UMAL travel cover: up-date for insurance officers/business travellers.
20th April 2010
(for non-business travel insurance advice on “Arch” holiday travel policies refer to their bulletins)
The latest position reported by NATS (as at 0900 Tuesday 20 April 2010) is as follows:
“Based on the latest Met Office information, part of Scottish airspace including Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh airports will continue to be available from 1300-1900 today, and also south to Newcastle Airport. Restrictions will remain in place over the rest of UK airspace below 20,000ft.
Overnight the CAA, in line with new guidance from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) decided flights above the ash cloud will be permitted in the UK; between 1300-1900 this will enable aircraft movements above 20,000ft in UK airspace.”
The full bulletin is available on the NATS website www.nats.co.uk
The situation remains dynamic and is likely to change during the course of the day but, after earlier optimism, it does not now appear as if flights in the south of England will resume today.
UMAL has been contacted by both insurance officers and travellers (see our bulletin 16 April 2010) affected by the situation. To avoid duplication of records and in order to identify all such travellers, we now request that insurance officers check with departments and identify staff or students affected and advise details to UMAL by email – we would appreciate traveller name, destination (to and from) and current status. Details should be forwarded to:
A summary of cover is provided on our website www.umal.co.uk or can be obtained from the insurance officer at your own Institution. A full copy of the wording can be obtained from the insurance officer.
Making a Claim
Please refer to the Travel Claims section of our website where claim forms are accessible. On completion please forward the form with full detail of your claim, supporting documentation etc either to your Institution’s insurance officer or to UMAL.
ICELANDIC VOLCANIC ASH & TRAVEL DISRUPTION
16th April 2010
(for non-business travel insurance advice on ‘Arch’ holiday travel policies refer to their bulletins)
Ongoing disruption is being caused to air travel by the eruption of a volcano in Iceland and the existence of a cloud of volcanic ash covering much of the UK, resulting in the UK Air Traffic Control Service (NATS) closing large portions of UK airspace.
The NATS website currently advises:
“As at 0830 Friday 16 April 2010 restrictions preventing flights in English controlled airspace will remain in place until 0100 (UK time) tomorrow, Saturday 17 April 2010 at the earliest. Flights in Northern Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland to and from Glasgow and Prestwick will continue to be allowed until 1900 (UK time) subject to individual co-ordination. North Atlantic traffic to and from Glasgow, Prestwick and Belfast may also be allowed in this period”.
NATS further advises that “the situation is dynamic and subject to change”.
All passengers should contact their airlines before travelling. In the event that the flight is cancelled, it is anticipated that airlines will make a full refund or to offer an alternative flight.
Travellers affected, and who are covered by their Institution’s UMAL travel cover , have the benefit of Disruption cover including:
- Cancellation (prior to commencement of the journey).
- Curtailment (during the course of a journey).
- Rearrangement (alteration of pre-booked arrangements after departure – will pay the additional cost of travel and accommodation necessarily incurred to enable the covered traveller to continue the journey).
A summary of cover is provided on our website www.umal.co.uk or can be obtained from the insurance officer at your own Institution. A full copy of the wording can be obtained from the insurance officer.
Making a Claim
Please refer to the Travel Claims section of our website where claims forms are accessible. On completion forward the form with full detail of your claim, supporting documentation etc either to your Institution’s Insurance Officer or to UMAL.
HUMAN SWINE INFLUENZA VIRUS A/H1N1
Implications for Travellers/Managers:
UMAL will issue Control Risks up-dates to Insurance Managers and designated contacts within its membership. If you are intending to travel you should also refer to the Country Risk Forecast page on this website (password with your Insurance Manager).
Regular updates are available from the UN World Health Organisation, the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and BBC website.
Travel cover
For Members purchasing travel cover, when you travel outside the United Kingdom you are covered by our group travel scheme administered by U.M. Association Ltd. A summary of benefits and the services available is shown below - please refer to your Insurance Officer or Administrator for the full terms and conditions of cover.
Medical Expenses -- up to £10,000,000
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£25 Deductible (NB – for claimants using an EHIC to reduce the cost of treatment the £25 deductible will be waived)
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Including Supplementary Travel Expenses
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In-patient supplementary benefit outside UK - £50 each 24 hours for up to 1 year
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Including Search and Rescue Expenses
Personal Property/Business Equipment - up to £5,000
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£25 Deductible (Increased to £100 in respect of Business Equipment and 10% of claim in respect of laptop computers)
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Emergency Purchases - £750
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Single Article Limit - £1,500 (Increased to £2000 in respect of laptop computers)
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NOTE:You must report any loss, theft or damage either to the local police or, where appropriate, the airline (or other carrier) within 24 hours and obtain a written report.
Money - up to £2,500
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£25 Deductible
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Credit Card Misuse - £1,500 (payable in addition to Money limit)
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Loss of Passport - £1,500 (payable in addition to Money limit)
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Cash Limit - £1,000
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NOTE:You must report any loss or theft to the local Police within 24 hours and obtain a written report.
Disruption - up to £7,500
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Cancellation up to £7,500 - Any reasonable cause outside the control of the travelling Person (prior to departure).
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Curtailment up to £7,500 - Specified causes
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Rearrangement up to £7,500 - Any reasonable cause occuring outside the control of the travelling Person (after departure).
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Travel Delay - £100 for the first 12 hours and £50 for each further 12 hours, up to a maximum of £500, if strike, weather conditions, or breakdown causes delayed departure of your aircraft or other public transport.
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Hi-jack - £100 for each day you are detained.
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Maximum Any One Event - £250,000
Personal Accident - up to £50,000
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Up to £50,000 payable in the event of accidental death, loss of limb or eye or permanent inability to work again.
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Up to £1,500 payable in respect of funeral expenses.
Personal Liability - up to £2,000,000
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Up to £2,000,000 if you become legally liable to pay damages in respect of: accidental bodily injury (which includes death illness and disease) to any person
accidental loss of or damage to material property.
Political Evacuation
Reimbursement of evacuation expenses up to £50,000 following formal advice to leave the destination country.
Legal Expenses (underwritten by First Assist Group) - up to £25,000
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Up to £25,000 to help you recover damages or compensation from a third party following any event which results in Bodily Injury to you or financial loss suffered resulting from the breach of any travel or accommodation contract
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Up to £25,000 to help you in the defence of Criminal Proceedings brought against you.
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Legal Proceedings entered into in the USA or Canada are not covered.
In the Event of a Claim
Claim forms are available for printing directly from our website at: Travel Claim Forms. Alternatively, contact your Institution's Insurance Officer or Administrator for a claim form.
