Some travel insurance providers have moved to change their coverage to take into account electronics in the hold, after the laptop ban was announced.
The UK government has announced restrictions prohibiting passengers from taking electronic devices such as laptops, tablets and e-readers in the cabin or in hand luggage on flights to and from six countries.
The ban applies to electronic devices of more than 16cm by 9.3cm and on inbound flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia and prompted fears that holidaymakers’ insurance could not be valid.
Now, Saga and Holiday Extras are the first providers of travel insurance to announce changes to their policies to ensure electronics which can no longer be taken in the cabin are now covered in the hold.
Saga has updated its policies to cover electronic items up to £600 and a total coverage of £1,000 as long as the items are placed in a locked suitcase when travelling from the affected countries.
Head of Saga Travel Insurance, Kevin McMullan added: “It is important for people to check their travel insurance policies before travelling as insurers will, as standard, not generally cover damage, loss or theft of items such as laptops and tablets when they are carried in the plane’s hold. Customers should ensure that items are adequately protected from damage and the airline should be notified of any loss or damage as soon as possible.”
Holiday Extras has extended its gadget cover to include items that re placed in the hold of aircraft, subject to usual policy cover limits.
Paul Paddock, head of insurance at Holiday Extras, said: “Airline security is an integral to the safety of passengers, and it is essential for us to ensure that customers can travel with the peace of mind that their belongings are covered”
The UK airlines affected are in-bound flights from the named countries on British Airways, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Monarch, Thomson and Thomas Cook.
The same rules apply to people using Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airways, Tunis Air, Saudia, Egyptair, Middle East Airlines, Royal Jordanian and Atlas-Global Airlines.