BIBA amends policy to cover independent travellers

In what should be welcome news for travellers who prefer to make their own bookings and travel independently, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has introduced new amendments in its flagship travel insurance policies to include independent travellers under its protective umbrella.

A host of abrupt liquidations among various travel companies and airlines this year had left independent travellers stranded and struggling to get their monies back. Until the present day, these independent travellers were not afforded the financial protection offered by the Air Travel Organisers’ Licencing (ATOL) arrangements, which extended only to travellers who made bookings with ATOL tour operators.

BIBA’s new cover will extend the same protection to travellers who make their own travel arrangements and bookings. This will apply to all BIBA Protect policies purchased after October 5, 2009.

With the proliferation of travel websites, price comparison portals and discount websites, UK travellers are increasingly looking to make independent bookings where they can. As a result, around 50% of the trips UK travellers make abroad do not fall under the ATOL-afforded protection.

However, these travellers can now rest easy with the knowledge they will indeed, be protected in the case the airline or tour operator they have booked with goes bust. The new cover will make provisions for travellers already abroad to be flown home, if such a situation does arise, and will also safeguard travellers who have paid in advance for bookings made before any firm’s collapse.