Much to our delight, air travel is finally re-opening around the globe. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and you should consider getting COVID-19 travel insurance coverage if you are planning to travel soon. Read Eric’s story to find out why he wishes he had done this.
It takes a certain level of bravery to travel during the pandemic, but it takes a whole new level to travel without travel insurance.
Here is the full scoop on what happened.
If you haven’t heard enough of travel horror storries, our writer interviewed Joanna Peh who shared travel tips after experiencing a family holiday nightmare.
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A holiday that’s nearly two years in the making
Eric jumped for joy when VTL flights were announced in October 2021; there was finally an opportunity to escape the confines of his home! For nearly two years, his room had doubled as his home office. He no longer has to spend his ‘leave’ either staying at home or taking the occasional staycation.
“I booked tickets for a flight to the United States as soon as I could. It had been on the top of my bucket list ever since, so I was dead set on visiting. I mean, you only live once, right?” says Eric.
His flight to Los Angeles was in late December 2021. He had two months to prepare for the trip, in which he renewed his passport and got all his VTL documentation in order.
Unfortunately, he missed one important thing – travel insurance.
“I skipped out on travel insurance maybe because I work in marketing and my mind just tunes out any sales messages I see. Maybe it’s because I’ve never had any bad travel experiences, not even lost or delayed luggage. I don’t know, it could be all those things,” states Eric.
No guarantees that people abroad follow safety protocols
The flight to the United States had been uneventful other than the long lines for VTL document verification at both Singapore and Los Angeles. His luggage arrived without incident. He was able to rent a car and drive to his lodging without incident.
What followed were three relaxing weeks of scenic destinations, renowned eateries, and theme parks. His Instagram and TikTok accounts were working overtime to document his every stop. However, there were a few things that concerned him throughout his holiday in California.
“I visited places I had seen in movies, and ate at places I had read about in reviews or seen on YouTube videos. I also got to see Disneyland and Universal Studios, which were awesome. But I was a bit freaked out, too, you know?” remembers Eric.
“There were a lot of people who didn’t wear masks or practice proper hygiene like using hand sanitisers. It’s not like Singapore, where everyone follows the rules and takes proper precautions. There were so many times when I would see people coughing, touching railings, or not social distancing.”
Despite the risks, Eric did his best to prevent catching COVID-19 by following the best health practices.
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| Travel Insurance | Premium for Individual Cover | Covid-19 Coverage | Promotion |
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Etiqa (TIQ) Travel Insurance
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from S$39 (for 1 week in Asean)
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Yes
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Single Trip: Use the promo code TIQSINGSAVER to get 48% off. T&Cs apply. Valid till 24 Oct 2023. T&Cs apply.
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Enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply.
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Starr TraveLead Travel Insurance
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from S$11.05 (for 1 week in ASEAN)
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Yes
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Get up to $50 Grab Vouchers (min. Premium $30) and get 35% off when you use promo code SSVTL35. Valid till 31 Oct 2023. T&Cs apply.
Plus, till 31 October, every 2nd successful applicant will score an Apple AirTag worth S$45 on top of our weekly lucky draw.
Enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw. 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply.
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Allianz Travel Insurance
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from S$34.10 (for 1 week in Asean)
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Yes
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Use promo code SSV45 to get 45% discount plus get up to $35 Grab Vouchers when you apply NOW! Valid till 31 October 2023. T&Cs apply.
Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply. |
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MSIG Travel Easy
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from S$34.10 (for 1 week in ASEAN)
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Yes
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Enjoy 40% off when you apply for Single Trips and 20% off for Annual Plan plus get up to $38 Grab Vouchers when you purchase now!! Valid till 31 October 2023. T&Cs apply
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Enjoy up to 3x chances to enter our Weekly Lucky Draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. T&Cs apply.
Additionally, enjoy 1x chance to win your share your share of up to S$200,000 in prizes in our epic 101! Milestone Giveaway, including S$5,000 bonus cash each week on top of ongoing promotions! T&Cs apply. |
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FWD Travel Insurance
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from S$22.50 (for 1 week in Asean)
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Use the promo code OCT23 to get 35% off on Single Trip and 30% off on Annual Trip plans. Valid till 25 October 2023. T&Cs apply.
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Singlife Travel Insurance
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from S$46.20 (for 1 week in ASEAN)
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Score an Airalo eSIM with up to 3GB data and receive it before you fly when you apply now! Valid till 31 October 2023. T&Cs apply.
Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply.
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Allied World Travel Insurance
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from S$45 (for one week in Asean)
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Enjoy a 45% discount for Single Trip and 15% discount for Annual Trip when you apply now! Valid till 30 Nov 2023. T&Cs apply.
Enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply |
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AIG Travel Guard® Direct
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from S$30 (for 1 week in Asean)
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Great Eastern Travel Insurance
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from S$52 (for one week in Asean)
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Single Trip: Get an 30% discount when you use the promo code TSP30S. Valid till 31 Dec 2023. T&Cs apply.
Annual Trip: Get an 10% discount when you use the promo code TSP10A. Valid till 31 Dec 2023. T&Cs apply. Discount is only valid for Elite and Classic plans.
Enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. T&Cs apply. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply. |
From outbound to isolation-bound
The day before he was scheduled to fly back to Singapore, Eric went to Los Angeles International Airport for his polymerase chain reaction (PCR) pre-departure test.
“I can remember feeling good that day as I went to the airport. The sun was shining, and I felt like I had experienced almost everything I wanted to do during my holiday. I made it to my PCR test appointment and was told to wait for my results within an hour.
“I went back to my lodging and started to do some pre-packing for my flight back home. That’s when I got the news that I had tested positive for COVID-19. I spent the next few hours calling and emailing everyone from the airline, my family, and my company to tell them the news and get advice.
“I also needed to extend my stay for another 10 days since that was the isolation requirement period at the time,” remembers Eric.
During his isolation period, Eric did not experience any COVID-19 symptoms. He spent his days ordering Uber Eats, watching YouTube, playing online games, and chatting with loved ones.
After the isolation period, he tested negative for COVID-19. He was ready to fly home.
Going home with lighter pockets
The cost of skipping travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage was substantial. Lodging, food deliveries, and flight rescheduling cost him more than S$3,000.
While Eric was happy to be flying home, he was also exhausted from spending more than a week in isolation on a holiday that was supposed to escape it. It was an expensive lesson to learn, but he realised that it could have been much worse.
“One thing is for sure – I’m not going to skip travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage on my next holiday. I’m just happy that I didn’t get sick and need any sort of medical care. I can only imagine how expensive it would have been!
“This is a lesson I’ve learned the hard way. If I can help others avoid the same mistake, then at least something good has come out of this experience,” says Eric.
Unlike the early days of VTL flights, there are now plenty of travel insurance options with COVID-19 coverage to choose from. If you are planning on taking a VTL flight soon, be sure to check the Best Travel Insurance Plans With COVID-19 Coverage or compare travel insurance plans below to find the right policy for your needs.
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