European airlines flout insurance rules
Four European airlines are charging passengers for travel insurance despite a European ban on the practice, a UK consumer watchdog has warned.
A report by consumer magazine Which? has found cut-price airlines Easyjet, Jet2 and Monarch automatically add travel insurance policies at a cost of between £7 ($14.40) and £10.49 ($21.60) per passenger.
Air Berlin automatically adds cancellation insurance for flights returning on the same day at an extra cost of £10.63 ($21.90). Consumers have to “un-tick” a box if they want to opt out of the insurance.
An EU ruling was made last November stating airlines are not allowed to automatically add extras such as insurance at the time of booking.
The magazine also found the single-trip insurance policies offered by British Airways, Ryanair and Wizz Air do not meet its “best buy” criteria in their cover for cancellation or curtailment of the trip, or for lost or stolen baggage.
A report by consumer magazine Which? has found cut-price airlines Easyjet, Jet2 and Monarch automatically add travel insurance policies at a cost of between £7 ($14.40) and £10.49 ($21.60) per passenger.
Air Berlin automatically adds cancellation insurance for flights returning on the same day at an extra cost of £10.63 ($21.90). Consumers have to “un-tick” a box if they want to opt out of the insurance.
An EU ruling was made last November stating airlines are not allowed to automatically add extras such as insurance at the time of booking.
The magazine also found the single-trip insurance policies offered by British Airways, Ryanair and Wizz Air do not meet its “best buy” criteria in their cover for cancellation or curtailment of the trip, or for lost or stolen baggage.