IAG Loyalty – the team behind Avios – has launched Wanda by Avios travel insurance, a groundbreaking new travel cover that goes beyond traditional policies. This innovative product, developed in partnership with insurtech company Open, introduces industry-first features and a digital-first, smooth experience for UK travellers.
The Wanda by Avios launch brings more flexibility, faster payouts, and unique rewards to the travel insurance market, making it a travel insurance that gives back. Below, we explore the key benefits and options of this new offering, and how it rewards and protects Avios collectors and everyday travellers alike.
A new standard in travel insurance with Avios benefits
Wanda by Avios is designed as a smart travel insurance Avios solution that sets a new benchmark in flexibility and value. Available now to all UK residents, it offers both single-trip Avios insurance and annual multi-trip Avios insurance options. The single-trip policies come in three tiers (Basic, Standard, Premier), while the annual multi-trip plan is known as Wanda Plus travel insurance and covers unlimited trips up to 60 days each per trip. This IAG Loyalty Wanda policy aims to cater to casual holidaymakers and frequent flyers alike with coverage levels to suit different needs.
Key benefits and features of Wanda by Avios include:
- Cancellation Flex: An industry first, the Wanda insurance cancellation flex feature (called “Cancellation Flex”) provides up to 70% refund of your trip cost if you cancel at least 48 hours before departure – even for reasons not typically covered by insurance, like simply changing your mind.
- Flight Delay payout: With Wanda’s flight delay payout Wanda feature, if your registered flight is delayed by over two hours, you receive an automatic £25 per traveller payout with no forms and no fuss. This cover means fast payout Wanda by Avios insurance – a text or app notification and quick compensation direct to your bank.
- Avios Protect®: Perhaps the most unique aspect is the Avios Protect insurance feature, which safeguards the Avios points you’ve used for travel bookings. If you paid for flights, hotels or car hire with Avios (via your British Airways Club Avios account), those points are reinstated if your trip is cancelled or cut short for an insured reason. Wanda will protect up to 500,000 Avios per person under this benefit.
- Global eSIM data: The Wanda by Avios eSIM benefit keeps travellers connected. Customers on the top-tier plans receive a 10GB global roaming eSIM (from “Roam by Avios”, powered by Gigs) to use for data while abroad.
- Wellness with ClassPass: Wanda Plus also includes ClassPass credits for new users, giving access to fitness and wellness classes worldwide.
- Avios Millionaire Draw: As an extra reward, Wanda Plus travel insurance customers are entered into a monthly prize draw to win up to 1 million Avios. This exclusive Avios Millionaire Draw insurance benefit means each month one lucky Wanda customer could become an Avios millionaire, adding an exciting lottery element to the policy.
these premium perks (Cancellation Flex, Flight Delay payout, eSIM, ClassPass, Avios draw) come included with the Wanda Plus annual policy and the Premier single-trip cover, but not with the lower-tier Basic or Standard single-trip plans.
Those more basic plans still provide solid core coverage – including some Avios protection (e.g. up to 75k or 200k points on lower tiers) – but they won’t feature the full suite of extras. By offering multiple Wanda Avios policy types and Wanda by Avios coverage levels, IAG Loyalty allows travellers to choose a Wanda by Avios single trip cover or annual cover that fits their needs and budget.
A smooth digital experience, powered by Open
Beyond the generous benefits, Wanda by Avios emphasizes a smooth, tech-driven customer experience. The policy is built on Open’s advanced digital insurance platform, enabling instant quotes, immediate policy issuance, transparent pricing and easy online claims.
This means you can sign up for Wanda Avios insurance or get a Wanda by Avios quote online in minutes and manage everything through a modern web portal or app. Claims for flight delays are handled automatically by simply registering your flight in advance.
Rewarding travellers – insurance that gives back
True to the Avios spirit, Wanda doesn’t just protect you – it also rewards you. Customers who purchase a policy will collect Avios for doing so, essentially getting a little back for buying coverage. In fact, Wanda is marketed as travel insurance that gives back, allowing you to collect 20 Avios for every £1 spent on your premium (up to 1,000 Avios per policy). This means buying insurance for a big trip can earn you a nice chunk of Avios, which you can put towards future flights or upgrades. It’s a novel concept: turning an insurance purchase into an opportunity to boost your Avios travel insurance UK points balance.
For example, if you used 100,000 Avios on British Airways reward flights and had to cancel due to illness, Wanda’s Avios Protect ensures you get those points back. Now, with Reward Flight Finder (RFF), you can easily search for Avios flights and once you've found availability, head over to BA.com to book your reward flight with confidence.
How to get covered
Getting a quote is simple: you can visit the Wanda website and obtain a price in minutes by entering your trip details and desired cover level. The interface is user-friendly and emphasises transparency, so you can compare what each Wanda Avios policy type includes. Payment is flexible (all major cards and digital wallets are accepted), and policy documents including Wanda by Avios terms conditions are provided electronically for easy reference.
IAG Loyalty has ensured that Wanda by Avios UK customers can manage their policy entirely online – from purchase to making a claim. In case of emergencies abroad, there’s a 24/7 support line as well, but for routine claims like flight delays, Wanda’s automated system has you covered.
A new era of flexible, rewarding travel cover
In summary, Wanda by Avios represents a bold step into insurance by IAG Loyalty, marrying travel protection with the ethos of a loyalty programme. By offering features like Wanda Avios cancellation cover flexibility, automatic fast payout for delays, and safeguarding of points, it addresses pain points travellers have long accepted as “just part of travel.” Now your insurance can proactively help when plans go awry – and even say “thank you” for your purchase in the currency travellers love, Avios. It’s a Wanda travel insurance smooth blend of protection and reward.
