Travel Insurance

I just tried to book two air tickets through a tour operator but was told I
HAD to have comprehensive travel insurance (not necessarily their own). If I
book air tickets through one of the carriers I am not asked for this.
I thought that mandatory travel insurance had been outlawed - am I worng ?
Where can I find a definitive answer ?
Thanks

Stephen Judge wrote:
I just tried to book two air tickets through a tour operator but was told I
HAD to have comprehensive travel insurance (not necessarily their own). If I
book air tickets through one of the carriers I am not asked for this.
I thought that mandatory travel insurance had been outlawed - am I worng ?
Where can I find a definitive answer ?
Thanks


I'd look elsewhere for the tickets. The airlines or tour operators will
most likely have their own insurance with set limits for passengers.
Its likely that the tour operator gets a kickback from booking so they
try to making it difficult to book with anyone else. Maybe you can ask
for the contract of carriage to see what the airline offers?

Stephen Judge wrote:

I just tried to book two air tickets through a tour operator but was told I
HAD to have comprehensive travel insurance (not necessarily their own). If I
book air tickets through one of the carriers I am not asked for this.
I thought that mandatory travel insurance had been outlawed - am I worng ?


What country?

I was booking flights from the Uk to Croatia (non EU) but the tour operator
had a policy to insist on travel insurance on ALL flights.
Next question is what constitutes travel insurance. I stopped buying typical
annual travel insurance as I never used it (yes, I know that's the point in
a way but it always seemed poor value - a bit like extended waranties). What
I have, courtesy of a credit card, is travel insurance limited to just the
travel element paid for with the card (i.e. not the rest of the holiday).
This carries no policy reference as such - it is simply VISA International
protection. I'll try and see if this counts.
Thanks for your replies.
Stephen
"Stephen Judge" wrote in message
...
I just tried to book two air tickets through a tour operator but was told
I
HAD to have comprehensive travel insurance (not necessarily their own). If
I
book air tickets through one of the carriers I am not asked for this.
I thought that mandatory travel insurance had been outlawed - am I worng ?
Where can I find a definitive answer ?
Thanks

"Hilary" wrote in message
...
I just tried to book two air tickets through a tour operator but was
told I HAD to have comprehensive travel insurance (not necessarily their
own). If I book air tickets through one of the carriers I am not asked
for this. I thought that mandatory travel insurance had been outlawed -
am I worng ? Where can I find a definitive answer ? Thanks

It depends what you're booking and in which country. It is necessary to
have travel insurance for *all* charter flights from the UK. Where you
buy it is up to you. What was outlawed was the necessity to buy the
insurance from the same company that sold the flights.


When you say *necessary* do you mean LEGALLY necessary or just advisable ?

"Miss L. Toe" wrote in message
...

"Hilary" wrote in message
...
I just tried to book two air tickets through a tour operator but was
told I HAD to have comprehensive travel insurance (not necessarily
their
own). If I book air tickets through one of the carriers I am not asked
for this. I thought that mandatory travel insurance had been
outlawed -
am I worng ? Where can I find a definitive answer ? Thanks

It depends what you're booking and in which country. It is necessary to
have travel insurance for *all* charter flights from the UK. Where you
buy it is up to you. What was outlawed was the necessity to buy the
insurance from the same company that sold the flights.


When you say *necessary* do you mean LEGALLY necessary or just advisable ?

I don't think it's legally necessary. My parents flew NCL - PMI on a
MyTravel charter and although they did have travel insurance the airline did
not ask to see evidence of this.

Hilary wrote:

I just tried to book two air tickets through a tour operator but was
told I HAD to have comprehensive travel insurance (not necessarily their
own). If I book air tickets through one of the carriers I am not asked
for this. I thought that mandatory travel insurance had been outlawed -
am I worng ? Where can I find a definitive answer ? Thanks

It depends what you're booking and in which country. It is necessary to
have travel insurance for *all* charter flights from the UK. Where you
buy it is up to you. What was outlawed was the necessity to buy the
insurance from the same company that sold the flights.

When you say *necessary* do you mean LEGALLY necessary or just advisable ?


It is part of their Terms and Conditions of making a booking, so I would
say "legally". THey are within their rights to refuse you boarding if you
do not have insurance.

I would have thought "legally" would mean whether or not it was required
by law, not by the agency.

"Miss L. Toe" wrote in message
...

According to http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/facts/package.htm it isn't
a
legal requirement as such.

And in my opinion most travel insurance (with the exception of medical
cover
for some countries) is a total waste of money.

Have you got an on-line link to some T's&C's ?

My feeling is that it's probably only a requirement so they can try and sell
you their own travel insurance. You can only purchase your own because they
were forced to allow you to do that by law. Even then they tried all sorts
of discount schemes which were only available if you purchased their own
insurance, I think they've put a stop to that now too.

"Mark Hewitt" wrote in message
...

"Miss L. Toe" wrote in message
...

According to http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/facts/package.htm it
isn't
a
legal requirement as such.

And in my opinion most travel insurance (with the exception of medical
cover
for some countries) is a total waste of money.

Have you got an on-line link to some T's&C's ?

My feeling is that it's probably only a requirement so they can try and
sell
you their own travel insurance. You can only purchase your own because
they
were forced to allow you to do that by law. Even then they tried all sorts
of discount schemes which were only available if you purchased their own
insurance, I think they've put a stop to that now too.


Yes, but in places with reasonable reciprocal health care arrangements - I
can't see why any travel insurance should be required. As long as the
traveller is prepared to accept the risk that they may need to cancel and
then wont get a refund. etc