Air France introduces travel insurance for Covid-19
Due to the pandemic, Air France has decided to extend its travel insurance to include Covid-19 and make its sales policy more flexible
In partnership with Allianz Travel, Air France is extending its travel insurance cover to provide its customers with more protection. The company now also provides them with cover should they fall ill or be required to quarantine due to an epidemic or pandemic disease such as Covid-19.
Covering additional pandemic costs
This insurance allows policyholders to deal with unforeseen expenses incurred during their trip, including cover for medical expenses abroad or additional costs incurred from quarantine (for example, accommodation expenses), while also providing medical assistance.
The insurance cover – available to customers at the time of purchasing their ticket on the Air France website and in company customer relations centres – is in addition to the company’s existing cancellation and missed flight, multi-risk and assistance products.
A flexible sales policy
Additionally, if customers wish to cancel their trip, their ticket can now be changed at no extra cost and without proof, to the date and destination of their choice. If they prefer, they can request a refundable credit voucher. These measures apply to all trips until 31 March 2021.
If their flight is cancelled by the airline, customers can, similarly, choose to postpone their trip to the date and destination of their choice, request a full ticket refund or receive a credit voucher, which is also refundable if not used.
Finally, for all trips until the end of the year, customers who are members of the Flying Blue loyalty programme will have their Miles and experience points doubled.
Since the start of this unprecedented crisis, Air France has significantly strengthened its sales teams dedicated to supporting its customers. Close to 700 agents are currently in charge of handling refund and credit voucher requests. Since January 2020, two million requests have been processed and €1.1 billion refunded.
The latest airline to include Covid-19 cover was Canadian WestJet. Airlines are coming up with innovative ways to sell tickets during the pandemic, including offering unlimited domestic travel passes or selling ‘flights to nowhere’.