June 1, 2020
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
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Maybe this is the first time you’re looking into travel protection. If so, welcome aboard! Or perhaps you’re a frequent flyer when it comes to packing the peace of mind that travel protection offers. And in that case, we’re glad to see you here again!
Travel is an ever-evolving space, whether we’re talking about this year’s must-visit destinations, checked bag fee fluctuations, or the shifting etiquette of public transit selfie-taking. The same goes for travel protection from Allianz Global Assistance. We’re always engaging with our customers and travel partners to enhance our products in myriad ways while providing some unexpected perks along the way.
Below you’ll find just that: 13 tips, hacks, reminders, and sound advice that are important for all our customers to know, whether you’re a travel protection newbie or you’re a savvy vet thinking of making the no-brainer jump from a single trip plan to an annual or multi-trip option.
Not satisfied? Having a change of heart? Don’t want to be protected? Of course you want to be protected. Who wouldn’t want to be protected? But things change. Such is life. As long as your trip hasn’t started and you haven’t filed a claim, you can get your premium back! It’s easy. Just ask. After this period, your premium is non-refundable.
At Allianz Global Assistance, we’ve made it a priority to deliver travel protection plans built around the way real people travel — and to do so with great ease and convenience. Perhaps none of our efforts embody this approach more than the Allyz® TravelSmart app, a mobile interface that makes accessing and reviewing your plan a snap, whether you’re waiting, and waiting, and waiting at the luggage carousel or navigating your way through a bustling street market. Additionally, Allyz TravelSmart’s ever-growing features allow you to access our 24-Hr Assistance Hotline in just a click or a swipe, in addition to giving you the ability to reach local emergency services at a touch wherever you are.1 The best time to download Allyz TravelSmart for free? Right after you purchase that travel protection plan.
Do you travel more than once a year? An annual or multi-trip plan, which we call an AllTrips plan, may be a more cost-effective option than buying several standalone plans piecemeal. If you’re a business traveler, it certainly makes sense. That said, those jet-setters who take more than one trip a year can benefit just as well.
Life is fickle. So is travel. What can you do? You need to change your departure date and time. Your airline will almost certainly charge you a fee to do so. Fortunately, some change fees are eligible for reimbursement. Check your plan documents. Maybe scheduling isn’t on your side but we always are!
Imagine pocketing proactive claim payments for covered flight delays while doing the crossword sprawled out on the sketchy terminal carpeting. Sounds like the future, right? Well, the future is now at Allianz Global Assistance thanks to SmartBenefitsSM, our suite of cutting-edge features now woven into select travel protection plans.2
Are you in Barcelona and need to find a vegetarian-friendly restaurant? Call us. Certain plans have concierge services to help make your trip amazing. We can even send you information before you depart to make your trip planning easier. It’s one of the benefits that we provide that flies under the radar, but it might be one of the most useful.
A common misconception among many travelers is that you can’t purchase a plan with an existing medical condition. As with any plan, there are restrictions. Above all else, you must be medically able to travel the day you purchase the policy. Call us at 1-866-672-9580 and we can talk you through it if you have questions or concerns. Read this article for more info.
Another misunderstood topic is the when and ifs of travel protection as it relates to traveling when pregnant or canceling a trip because of a pregnancy complication. If you give birth in a hospital while on vacation, chances are you won’t be reimbursed for your hospital stay. But what if a health emergency occurs related to the baby on the trip or you need to cancel because of unforeseen complications? That’s a different story. We don’t want either of these to happen, but if they do, let us know. Read this article for more info.
Losing your baggage on a commercial flight to a foreign land is the stuff of nightmares What will you wear on holiday in the South of France if you don’t have your luggage? Check your plan documents, but in most cases we’ll reimburse you for that new Panama hat because the one you wanted to wear is in a suitcase in Akron, OH.
You have the greatest job with the greatest health coverage. Congratulations! But, did you know that when you are abroad, it’s a pretty sure bet that you aren’t covered by your plan? If you have an accident or take ill from a bad meal, what happens when you need to see a doctor? That’s a huge reason you need travel protection. It’s the safer way to travel.
If you plan on running with bulls in Pamplona or hang gliding off a cliff in Chile, you might want to be extra careful. If you get injured, your medical bills may not be reimbursed. This is not to say that you can’t enjoy the thrill of those experiences, but there’s a good chance that high-risk activities will be on a list of no-nos with Allianz Travel Insurance. Read your plan documents if you have a propensity to thrill ride. It’s just logical.
If you book a trip and don’t purchase travel protection, that’s fine. We’re against it, but that’s your choice. If you then decide to purchase a plan when you find out a tropical storm MIGHT ruin your honeymoon, you’ll probably wish you had purchased earlier. Once a weather event becomes named (e.g., Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm George, etc.), you won’t be protected if you didn’t already have a plan beforehand. Don’t think twice next time. Buy the plan!
A medical evacuation is expensive. If you need to be airlifted off a cruise ship because you are in dire need of surgery, you’ll be happy you have travel protection. A helicopter ride above the Atlantic is not an ambulance trip down the interstate. It can cost you a year’s salary. Seriously. Get insurance. Emergency Medical transportation benefits are included in many Allianz Travel insurance plans.
Stay tuned. Allianz Global Assistance’s travel protection plans, features, and our broader services are not static. With your help, we’re constantly evolving all our offerings to fit the needs of modern travelers who always pack travel protection — right beside those back-up socks.
View all of our travel insurance products
Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.
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