Londoners and Welsh Most Likely to Claim for Lost Bags and Medical Expenses

LONDON, July 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Research conducted by leading travel insurer Columbus Direct has revealed what people in different parts of the UK are most likely to claim for on their travel insurance* - and Londoners and the Welsh are topping the list for lost bags and medical claims.

People living in South West London are the most likely to claim for baggage which has been lost, stolen or damaged, with over a quarter (26%) of their claims made for this reason. Similarly, 25% of people living in the City of London who make claims will do so for lost baggage.

Welsh holidaymakers claimed the most on their medical insurance, with 40% of their claims made after falling ill or getting injured overseas. 

The Welsh are not the only people to suffer mishaps during a holiday; our research found that those in the South West and Northern Ireland made the most claims for lost or stolen holiday cash, with each region accounting for 1 in every 25 Personal Money claims.

But for some, the problems can start before they even reach their destination. Claims for cancelled holidays were highest in The Midlands, making up nearly a quarter (24%) of all cancellation claims received by Columbus. People in the North East, however, would appear to be the worst affected by disruptions to their journey, as they had the highest volume of claims for travel delay nationally, at nearly 1 in 10.

On the plus side, the figures also showed that those in Scotland and Northern Ireland were the least likely to claim on their medical insurance, whereas the East Anglians and the Welsh are the most careful with their wallets, claiming the least for lost or stolen cash (at just 3%). People in the North East and Scotland also make the lowest number of baggage claims nationally (average of 17% each).

Greg Lawson, Managing Director at Columbus Direct said: "Whist our research has identified key regions and their common claims, the fact remains that travel insurance is there to protect travellers from across the UK while they explore the world, offering peace of mind from the moment you book your holiday to the day you get back home.  Should anything go wrong, we want our customers to get instant access to support and assistance that will help ensure that the impact on their holiday experience is minimised as much as possible. " 

* Methodology 

Claims information is based on 24,073 travel insurance claims since 2008

Notes to editors: 

Columbus Direct is a leading travel insurance specialist which was established in 1988 selling both online via http://www.columbusdirect.com and offline via call centre channels. We have a history of innovation in the industry, including being the first company to sell travel insurance direct to the consumer in the UK and also the first to fully sell a policy online. 

Columbus Direct is an insurance intermediary, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.