Chartis flies with KQ to offer travel cover

Chartis Insurance Company has partnered with Kenya Airways to provide a travel cover.

Chartis will provide medical, baggage and cancellation of flight covers for travellers on domestic, regional and international routes.

“The travel insurance policy dubbed Travel Guard will cover medical expenses for up to $500,000 and baggage and personal belongings loss at a maximum of $10,000. Flight cancellation coverage will take care of pre-paid travel expenses and accommodation up to a limit of $5,000,” said Mr Japh Olende, Chartis Managing Director.

Mr Olende said the cover will ease travellers’ worries over their health, especially outside the country while providing assurance of compensation for lost items.

“The cover, which is a value addition to our services, will give the passengers peace of mind as well convenience ,” said Mr Mohan Chandra, the commercial director of Kenya Airways.

The medical benefit will allow travellers to be attended to wherever they are if they fall sick because Chartis has a list of easily accessible medical facilities.

Travellers will also be compensated for loss of baggage or valuables.

But it’s limited to a compensation value of $1,000 for any one item with a limit of $5,000.

For flight cancellation, the cover will refund pre-paid expenses such as hotel bookings which normally attract a penalty if cancelled.

The cover is also expected to lessen the loss incurred by paying for hotel and transfer charges.

The cover excludes cancellation of flights caused by other factors other than those within the ambit of the airline.

These may range from failure to travel due to airport system breakdown as recently witnessed at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport due to a power blackout.

The new partnership provides Chartis with a fresh source of revenue even as the traditional insurance revenue sources come under pressure from the economic recession.

“The insurance industry is limping due to the financial crisis as the rising cost of living pushes people to drop their covers,” said Mr Olende in a previous interview with the Business Daily.

For insurance companies, rising claims against dwindling premium payment has pushed down margins, forcing them to come up with innovative products to grow their top and bottom lines.

“Chartis endeavours to develop products that best suits the customers’ needs and to make those products accessible,” said Mr Olende.

The Travel Guard will be purchased alongside the ticket hence is likely to raise the ticket price. But it is optional.

The cover is only applicable for travellers originating their journey in Kenya, though plans are under way to roll it out to all Kenya Airways network.