Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wheelchair damage

12 replies

curlyk456 · 15/12/2024 11:33

To wonder if travel insurance will cover wheelchair damage?

One of the feet of my mums wheelchair got lost in transit . Airline wrote a report but taking the mick. Does anyone know if travel insurance will cover it? Il call them obviously but wanted to know anyone's experience

OP posts:
MissMoneyFairy · 15/12/2024 11:45

Does the insurance cover it in the small print and the policy she took out. How did it get lost, aren't they fixed. What are the airline offering, I hope they offered a replacement and assistance at the airport. What does their website say.

anniegun · 15/12/2024 11:52

I suspect the excess on the insurance will not make it worth the claim. It doesnt sound an expensive part to replace and our insurance has a £100 excess

Original poster
curlyk456 · 15/12/2024 13:34

The policy is just not very clear. And yes I forgot about the excess. The wheelchair was around £300. I think I better call them, it's just in the past when iv called insurance iv had 3 diff employees tell me 3 diff things. This was when we were stranded in Dubai because of the floods. So I just don't trust them

OP posts:
DeliciousApples · 15/12/2024 14:24

I'd phone the place you got the chair from as they may be able to source a replacement part.

WinterCoatsHelp · 15/12/2024 14:36

Definitely worth getting a replacement part unless it's been snapped off in a way that makes it irreplaceable. I suspect PPs are right that on a £300 wheelchair, the footplate replacement cost will be below the excess. Is the wheelchair itself insured?

WinterCoatsHelp · 15/12/2024 14:37

MissMoneyFairy · 15/12/2024 11:45

Does the insurance cover it in the small print and the policy she took out. How did it get lost, aren't they fixed. What are the airline offering, I hope they offered a replacement and assistance at the airport. What does their website say.

Bits of wheelchair get broken or lost all the time because airline baggage handlers don't handle them properly, they just get thrown in the hold. Usually best to take off anything that can possibly be removed or come unscrewed and put it in hand luggage.

Ofalltheginjoints · 15/12/2024 14:39

My travel insurance through my bank doesn't cover my wheelchair due to the cost of it (around £3k) however it is included in my household insurance which has worldwide cover for items out of the house so might be worth checking that if it isn't cheaper to buy a replacement part.

Emirates managed to damage my chair last time I flew with them but they did arrange for it be fixed at their cost, it did take some time tho

Bathroombedroomlounge · 15/12/2024 14:43

My wheelchair got broken a few years ago (bent main frame) I applied to the airline. I had to pay for an assessment to see if it was reparable (it was not). I think I payed £30 for the assessment. They then asked for the current cost of a replacement and payed it. I did log it with travel insurance and they said they wouldn't accept a claim until I'd gone through the airline.

sinckersnack · 15/12/2024 14:58

Airline first as insurers don't usually cover things that are covered elsewhere. So if the airline broke it, they should fix it.
Then approach insurers if the airline write to say no. The policy should say what is covered under lost and damaged possessions. Always wise to choose a policy that does cover it and then you know.

Lunde · 15/12/2024 15:05

I use a 4 wheeled rollator and I feel your pain.

Is it a folding wheelchair? Best thing I ever did was to buy a rollator/wheelchair travel bag (got it on amazon) then I take the rollator to the gate and DH packs it in and it is placed on the plane at the last minute but everything is together so it is harder for them to lose/damage random bits.

EmmaMaria · 15/12/2024 15:57

I got special (expensive) insurance to cover my disability, and declared that I have limited mobility and need a rollator to walk. NOT ONCE did they tell me that the insurance wouldn't cover the aid that I needed to walk as a result of the disability that I declared! Airline didn't want to know (they claimed it was the airport, airport claimed it was the airline) and insurance claim took several months until the ombusdsman ruled against them - said it was completely unacceptable for a company to sell insurance for disability then refuse to pay for the necessary aid. I now carefully check the terms - and ask for it in writing - but I note that loads of insurers still have the same exclusion and disability aids aren't covered. They even had the check to tell me that they don't cover pushchairs, like a disability aid and a pushchair are interchangeable.

Original poster
curlyk456 · 16/12/2024 00:42

Thanks all, it was a new wheelchair for my mum, never travelled with one before and the whole foot has to be unclipped for it to be removed, so someone must have unclipped it. Rest of the wheelchair is fine not damaged. Will give them a call in the morning, will also push the airline again.

@EmmaMaria sorry that happened to you, it's very stressful

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page