Travel and financial companies push volcano reassurance messages

Travel and financial companies have taken advertisements across national newspapers to reassure customers after the disruption caused by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano.

Rest and Repatriation campaign
Rest and Repatriation campaign

TUI Travel, owner of Thomson and First Choice, has taken out a dual-branded ad with the strapline “Rest and Repatriation” to deliver the message “When you book a holiday with us, we’ll never leave you high and dry.”

The company also delivers “A big thank you to all our customers for your patience and understanding.”

A Tui spokesperson says: “It’s an opportunity to reassure them we are doing everything we can to get back to normal and to give them some messages about the benefits of package holidays.

The financial companies have been criticised for slow and unsympathetic reactions to claims from people out of pocket due to disrupted travel.

In the past 48 hours a flurry of ads has appeared. NatWest is running ads with the strapline “We’re here to help, wherever you may be stranded” and which outlines the emergency banking measures its introduced for customers “impacted by the current travel disruption.”

HSBC has weighed in with a an ad under the banner “Peace of mind for HSBC customers” stating that it will allow claims from customers affected by volcanic ash, even though cancelled flights due to this event “would not normally be covered by travel insurance policies.”

M&S is running an ad for its Travel Insurance under the line “Exceptional cover in exceptional circumstances.”