Direct Travel Insurance warning over online flight booking

Travellers booking their flights over the internet have been warned to be cautious by Direct Travel Insurance.

The warning follows media coverage of some sites contravening EU law by automatically adding the costs of travel insurance when flights are booked online.

Direct Travel Insurance has recommended that those going abroad browse thoroughly and when booking make sure to check for tick boxes that might involve the cost of travel insurance being added.

Head of Marketing Sally Wilkinson has expressed her view that although the convenience of buying insurance along with tickets may be appealing, the process should be made more transparent.

By ensuring the process is clearer consumers would be able to see precisely what they are being charged for and decline travel insurance if they are already covered.

Some airlines operate an opt-out policy, meaning if the consumer fails to spot the insurance option then it is taken out automatically and charged for.

Earlier in the year cut-price airline Ryanair had been forced to desist its former practice of including insurance costs as a matter of course when consumers booked its flights.