‘Why We Offer Free Medical Insurance to Travellers’
Chief Executive of one of Nigeria’s leading travel firms, Sesby’s Travels, Adeola Sesby-Banjoh, in this interview with Omolola Itayemi unfolds new packages for Nigerian travellers
Whatledtoyour decision to provide insurance coverto your customers?
Emergencies do occur and this could be anywhere and at any time. Sickness is not predetermined. If it pre-exist then, you don’t take insurance for that, but per adventure, you get to New York and suddenly took ill and need medical attention, the health insurance comes in useful. It could also be that one is involved in an accident of any kind; either a fall or even an auto accident that requires medical attention, then the insurance again becomes relevant. These are all incidentals that need to be attended to, which has prompted the idea of insurance for our customers. The Insurance Cover is also inclusive of baggage loss.
What are the financial implications?
There is no financial implication on our customers as Sesby’s Travels is taking responsibility. It is a way of giving back to our customers for their loyalty particularly those that have been with us over the years. We are doing this in partnership with the largest independent United Kingdom providers of medical assistance to travellers Worldwide (Coronis International Limited formerly Hygea) and Mutual Benefits Assurance PLC.
This covers passengers on all classes of tickets and the insurance is per ticket or better still per trip.
If you make a trip for instance, on February 10 to London and return on February 15, you are covered for that period of travel, from the start of the trip to the finish. If you come back and feel that you want to do Dubai on March 7 to return on March 15, you are covered from travel date till when you return from Dubai to Lagos. It is only travellers to the Schengen countries that carry medical insurance which is only valid for use in those countries. We therefore feel that it would be a good idea to make our customers travelling to other parts of the world to also have a fall-back position in case of any eventuality. You know that Nigerians are widely travelled. So, we came up with the idea that everybody that has chosen to travel with Sesby’s Travels will be covered for the period of their travel to other parts of the world. The complimentary insurance package covers passengers on all classes of tickets (Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First Class and it covers Emergency Medical Expenses, Repatriation and Evacuation
Usually, only Business and First Class passengers enjoy access to premium class lounges, why are you throwing this open to economy class passengers which area rarity all over theworld?
We all know that our airports are not too friendly for passengers, especially for passengers coming from outside Lagos flying premium/economy class and passengers that have to come into the airport very early. We really would want to make travel seamless and pleasurable for our customers, just as the airlines have thrown open the lounge services to First, Business class and gold card holders as “premium passengers”.
At Sesby’s Travels, we treat all our customers as “premium passengers” irrespective of their class of travel. Sesby’s Travels has decided to throw open premium lounge services to all our travelling customers out of Lagos, Abuja and PortHarcourt. Working with our partners, the arrival lounges would also be available soon, so that when our customers arrive, especially the morning arrivals could use the shower and go about their regular activities for the day.
The arrival will be applicable to all our customers whether they travel in First, Business, Premium economy or Economy class, such that while they relax comfortably in the lounge having tea, coffee or snacks; their luggage are being sorted and they would only be notified when this is done.