Jul/094
Travel insurance claims for Swineflu
For weeks no UK consumers excited about their summer holidays have been dampened by the news that their travel insurance might not cover Swine Flu. Of course, thois is a huge worry for the consumer especially as we see swine flu cases increase by 100% week on week. Travellers trying to make a claim on a travel insurance policy for swine flu will no longer need written documentation from a GP.
However, travel agencies and organisations are strongly urging the public to keep hold of their Tamiflu medication labels as proof that they have overcome the illness. Insurers will need to validate each individual claim concerning swine flu.
Individual airlines have different procedures for dealing with passengers too unwell to fly and most employ medical teams to make assessments. This is a completely different can of worms and one which Consumer Help will leave to the discretion of the airlines.
Those being quarantined whilst on holiday will need written proof of their illness to be able to claim compensation from their travel insurers.
Jul/090
House of Commons transport committee: Higher ticket fares on the way
The House of Commons transport committee has criticised privately owned rail franchises for increasing ticket prices, up to 11% in the recession. The consensus amongst the committee was that the current relationship between rail companies and commuters is unfair, with passengers being treated unfairly. The franchising system means companies bid to run trains on a particular route and those that bid the highest premium payments win the contracts. The rise in ticket costs on regulated rail fares including all season tickets rose on average 6% which is contrary to negative inflation and disproportionate to the real economy.
Lord Ardonis, Transport Secretary reiterated that the report backed a policy by the government to limit fares to no more than 1% above inflation. The consequence being lower fare rates by January 2010. In reply to the criticism the Association of Train Operating Companies stated that the existing system offers a punctual service and that passengers are satisfied.
Jun/090
Airline group unveils its first alliance-branded facility to consumers
SkyTeam, the airline group that includes Continental Airlines, Delta, KLM and Kenya Airways, opens its first alliance-branded lounge at Heathrow’s Terminal 4 on 4 June.
The 1,600 square metre two-level space is on the site of the old British Airways Concorde lounge, an area vacated by BA when it moved into Terminal 5.
The new lounge, from a flowing concept based on the SkyTeam ribbon logo by Brandimage – Desgrippes & Laga, features a wine bar, a wellness centre with showers, an oxygen bar and full-body massage chairs, an entertainment centre and luggage storage. The lounge is situated opposite gate 10 and will open from 5:30am to 10:30pm.
Lindsay Melrose, the firm’s associate director, said: “What really stands out is the series of ‘living walls’ – vertical gardens which at first glance may appear to be a straightforward case of hanging plants on a vertical surface, but were in fact a big technical challenge: under closer inspection it is an ingenious method of growing plants directly out of the walls using a unique planting and irrigation process; there is no soil involved.”
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