Little Fokker
9th Jul 2006, 00:37
Hi All, Mrs Fokker & I were flying out of BHX on the 15/06 on the 08:00 KLM flight when the TNT plane had already made an emergency landing and scuppered the morning. As Mrs. F is expecting a Tiny Fokker in coming months, I suggested she pitch down and take it easy while I formed an orderly queue for KLM and find our fate. 3 hours past and I finally thought I would speak to ground staff using a bit of 'power'. He discreetly took my travel docs to arrange an alternative flight for tomorrow. 'And what about accomodation?' I remarked. 'KLM are not obligued to arrange accommodation for you'. I replied 'not even for a Platinum (for life) Member'. Anyway, he took my card and came back and kindly said that KLM put us in the Novotel and gave us £49.90 in vouchers for food. Well done KLM.
Later in the day I pop over to the airport and buy some sandwiches, water etc for Mrs. F. before the big match in the afternoon. I'm in the bar having a quiet drink and then 20 English fans come in and take the place over - (They were off to Spain for the weekend for a stag party). Before it got too rowdy and staff thought I was part of this lot, I asked if their insurance paid for hotel. Answer yes. So this got me thinking. If I was just a regular punter what 'priviledges' would Lloyds Platinum give me.
After the game I called their 'Hotline' and explained the situation. No hotel was available and you got £20 per 12 hours per person. Ok, so we must have spent £40 with food & drinks+drinks from the evening meal in the hotel. (Obviously the Stag Boys got more as they were well on their way by the time we came down for the evening meal!!).
Anyway, returning back to the UK 10 days later I call Lloyds Travel Insurance and explained the situation. This time they informed me that we were not covered for anything!! Why? - Because it was not our flight that was effected. 'Read the new Terms & Conditions that were sent out in March'. Thank you - Bye.
So off to local bank and ask for T & C. Sure enough, everything has changed and the 'free' travel insurance that I thought I had is pitiful. In fact useless. As I travel close to 80 times a year with laptop, i-pod, camera etc plus clothes and money, I had found out I am severly under-insured.
So after telling you all my woes, I want somebody out there to tell me the best annual, multi-trip, family travel insurance I can purchase that will cover the above articles probably totaling £5k and up to £1k in cash, plus making sure I have accomodation if things go wrong on the ground - either here or abroad without the wonderful KLM groundstaff to help out. POI, when Lloyds' travel insurance was ok, I claimed for some ski stuff that got damaged / lost. A few months later when my house & building insurance (also thru Lloyds) was up for renewal, the premium had gone up by 60% - the buggers had both linked into the same underwriters. Needless to say house insurance is elsewhere.....like my travel insurance I hope. Banks....just stick to putting our money in from our employers, taking it away for our mortgage and maybe paying a few pence on our interest when we have some left. Forget the 'carrot dangling' services you are offering - nothing in life is free! Had to get that in - sorry.
Look forward to your replies.
Later in the day I pop over to the airport and buy some sandwiches, water etc for Mrs. F. before the big match in the afternoon. I'm in the bar having a quiet drink and then 20 English fans come in and take the place over - (They were off to Spain for the weekend for a stag party). Before it got too rowdy and staff thought I was part of this lot, I asked if their insurance paid for hotel. Answer yes. So this got me thinking. If I was just a regular punter what 'priviledges' would Lloyds Platinum give me.
After the game I called their 'Hotline' and explained the situation. No hotel was available and you got £20 per 12 hours per person. Ok, so we must have spent £40 with food & drinks+drinks from the evening meal in the hotel. (Obviously the Stag Boys got more as they were well on their way by the time we came down for the evening meal!!).
Anyway, returning back to the UK 10 days later I call Lloyds Travel Insurance and explained the situation. This time they informed me that we were not covered for anything!! Why? - Because it was not our flight that was effected. 'Read the new Terms & Conditions that were sent out in March'. Thank you - Bye.
So off to local bank and ask for T & C. Sure enough, everything has changed and the 'free' travel insurance that I thought I had is pitiful. In fact useless. As I travel close to 80 times a year with laptop, i-pod, camera etc plus clothes and money, I had found out I am severly under-insured.
So after telling you all my woes, I want somebody out there to tell me the best annual, multi-trip, family travel insurance I can purchase that will cover the above articles probably totaling £5k and up to £1k in cash, plus making sure I have accomodation if things go wrong on the ground - either here or abroad without the wonderful KLM groundstaff to help out. POI, when Lloyds' travel insurance was ok, I claimed for some ski stuff that got damaged / lost. A few months later when my house & building insurance (also thru Lloyds) was up for renewal, the premium had gone up by 60% - the buggers had both linked into the same underwriters. Needless to say house insurance is elsewhere.....like my travel insurance I hope. Banks....just stick to putting our money in from our employers, taking it away for our mortgage and maybe paying a few pence on our interest when we have some left. Forget the 'carrot dangling' services you are offering - nothing in life is free! Had to get that in - sorry.
Look forward to your replies.