Delays, lost items most common travel woes
About one-quarter of Australians have had a “travel mishap” in the past year, according to a survey by comparison website Finder.
Delays were most common, affecting 10% of respondents. About 8% misplaced items and 5% lost their luggage.
About 4% of travellers had ended up in hospital on holiday, and 3% were scammed or missed a flight.
Finder travel expert Angus Kidman says the results, from 1010 survey respondents, highlight the importance of travel cover.
“Many Australians assume nothing will go wrong, but the reality is that mishaps are more common than you might think,” he said.
“While you can take steps to stay safe – like avoiding risky areas or keeping an eye on your belongings – some situations are beyond your control.
“My golden rule? If you can’t afford the insurance, you can’t afford the holiday.”
Meanwhile, Southern Cross Travel Insurance says it paid more than $1.5 million in claims across last year’s European summer, from May to September.
One payout of $670,000 went to a stroke victim who spent nearly 10 weeks in an overseas hospital before coming back to Australia in an air ambulance.
The insurer paid more than $588,000 for journey changes, $326,000 for lost, stolen or damaged belongings, and $77,000 for rental car excesses.