Free COVID-19 insurance for Virgin travellers

Virgin Atlantic passengers headed to Barbados and other destinations will benefit from COVID-19 insurance cover, free of charge.

The British carrier which resumed services to the island on August 1, announced today it was offering what it described as the most comprehensive “COVID-19 cover” by any major airline.

The complimentary insurance of up to £500 000 (BDS$1.3 million), for travel between August 24, 2020, and March 31, 2021, covers emergency medical costs, associated expenses such as transport and accommodation, repatriation costs, as well as any costs incurred if a customer is denied boarding or held in quarantine.

The insurance policy with Allianz Assistance takes effect in the event that a Virgin Atlantic customer or travel companion contracts COVID-19 while on a trip.

“Our priority is always the health and safety of our people and customers, and this industry-leading Virgin Atlantic Covid-19 cover ensures customers can continue to fly safe and fly well with us,” said Juha Jarvinen, chief commercial officer at Virgin Atlantic.

“Following our return to the skies to much-loved destinations like Barbados, we’re planning more services in the autumn as travel restrictions continue to ease, including London Heathrow to Montego Bay, Antigua, Lagos and Tel Aviv. Whether it’s to visit friends and relatives or take a well-deserved break, we believe this complimentary cover will provide some added reassurance for our customers as they start to plan trips further afield.

“It applies in parallel to existing travel insurance policies which may now exclude Covid-19, and provides comprehensive cover for Coronavirus, recognising the needs of our customers as we restart services,” Jarvinen added.

In addition, Virgin Atlantic is still offering flexible fares, with customers able to make two date changes to their flights without having to pay an admin fee, with rebooking available up to September 30, 2022.