Jessie KohIt may be time for you to check or upgrade your travel insurance policy. With the recent high-profile aviation accidents, it’s no surprise that people are feeling more uneasy about travelling. Air travellers concerned about war and terrorism issues have been advised to check their existing insurance policies, with an aviation insurance official saying that “acts of war and terrorism are excluded in the basic insurance policies offered by most airlines”.
However, this does not mean that there will not be any compensation if passengers with such travel insurance policies are injured or killed in air accidents caused by war or terrorism. Due to the Montreal Convention of 1999, airlines are liable to pay a mandatory compensation fee of up to USD 175,000 for each passenger killed or injured in any aviation incident, regardless of the cause of the incident.
Families may seek additional compensation from airlines, but there will be no obligation to give these pay-outs if it can be proven that the incident was a result of third-party negligence. As such, it is advisable for travellers worried about war and terrorism issues to check the fine print on their existing travel insurance policies to ensure that they are covered beyond the mandatory airline compensation if such incidents happen.
Also read:
How To Pick The Right Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance Simplified – Know What Your Travel Plan Really Covers
