Dubai’s Emirates to offer free multi-risk travel insurance coverage

Dubai carrier Emirates will provide expanded, multi-risk travel cover to its passengers, in addition to its current Covid-19 coverage, it announced on November 23.

The multi-risk cover will be applicable to all Emirates tickets purchased from December 1, similar to the Covid-19 cover. It also extends to Emirates codeshare flights operated by partner airlines, as long as the ticket number starts with 176. The multi-risk travel cover is offered at no additional cost and is provided by AIG Travel.

Emirates offers expanded, multi-risk travel insurance coverage at no cost for all customers in addition to its current COVID-19 cover, in new industry-first initiative. https://t.co/TG9N5wtZDo #FlyEmiratesFlyBetter #FlySaferWithEmirates pic.twitter.com/BVlKHdg2CN

— Emirates Airline (@emirates) November 23, 2020

“Emirates was the first airline to offer complimentary global Covid-19 cover for travelers back in July, and the response from our customers has been tremendously encouraging,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates chairman and chief executive.

“We see a strong appetite for travel around the world, especially heading into the winter holidays as people seek warmer climates and family destinations like Dubai. By launching this new multi-risk travel insurance and Covid-19 cover, we aim to give our customers even more confidence in making their travel plans this winter and moving into 2021.”

Read: Dubai’s Emirates to be first airline to offer free cover for Covid-19 medical costs for passengers

Emirates customers will be covered when they fly to any destination, in any class of travel.

Features of travel insurance coverage:

• Out-of-country emergency medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation up to $500,000, valid for Covid-19 (contracted during the trip) and other medical emergencies while traveling abroad.
• Trip cancellation up to $7,500 for non-refundable costs if the traveler or a relative (as defined in the policy) is unable to travel because they are diagnosed with Covid-19 before the scheduled trip departure date, or for other named reasons – similar to other comprehensive travel cover products.
• Trip cancellation or curtailment up to $7,500 if the school year is extended due to Covid-19 beyond the departure date, and the traveler or a relative (as defined in the policy) is a full-time teacher, full-time employee, or a student at a primary or secondary school.
• Trip curtailment up to $7,500 for non-refundable trip costs and additional costs to return to their country of residence if the traveler or a relative (as defined in the policy) falls critically ill, for instance, contracts Covid-19 while traveling abroad.
• Travel Abandonment up to $7,500 if the traveler fails a Covid-19-related test or medical screening at the airport and is required to abandon the trip.
  $150 per day per person, for up to 14 consecutive days if, while outside of their country of residence, the traveler tests positive for Covid-19, and if they are unexpectedly placed into a mandatory quarantine outside their country of residence by a governmental body.

“We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Emirates and we are excited to work with them to tailor this product to meet the needs of Emirates customers worldwide,” said Jeff Rutledge, CEO, AIG Travel. “Our hope is to help alleviate some of the concerns travelers may have when planning travel during this time.”

Emirates’ cover also has provisions for personal accidents during travel, winter sports cover, loss of personal belongings, and trip disruptions due to unexpected air space closure, travel recommendations or advisories.

Customers need not register nor fill in any forms before they travel, neither are they obligated to utilise the cover extended by the airline.

Emirates has implemented a set of measures to ensure the safety of its customers and employees on the ground and in the air, including the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes to all customers.

The airline’s COO Adel al Redha, lended hope in August, when he asserted that Emirates aims to serve 100 per cent of its network destinations, tantamount to 143 cities, by summer 2021.

Read more: Dubai’s Emirates to serve 100% of network destinations by summer 2021 – COO