BAA has warned customers that they must choose their travel insurance carefully, now that the market is saturated with policies.
The airport company has released advice for travellers to help them choose from the wide range of cover available.
Advice includes obtaining pre-travel cancellation and missed departure cover, checking cover for baggage and money, and ensuring medical cover includes repatriation.
BAA head of financial services David Noble said: "When choosing insurance there are a number of factors to consider - not just a pay out that looks like a lottery win.
"People often think that accidents won't happen to them and that travel insurance is just an optional extra, but this is simply not the case.
"Travel insurance should help you with the things that are most likely to happen, such as more minor medical problems," he added.
