You get to the airport on time, sail through security and prepare to board your flight to Dubrovnik — and then the airport screen shows the dreaded word: DELAYED. Your vacation is off to a terrible start.

Then, you get a text from Allianz Global Assistance. Because the announced delay meets the threshold specified in your travel insurance plan, you’re eligible for an automatic payment of $100 to compensate you for a covered travel delay. Now, your vacation is off to a great start!

Automatic, no-receipts claim payments for qualifying flight delays are just one of the innovative SmartBenefits^SM  now included with certain travel insurance plans from Allianz Global Assistance. Our customers told us they wanted faster claim filing and expanded benefits, so we made it happen. Here’s a closer look at all the ways SmartBenefits^SM can improve your travel experience.

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1. Proactive Claim Payments for Covered Flight Delays

Flight delays are really frustrating — and really common. On average, about 20 percent of domestic flights are delayed.¹ When you’re stuck in the airport, you want to be compensated for the inconvenience as soon as possible.

With plans that include SmartBenefits^SM, customers now can opt to receive a payment of $100 per insured person, per day, after Allianz Global Assistance confirms a covered delay on a monitored flight.

Here’s how it works. When you purchase your travel insurance plan, submit your flight information on allianztravelinsurance.com (or through AgentMax, if you’re using a travel agent).

We’ll monitor your flights, and if the airline announces a covered delay, then we’ll send you an email, text message or both (whichever you prefer). The message will tell you that you’re eligible for an automatic claim payment of $100, sent by check within 5-10 business days. If you want the money faster, just click the link in the message and tell us how to send it:

• Debit card (we’ll send the payment right away, once your claim has been approved, but your bank may take longer to process the transaction)
• Direct deposit (you should receive payment within 2-5 business days)

It’s that easy! Please note that if your flight is cancelled, you are not eligible for proactive payments. You still can file a no-receipts claim, if a flight cancellation results in an eligible covered travel delay.

What if your covered expenses during an eligible travel delay — such as a hotel stay or meals — exceed $100? You still can submit a claim with receipts for the remaining expenses, up to the maximum benefit limit specified in your plan. Just make sure you provide proof of expenses incurred over the $100 fixed payment.

2. No-Receipts Claim Payments for Covered Travel Delays

Typically, travel delay benefits work like this: You save all your receipts for the essential things you needed to buy during your delay. When you file a claim, you submit those receipts, along with evidence of your covered delay, so you can be reimbursed.

Allianz Global Assistance now offers another option: no-receipts claims for covered travel delays. Instead of submitting all those receipts, you can choose to receive a fixed-amount inconvenience payment of $100 per insured person, per day. All you need is proof of a covered delay.

This is different from the automatic claim payments for monitored flight delays because a) you’re not required to enter your flight info ahead of time and b) while quick, it takes a little longer. No-receipts claims are typically processed within 7 days. You can choose how you’d like to receive your payment, once your claim has been approved: on your debit card; by direct deposit, or via a mailed check.

If your covered expenses during an eligible travel delay go over $100, you can submit a claim with receipts for the remaining expenses, up to the maximum benefit limit specified in your plan. You’ll need to show proof that your expenses exceeded the $100 fixed payment.

3. No-Receipts Claims for Covered Baggage Delays

Baggage delays are tricky, because you never know what to expect. A 12-hour delay on your suitcase might not be a big deal… unless your cruise ship is departing in six.

Luckily, SmartBenefits^SM  also include optional no-receipts claims for covered baggage delays. All you need to do is submit proof of a covered baggage delay to receive a fixed-amount inconvenience payment (typically $100 per insured person, per day). No receipts needed!

If you have to purchase more than $100 worth of essential items because your baggage was delayed, you can choose to file a claim with receipts for the remaining expenses, up to the maximum benefit limit specified in your plan. As with the other SmartBenefits^SM, you’ll need to provide proof that your expenses exceeded the $100 fixed payment.

And More: Expanded Benefits and Improved Emergency Medical Protection

• More reasons for trip cancellation: If your destination issues a mandatory evacuation, or a hurricane warning (available on select plans), that can be considered a covered reason for cancelling or interrupting your trip. We also redesigned our travel delay benefit to help you reach your destination sooner by alternative means, such as when severe weather causes an extended covered travel delay.

• Primary emergency medical benefits: If you purchase any travel insurance plan with emergency medical benefits, you now have the peace of mind that comes with having primary emergency medical benefits. That means Allianz Global Assistance is the first payer or reimburser of those benefits, not your regular health insurance company.

• Simpler benefit descriptions: We want travelers to get the most out of their benefits. So we rewrote the language in our travel insurance plans, making it easier for all customers to understand which situations can be covered.

Have questions about how any of these benefits work? Contact us! Our insurance advisers can walk you through your plan options and help you select the best protection for your trip.