Domestic Travel Insurance Important Too

June 5 - While losing your luggage or missing important connecting flights can happen on any leg of any air trip, South African travel insurance agents note that those travelling domestically sometimes neglect to take out the appropriate coverage.

The regional travel manager for AIG Africa, Thamsanqa Ndeble, said on the subject: "I'm sure that when someone is flying from Johannesburg to Cape Town for example, they feel they don't need to take out travel insurance as they are in their own country and tend to believe not much can go wrong because they are close to home."

Nonetheless, this type of thinking can land up costing travellers thousands because, according to AIG, they are exposed to similar risks as when they travel abroad.

"Like an overseas, trip, we advise people to be prepared for things such as personal liability claims, loss of luggage, flight delays and cancellations."

Ndebele gave an example of a businessman travelling domestically and who holds a standard AIG travel insurance policy. "You could miss a connecting transport or even have to make another trip if you missed a meeting," Ndebele said about delayed or cancelled flights. AIG says that the same businessman could be compensated for as much as R5000 in a case such as this.

With insurance cover costing as little as R18 per leg, it is still a wonder that such a 'blind spot' exists.

Another problem facing domestic travellers is baggage theft or loss.

"Recently it was reported that 40 bags a day are being stolen or having items pilfered at South African airports," said Ndebele.

Other things that travel insurance can cover is personal liability for example.

With all these potential problems, South Africans are encouraged not to overlook domestic travel insurance.