UK: Norwich Union revamps travel insurance

With the winter holiday season almost upon us, Norwich Union Direct has re-launched its travel insurance products.

As part of the re-launch, a new UK breakdown and recovery service has been introduced as a standard part of cover on all single trip and annual travel policies.

The insurer has joined forces with the RAC to offer ‘UK Motor Breakdown Rescue and Recovery’ for holidaymakers travelling to and from the airport, or other departure point in the UK.

This service includes ‘Two Way’ recovery - where if the vehicle cannot be repaired immediately, Norwich Union Direct will arrange for the passengers to be taken to their departure point and the vehicle to be repaired.

Other new features of Norwich Union Direct’s travel insurance policies include:

• Reduced rates on annual travel insurance policies. For example, a worldwide annual travel policy for a family of two adults and two children costs just Ł94.88^1. An annual policy for an individual travelling to Europe costs just Ł42.70².
• Improved winter sports cover – off-piste skiing allowed under supervision and in areas deemed safe by resort management, and the provision of claims for damage or loss to hired skis up to Ł200.
• Airport car park discounts. Norwich Union Direct customers can receive a discount of up to 29 per cent off the gate price³ at 19 UK airports through BCP car parks.
• The age limit on single trip travel insurance has been increased from 65 years to 69 years.
• New ‘Travel Essentials’ section on Norwich Union Direct’s website - www.norwichuniondirect.co.uk - with advice and information for travellers, including planning holidays, details about vaccinations and what to do if something goes wrong. It also includes a feedback area for people to share their real life travel experiences.

Commenting on the updated products, Frankie Nicholson, product development manager at Norwich Union, said: “With travel and holidays becoming ever more popular as our lives get busier, it’s important that we continually review and refresh our products and services to ensure we are delivering what our customers want.

“We recognise that holidays begin as soon as you leave home, which is why we've added this breakdown rescue cover as standard to our travel policies. If a customer breaks down on the way to or from the airport the RAC will come out to repair the vehicle - or if it cannot be repaired at the roadside, we’ll take the passengers to their departure point."

Norwich Union is also a partner in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's ‘Know Before you Go’ campaign, which is aimed at helping British nationals stay safe when travelling overseas. Additional information on travel destinations is available at www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo.

For more information about Norwich Union Direct’s travel products, customers should call 0800 092 7197 or visit http://www.norwichuniondirect.co.uk/ and receive a 10 per cent discount for taking out cover on-line.

Media contacts:
Liz Kennett – Norwich Union press office on 08703 666863 / 07801 901666.

Notes to editors

¹ The price is based on a family group made up of 2 adults aged between 19 and 64, and 2 children under 19. Baggage cover is excluded. 10% extra discount available if buying on-line.
² The price is based on an individual aged between 19 and 64 years. Baggage cover is excluded. 10% extra discount available if buying on-line.
³ The gate price is price paid if the customer turns up at the airport without pre-booking a space. The discount varies according to the airport.

• Norwich Union is the UK’s largest insurer. In general insurance it is more than 1.5 times the size of its nearest competitor, and has a 19 per cent share of the market.
• It has a focus on insurance for individuals and small businesses. It insures:
  • one in five households
  • one in five motor vehicles
  • more than 700,000 businesses
• Norwich Union products are available through a variety of distribution channels including brokers, corporate partners such as banks and building societies and Norwich Union Direct.
• Norwich Union’s news releases are available on the Aviva plc website at www.aviva.com
• A selection of images are available from the Norwich Union Newscast site at www.newscast.co.uk

For all life and pension media enquiries 08703 66 68 73
For all other media enquiries 08703 66 68 68

Members of the General Insurance Standards Council
Members of the Aviva group