New data reveals the strangest mobile phone travel insurance claims to be awarded as devices emerge as an essential for Aussie travellers.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance’s (SCTI) recent Future of Travel report revealed that 70 per cent of Aussies ranked their phone and charger as their most important travel essentials, over travel insurance (47 per cent) and toiletries (43 per cent).
But this essential travel companion is under threat from butterfingered mishaps, professional thieves and even local wildlife.
Over the past three years, SCTI has processed over 1,330 mobile phone claims, with the average claim costing over $1,013.
One incident occurred at a Bali clifftop restaurant where a wild monkey reached around a wall, snatched a traveller’s phone and smiled at staff before promptly dropping the device into the ocean below.
Water proved to be a repeat offender with multiple claims involving high-speed boating selfie drops, capsizing kayaks in Portugal and Fiji and one unfortunate incident where a traveller suffering from severe ‘Bali belly’ even dropped their headphones directly into the toilet.
Crowded events also emerged as a significant risk zone, with phone thefts reported at Thailand’s Full Moon Parties and Manchester’s Parklife Festival.
Key insights from SCTI mobile phone claims data:
- A traveller experienced a ‘monkey heist’ while at a Bali clifftop restaurant (claim paid – $1,020).
- A traveller attended Parklife Festival in Manchester and had their phone stolen from their zipped crossbody bag while wearing it (claim paid – $754).
- A traveller was taking a selfie video on a moving boat when someone bumped them and they dropped their phone into the ocean (claim paid – $1,240).
- A traveller slipped on loose rocks while photographing the sunset on rocky beach in Fiji and dropped their phone and camera in the ocean (claim paid – $5,748).
Protecting travel essentials
SCTI chief customer officer Jess Strange said that travellers can be left exposed if their devices are lost, stolen or damaged.
“From storing boarding passes, hotel bookings and digital wallets, to navigating maps and capturing once-in-a-lifetime memories, our phones have become one of the most important items we travel with. But as our data shows, they can disappear in an instant, whether they’re knocked out of your hand on a speedboat or swiped by a cheeky local monkey,” Strange said.
“While these stories may sound amusing, losing your primary way of communicating while overseas can quickly become stressful and expensive.”
“It’s recommended you check whether your phone is covered under your policy and whether it should be listed as an unspecified or specified item.”
Strange said that depending on your insurer and policy, specified items may require payment of an additional premium for extra cover.
“Checking your item limits, understanding your cover and keeping digital copies of receipts can make a big difference if you need to make a claim.”
“It’s important to understand how policy limits and depreciation apply before you leave home. Many people don’t realise insurance policies, including travel insurance, generally take into account the age, wear and tear of electronic items. So, if you’re travelling with a three-year-old phone, you may not receive the cash equivalent of a brand-new model if it is lost or damaged.”
