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Is it worth it?
I'm off back home next week and might be taking with me a telescope as a gift for my father... I'm scared it will get damaged/lost during the flight. Would getting travel insurance take care of any damages? What's teh cheapest out there?
purves grundy
20-08-2005, 12:34
I never bother with travel insurance, but I always take my scope on as hand luggage. I'd never trust em with it, the way they chuck stuff about.
Is it a birdwatchy spotting scope like mine, or a great big astronomers job?
I haven't seen it yet but it's an astronomy telescope n it weights 13KG.
maybe i can get the tripod to go thru normal luggage n carry the lenses with me on the plane?
purves grundy
20-08-2005, 13:05
The 13kg is scope + tripod? Then yeah, if I were you I'd definitely send the tripod through as check-in and carry on the body of the scope + lenses. Perhaps I'm being overly cautious though - if you have a decent hard case for your scope, there probably wouldn't be a problem even though I never risk it. If it's just boxed, however, I'd try to carry it on.
Have you sorted your flight yet? They often try to offer you insurance when you book.
yeah the tix are already sorted.... i'm going to wait and see the box it's wrapped in first and then decide whether to take the lenses on board with me. cheers for the info purves!
pinkmonkey
21-08-2005, 00:59
Is it an expensive telescope? Because travel insurance does not necessarily cover high value items - I'd check with them first.
Is it worth it?
Do you mean insuring yourself or personal items? Not insuring yourself is total complete and utter idiocy, due to the consequences if you get into problems. Insuring personal items is a matter of choice.
Ich bin ein Mod
21-08-2005, 18:45
Is it an expensive telescope? Because travel insurance does not necessarily cover high value items - I'd check with them first.
Often a limit of £250 on a single item or valuables.
For luggage, its often not that worth it, but for health its worth every single penny if you get really sick and you need emergency evacuation.
Met a guy who was with someone who was sitting on the back of a share taxi and it went over a bump and popped him out, damaging his lower spine. He'd forgotten to renew his insurance and his parents had to re-mortgage their house to pay for treatment and evacuation.
that's terrible Sunray... i hope u're safe young man! Dum dum has decided to be craftowrthy n has somehow managed to fit the telescope into a piece of luggage... we need to bubble rap it now n have LOADS of newspapers around. fungers crossed!
Gavin Bl
23-08-2005, 07:46
Is it worth it?
I'm off back home next week and might be taking with me a telescope as a gift for my father... I'm scared it will get damaged/lost during the flight. Would getting travel insurance take care of any damages? What's teh cheapest out there?
Assuming you are travelling internationally, it is an absolute no brainer IMO. I wouldn't dream of leaving the country without comprehensive insurance. If the package covers the telescope fine, but really, don't travel without insurance. Seriously.
pinkmonkey
23-08-2005, 09:12
For luggage, its often not that worth it, but for health its worth every single penny if you get really sick and you need emergency evacuation.
Met a guy who was with someone who was sitting on the back of a share taxi and it went over a bump and popped him out, damaging his lower spine. He'd forgotten to renew his insurance and his parents had to re-mortgage their house to pay for treatment and evacuation.
I finally got my arse in gear and got some proper travel insurance two weeks before my last trip to the Far East. I broke my own rules, (never eat western food because they don't cook it properly) when I caved in and ordered a room service burger. It was really underdone. I got food poisoning. :rolleyes: They wouldn't let me on the plane as I was too ill and I ended up having to pay $$$ for a doctor and a hotel to convalesce in. Thankfully the insurance covered everything. Phew!
But, yeah, don't expect them to cover your expensive camera, or laptop or whatever. Despite me having a pretty comprehensive policy, (that I paid more than the usual tourist policy for), I had to take out seperate insurance for me gadgets and gizmos, because they're not covered.
I'm going home to see my parents so am not too worried about health risks etc as they can more than take care of me!
Incidentally, does nayone know where I can buy bubble wrap?
Where are you flying to/from? It's not about whether your parents can look after you, it's whether they (or you!) can afford an expensive hospital stay in a foreign country should anything happen. Obviously if you are coming back to the UK it's not going to be an issue.
Just call a couple of (independent) insurance brokers and tell them what cover you need. Medical insurance is vital for some countries. Some policies would cover your telescope, some wouldn't - tell 'em what you need and they'll give the the right one. :)
Hmm, that reminds me, mine runs out in a few months...
I got mine from STA travel if anyone was interested. A reasonable 240 for 8 months.
Where are you flying to/from? It's not about whether your parents can look after you, it's whether they (or you!) can afford an expensive hospital stay in a foreign country should anything happen. Obviously if you are coming back to the UK it's not going to be an issue.
I'm going home where my family have always lived and can more than afford to sort me out in case of a medical emergency. and then coming back here. so it is no problem!
Just call a couple of (independent) insurance brokers and tell them what cover you need. Medical insurance is vital for some countries. Some policies would cover your telescope, some wouldn't - tell 'em what you need and they'll give the the right one. :)
hmmm. i might do that then, but only if they cover the telescope. :)
In the end it was all good... the telescope arrived sfae n sound and so did we. Pheeeew.
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