This post includes everything you need to know about Emirates’ complimentary multi-risk travel insurance, including cover for COVID-19.
Emirates was the first to include free COVID-19 cover on all bookings made with the airline. It is now the first to offer travellers a more comprehensive multi-risk travel insurance.
What benefits are included?
The main insurance benefits are:
- up to USD 500,000 for overseas medical expenses and emergency evacuation.
- Up to USD 7,500 if your trip is cancelled due to contracting COVID‑19 or for other reasons named in the policy.
- Up to USD 7,500 if your trip is cancelled or cut short if the school year is extended due to COVID‑19 beyond the departure date, and you or a relative is a full‑time teacher, full‑time employee, or a student at a primary or secondary school.
- Up to USD 7,500 if your trip is cut short due to you or a relative falling ill overseas, including contracting COVID‑19, and you need to return home.
- Up to USD 7,500 if you have to abandon your travels for failing a COVID‑19 test or medical screening at the airport.
- USD 150 per day, per person for up to 14 consecutive days if you test positive for COVID‑19 and are unexpectedly placed into mandatory quarantine while overseas.
Like other multi-risk travel insurance products, Emirates’ policy covers personal accidents during travel, winter sports, loss of personal belongings, and trip disruptions due to unexpected air space closure, travel recommendations or advisories.
Who is covered?
Everyone who purchased a ticket after 1 December 2020 is covered by this insurance policy.
All ticket types are covered, including Skywards Miles and Cash + Miles bookings. It also does not matter how you made your booking—all booking methods, whether direct with the airline or via a travel agent, are covered.
The coverage is automatic. There is no need to apply, fill out any forms or register with Emirates in advance.
The coverage lasts for the duration of your trip or up to a maximum of 365 days.
On one‑way trips, the cover ends 48 hours after you arrive at your final destination. Cover for emergency medical expenses and overseas quarantine allowance expires 31 days after arriving at your final destination.
How do you make a claim?
If you need to claim while travelling, assistance is available 24/7 in 11 different languages.
You will also need to contact the insurer for pre-authorisation if you are likely to be hospitalised for more than 24 hours or incur costs of more than USD 500.
You can find the assistance centre contact details here.
What are other UAE airlines offering?
flydubai is also providing passengers who booked after 1 December 2020 with multi-risk travel insurance, including cover for COVID-19.
Etihad has now extended its free COVID-19 insurance cover for all passengers flying with the airline up to 30 September 2021. The benefits are capped at EUR 150,000 and limited to COVID-19 related issues.
Air Arabia provides passengers with a limited insurance policy capped at USD $20,000 for all travel up to 30 June 2021.
My thoughts
This is a smart move by Emirates to boost passenger confidence. The Emirates multi-risk insurance policy is the most generous on offer from any airline in the world. I like the fact that it recognised that the pandemic can disrupt travel in more ways than just needing medical care.
Where is Emirates currently flying?
Emirates has resumed flights to over 70 destinations worldwide. This represents about half of the airline’s pre-COVID-19 network.
Pingback: Afraid to fly? Emirates is the first to offer free COVID-19 cover on all bookings - The Expat Flyer
Pingback: Etihad extends free COVID-19 insurance - The Expat Flyer