Lee Taylor, Chief Sales Officer at Allianz Partners UK, which provides travel insurance under the Allianz Assistance brand, comments; “This morning’s news is a devastating blow for the global travel industry and British holidaymakers alike. The first priority will be to ensure any Thomas Cook customers who are either currently abroad or were expecting to travel in the near future, have clear and confident guidelines as to what steps they need to take next.”
Allianz Assistance confirms that financial failure of a Tour Operator is not something typically covered by travel insurance policies as UK firms are, in the main, financially protected by an Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) or Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) financial bond. People who used a credit card to purchase their holiday will have additional consumer protection and should contact their credit card provider.
Customers of Thomas Cook or one of its Group companies should visit the ABTA website - for advice, including if they are currently away on a Thomas Cook package holiday or staying in accommodation booked with Thomas Cook, or have yet to travel.
Customers of Allianz Assistance UK who have bought travel insurance to accompany a Thomas Cook holiday are being offered a free travel insurance transfer or full travel insurance refund. Lee Taylor continues; “Any Thomas Cook customer who has bought one of our single trip travel insurance policies and wishes to travel on another date for the same duration and to the same country, then we’ll will be happy to transfer the insurance policy to another date without charge.
“If any of our customers have bought a single trip policy and wish to transfer the trip for a different duration or country, then we will be happy to discuss any additional premium that may be required to do so. Those customers who have bought a single trip policy and cannot transfer the trip dates, we will be happy to refund the travel insurance premium in full.”
“Regardless of who you bought travel insurance from, if you have questions about what is covered under your travel insurance policy contact your insurance provider as a matter of priority.”
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