Sainsbury’s Bank offers discounts for Nectar members, a range of cover options and a 5-star Defaqto rating on its Gold and Platinum packages. But recent Truspilot reviews around the claims experience are unfavourable. Find out more with our detailed review.
Pros
- Discounts for nectar card holders
- Gadget cover included as standard
- Up to £10m emergency medical and repatriation cover
Cons
- 1.5 star rating on Trustpilot (from 99 reviews)
- Ranked 25 of 39 for customer experience on Fairer Finance
- No app option
Table of Contents
Who is Sainsbury’s Bank?
Sainsbury’s Bank was the UK’s first ‘supermarket bank’, providing financial services such as credit cards, loans and insurance. Launched in 1997, Sainsbury’s Bank is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
As well as travel insurance, which is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance SE (which means they actually provide the nuts-and-bolts of the insurance), Sainsbury’s Bank provides car, home, pet and life insurance.
What does Sainsbury’s Bank travel insurance cover?
Sainsbury’s Bank offers single, annual and multi-trip cover, plus extended stay cover, in three tiers: Silver, Gold and Platinum. All policies cover the following, subject to various claims limits:
- Cancellation up to £3,000
- Curtailment up to £3,000
- Emergency Medical Expenses incl 24/7 Assistance up to £10 million
- Personal Liability up to £2 million
- Missed Departure up to £300
- Travel Delay up to £250
- Loss of Important Documents up to £100
- Personal Baggage up to £1,250
- Delayed Baggage up to £200
- Personal Money up to £400
- Legal Costs and Expenses up to £25,000
- Gadget Cover up to £500
It is also possible to get cover through Sainsbury’s Bank for winter sports holidays and cruises, under its specialist policies.
– Kevin Pratt, editor Forbes Advisor
Sainsbury’s Bank travel insurance pros and cons
Pros
- High levels of medical expenses cover (basic plans start with up to £10 million cover)
- No upper age limit for single trip policies
- High limit of 80 years old for annual multi-trip policies
- Up to 20% discount for Nectar members
Cons
- Poor reviews on Trustpilot around making claims
- Relatively low customer experience rating on Fairer Finance
- No app functionality
Why might I consider Sainsbury’s Bank?
Sainsbury’s Bank offers single trip, annual multi-trip and extended trip (up to 548 days) policies in three levels of cover: Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Holders of a Nectar loyalty card get a 20% discount on all travel insurance policies (excluding policies for pre-existing medical conditions and enhanced gadget cover).
Policyholders can call a 24/7 medical helpline in case of an emergency.
However, while Sainsbury’s Bank’s Gold and Platinum level policies are rated five-stars by Defaqto, Trustpilot only awards its Silver travel insurance 1.5 stars out of 5. And, while this score is out of a relatively few 82 reviews, many are recent.
Data research company Fairer Finance gives Sainsbury’s Bank a 58% Customer Experience score for its travel insurance, which compares to a top score of 69% (Santander).
How to contact Sainsbury’s Bank
Customers with travel insurance queries can contact Sainsbury’s Bank between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays, on 0345 305 2622.
The claims phone line is on 01403 288 421. There is also a live chat facility on Sainsbury’s website. For gadget claims and complaints, the phone number is 0330 880 1762.
Existing customers can also visit Sainsbury’s Bank’s Customer Support page for help with documents, claims and policy renewal.
Finally, you can find Sainsbury’s Bank on Facebook and X (Twitter) as @Sainsburys_Bank, although X does state it can’t help with account queries.
How to find the best cover for you
Getting an affordable policy is important, and certainly better than going without cover – but choosing a policy simply because it’s cheap could put you at risk of being underinsured.
The vast majority (85%) of travel insurance claims, according to our partner CYTI, are for emergency medical treatment whilst abroad and cancellation of trips. Lost baggage and possessions make up the rest of the claims, along with travel disruption and delayed departures.
Every policy will provide different levels of cover for these most common types of claim, so it’s important to look beyond the premiums and make sure the cover is sufficient for your trip(s).
For issues around Covid-related travel risks, see our Best Covid Travel Insurance Policies page for more information.
Compare travel insurance providers and policies
Travel insurance is a competitive market, with providers trying to outdo each other on price and cover in a bid to win your business and grow their market share. You can use this to your advantage by shopping around for the best deal and, if you’re coming to the end of an annual multi-trip policy, not automatically renewing.
Don’t forget to also compare providers in terms of their reviews and accolades. Defaqto gives star ratings to travel insurance providers that are a good indication of the service they offer, but actual customer reviews on sites such as Trustpilot can give you a good overview of a company, often with very recent reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Sainsbury’s Bank travel insurance good?
It’s good in the sense that it’s rated five-stars by Defaqto, and that it offers at least £10 million worth of cover for medical emergencies, plus gadget insurance is included as standard with all policies.
On the other hand, its review scores on Trustpilot and Fairer Finance leave something to be desired.
What extras are offered?
Sainsbury’s Bank travel insurance customers can choose to add cover for winter sports, cruises, wedding insurance and enhanced gadget insurance for additional fees.
Does Sainsbury’s Bank travel insurance cover Covid?
Yes, Sainsbury’s Bank travel insurance covers Covid. You’ll get the same level of cover for cancellation, curtailment and emergency medical cover that you normally get with the policy if the claim arises as a result of a Coronavirus infection.
How do I make a claim on my Sainsbury’s Bank travel insurance?
Claims can be made by calling 01403 288 421 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Gadget claims are made separately, using 0330 880 1762.
