British Airways Travel Insurance Review

The Travel Insurance website BA describes a child as dependent, permanently residing with you, being under the age of 18 and in full time education.

• The single trip policy has an age limit of 79 years and under at the date of travel.
• The annual travel policy also has an age limit of 79 years and under at the date of travel.

• The British Airways single trip policy can be taken out for up to a maximum of 186 days
• The British Airways annual travel policy allows for unlimited trips, provided each trip lasts no longer than 31 days.

Both single trip and annual trip policies have the option of including wintersports (single trip for the length of the holiday annual trips for a maximum of 17 days)

The Annual travel deluxe policy automatically includes wintersports for up to 17 days.

The wintersports section does not state what activities are covered only those that are not, which include off-piste skiing except whilst under the supervision of a qualified guide /instructor, ski jumping, monoskiing, ice hockey, the use of skeletons or bobsleighs, ski or skibob racing in International and National  events and their heats and officially organised practice or training for  these events.

The policy covers Ski Equipment upto £750, (single article limit £250) Ski hire (£15 per day), Ski pack (£20 per day) and Piste closure (£20 per day) up to £300 and avalanche cover up to £200

Piste closure is only available between 1st December - 30th April in the Northern Hemisphere and 1st May - 30th September in the Southern Hemisphere.

Up to ten individiuals under one policy, although there is no group discount for insuring more than one adult. 

Couple cover applies to you and your husband/wife, common law partner or civil partner.

A family is one or two adults and up to 8 children (Family cover is only available to persons aged 65 years or under).

Your unmarried dependent children are only covered when travelling with an adult insured under this policy.

The policy does not insist on an EHIC card, but one is highly recommended and if a claim is reduced as a result of producing the card, then the medical expenses excess will be reduced to zero.

If you are visiting Australasia, you should enrol in Medicare.

Sports and activities is dealt with in the general exclusions and definitions section of the policy. British Airways state that any activity is excluded where it is recognised there is an increased risk of serious injury or could be reasonably expected to aggravate any existing infirmity.

They provide a list of examples of which sports and activities are not covered and a smaller list of what is acceptable provided no physical contact is involved.

Our advice would be to check with British Airways if you wish to carry out a particular activity and it is not listed.

The policy specifically excludes any claim where you are under the influence of drink.

The policy includes cover against scheduled airline failure.

Pre existing medical conditions are not covered under the policy. They can be included provided you have contacted the medical helpline and they have confirmed cover in writing.

There is no facility to underwrite conditions online.

The policy excludes any claim in respect of pregnancy unless there are unforseen complications. The policy does not provide any definition or example of complications.

Cover is also excluded under medical inconvenience if you are admitted as an in-patient within 12 weeks of your estimated delivery date.

Manual work is excluded and defined as work that is physical, including but not limited to construction, installation, assembly and building work. This does not included bar and restaurant staff, musicians, singers and fruit pickers (who do not use machinery)

The policy wording also states non manual work, including farm holidays is covered.

The policy does not mention proof of ownershipr or receipts in respect of claims for personal property, but that there will be a deduction made for wear and tear/depreciation

The policy excludes any claim caused by war or civil unrest, unless you are in an area where war or civil unrest breaksout, when you will be covered for a maximum period of 72 hours and you take the first reasonable opportunity to leave.

There is no mention of terrorism in the policy.

There is no natural disaster or catastrophe cover.

This policy is only available to persons resident in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland