Skyskanner to offer Covid-19 travel insurance
Global travel marketplace Skyscanner has partnered with insurtech Cover Genius, to introduce a new travel insurance package
The package will initially be available to travellers as part of a phased rollout in Europe, before becoming available in up to 50 countries worldwide. It includes a combination of medical, trip cancellation and airline insolvency cover, including protection against travel disruption and sickness caused by Covid-19. It has been specifically designed to protect travellers, provide clarity and give them peace of mind when taking a trip.
Insurance attach rates have increased by up to 600 per cent
In a recent Skyscanner survey, travel insurance was named as one of the top three factors that would give travellers (40 per cent) more confidence to fly or book their next trip. This statistic correlates closely to data gathered by Cover Genius' BrightWrite data analytics team, showing that since the pandemic outbreak in March, insurance attach rates in certain hotspots have increased by 400-600 per cent at their peak versus December 2019. The data proves that hyper-relevant insurance products within the point of sale or booking are adding safety and certainty.
This new proposition will be offered to travellers at the point of purchase and will initially be available to those who book directly via Skyscanner in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and UK. The travel insurance launch is the latest of Skyscanner’s continuing efforts to provide travellers with confidence and clarity when booking and travelling. Other recent updates include airline confidence ratings, hotel cleanliness scores and flexible policy filters.
Skyscanner and Cover Genius partnership
The insurance is made possible by the integration of XCover - Cover Genius’ global insurance distribution platform. For travellers and their travel partners, it includes 24/7 emergency medical assistance, repatriation and expenses cover, trip cancellation cover for prepaid travel costs foregone due to Covid-19, and other causes, including failed temperature checks at a destination, as well as airline insolvency cover.
XCover enables customers to access personalised and optimised protection to fit individual travellers’ itinerary, trip and destination based on real-time data. It also includes full digital claims management and instant payment of claims in 90+ currencies, helping to drive an outstanding Net Promoter Score of +65.
Confidence in travel
Tiago Godinho, Commercial Director at Skyscanner commented: “We’re bringing a new type of insurance product to market with our Covid-19 travel protection. In today’s uncertain and changing travel landscape, the most important thing we can do is to give travellers the confidence they need to plan and book a flight, knowing that they are covered whatever happens.”
Peter Smith, Head of Travel Partnerships, EMEA at Cover Genius, added: “Our team has moved swiftly to build new insurance products that offer increased protection for customers dealing with unique circumstances as a result of Covid-19. These new products will not only offer customers personalised coverage and speedy payment of claims, but also provide a sense of safety and security so they can book a vacation and travel again with confidence.”