or the loss of or damage to luggage could suddenly occur and be followed by huge costs, which may have to be paid for from the travellers’ own pocket if they are not covered. Head of American Express Insurance Services, Chris Rolland said people who have adequate insurance cover stand to enjoy their holidays, home or abroad, as they are rest assured that they are fully protected in the event of any eventuality.
news source : http://www.onlyfinance.com/
Following a report that nearly 60% of British travellers are unaware of ESTA - the compulsory, new US visa requirement - EssentialTravel.co.uk today cautions that any traveller denied entry into the US, because they lack the necessary travel documents, will not be covered by their travel insurance.
As of now, anyone travelling to the US under their visa waiver scheme, must register online for the new Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), at least 72 hours before they go. Any traveller who has not been pre-approved under the ESTA scheme, will almost certainly be prevented from boarding their flight in the UK, or be denied access into the USA by Customs officials upon arrival.
“Sadly ignorance is no excuse”, says Stuart Bensusan, Insurance Director at EssentialTravel.co.uk. “We don’t expect US Immigration officials are going to be lenient to anyone who turns up without the necessary clearance. And anyone who forfeits their holiday - flight, accommodation, cruise etc… - because they don’t have an ESTA, won’t be able to claim on their travel insurance: it’s their responsibility to secure the necessary travel documentation.’’
Stuart Bensusan urges anyone lucky enough to be travelling to Washington to witness Barack Obama’s historic inauguration ceremony next Tuesday (20th January), or any part of the US in the foreseeable future, to apply for an ESTA immediately at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta
news source : http://www.easier.com
AN Isle of Man family's dream ski holiday hit the skids after a visa fiasco. John Middlemas's Columbian partner Luz Garcia and daughter Oriana, 14, had never seen snow before and were looking forward to a week's skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland. But their holiday plans were dashed when they checked in at Ronaldsway Airport on December 20 to be told that Luz and Oriana now required a visitor visa to enter Switzerland and so they could not board their Flybe flight. Computer programmer John, 54, said from the family's home in Spaldrick Avenue, Port Erin: 'The law was changed on December 12 without proper notice so that Schengen visas would now be required for entry to Switzerland.
'My partner and daughter are alien British residents and no visa was required when I checked the continental.com airline website page on November 27 when I booked the holiday myself. 'I was not aware of any change in the law. Therefore there was nothing I could have done and we lost our holiday. 'I phoned the Swiss Embassy and they are getting calls every day from other people who also lost their holiday.' The European Union decision to change to Schengen visas was only taken on November 28, giving just 15 days' notice. Mr Middlemas added: 'It is ridiculous! They could have given three months' notice and made the changeover after the ski season. It defies common sense.'
He said he could have lost £3,000, which will not be covered by his travel insurance and he now plans to seek compensation from the Swiss government and the EU – but conceded: 'It is doubtful they will pay. 'My holiday insurance policy does not cover visa related problems even though I made no mistake. Flybe will not refund the flight money. The Swiss train service will not refund the Swiss Transfer Tickets I bought. My approximate loss may be £3,000 depending if the hotel debits my credit card as they said they would due to late cancellation. 'Worse than any monetary loss is the loss of the holiday since my partner and daughter have never seen the snow and we were all looking forward to it. I personally feel like I have suffered a robbery or a trauma.
'The experience at airport check in was extremely stressful since I did not believe the airport staff were correct in their refusal since I saw only a few weeks ago that no visa was required. 'I believe the 15 days' notice of changeover to be an extremely irresponsible action causing many people to suffer. 'When the decision was finalised the Swiss Embassy could have told all UK airlines to contact all customers travelling to Switzerland about this. Then we could have cancelled early or got a visa. I am afraid this looks like negligence on their part to me.' Schengen allows non EU nationals who do not fall under the European visa waiver programme to travel on the Continent with one visa. The UK is not part of the agreement.Ruth Zumbuhl, consul at the Swiss Embassy in London said notification of the proposed changes to the visa regulations was posted on the consular website in mid October and advice to check the website had been given as far back at June. She said visas were issued free of charge from mid-November until December 11 and 1,000 people had chosen to take this up.Schengen visas were issued from December 15 and anybody turned back from the airport from that date could have a visa issued to them by the embassy within a few hours if they were able to do so, Ms Zumbuhl added. She said: 'We had some doubts about the exact date when Schengen would be implemented. It is unfortunate that it was just before Christmas.
'But it was not in our hands. We did our utmost to inform people and help them. At the end of the day, the final responsibility for obtaining up-to-date information on immigration rules rests with the traveller and the travel agent.' She advised Mr Middlemas to make a claim with the travel agents he had booked with but also gave an address that disappointed travellers could write to with their complaints – Federal Office for Immigration, Visa Section, Quellenweg 6, CH3003, Berne-Wabern, Switzerland.
news source : http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news
As the credit crunch hits Britain harder it has been revealed that nearly a quarter of British travellers are no longer keen on taking out travel insurance before heading off abroad. According to the study from American Express many of the travellers, who try to escape the tough times in the country by going on holiday, only search for last minute holiday deals.
