The CMO Council, a peer-powered network for senior marketing decision makers, surveyed more than 2,000 consumer travelers about their biggest travel stressors. Not surprisingly, flight delays and cancellations topped the list of the most stressful, followed by researching deals and handling sicknesses or injuries while traveling.
Fortunately, travel insurance can dramatically reduce the impact of many of these challenges.
RewardExpert spoke with Daniel Durazo, Director of Communications at Allianz Global Assistance USA, about the company’s history, inspiration, and travel insurance and services.
Depth of Experience and Breadth of Service
Owned by Allianz SE, the world’s largest diversified insurance company, Allianz Global Assistance was originally established in 1890 in Berlin as a transport and accident insurer.
“The first Allianz products were marine and accident policies sold only in Germany,” Durazo explained. “However, Allianz opened its first international branch office in London in 1893 and began distributing marine insurance coverage to German clientele looking for coverage abroad.”
Since then, Allianz companies have insured the Wright Brothers’ first flight, the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, many Hollywood movies, and countless travel plans. Over 25 million travelers depend on Allianz Global Assistance each year for protection while away from home.
“Today, we rely on our depth of experience coupled with our breadth of service to help individuals, businesses and organizations meet their financial goals,” said Durazo. “We have a strong history of making wise investment decisions to help protect our clients’ risks in life—including theft, natural disaster, travel and health issues as well as the potential downside of market fluctuations.”
Trip-Specific or Annual Coverage at Affordable Prices
“Allianz Global Assistance is a leading provider of travel insurance, assistance, and concierge services,” Durazo said. “We provide a wide range of assistance and concierge services that can help our customers get the most out of their trip.”
This includes the Allianz Classic Travel Insurance Plan, the company’s most popular choice for vacation coverage. It features essential benefits—from emergency medical and emergency medical transportation to baggage loss/damage, baggage delay, missed connection, travel delay, trip interruption and trip cancellation coverage—and kids 17 and under are covered for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent.
Annual travel insurance plans are also available and ideal for travelers who want 365 days of international and domestic coverage.
“Among the first considerations to make when selecting a travel insurance plan is whether to pursue trip-specific or annual coverage,” Durazo explained. “Frequent travelers, and those with a big family or young kids, may want to carefully consider the cost savings that an annual plan can provide. Traveler can find the plan that’s right for them by visiting our Travel Insurance Plan Finder.”
Costs vary by plan and typically range between 5 and 10 percent of the pre-paid, non-refundable portion of a trip. “These costs may include airfare, cruise bookings, tours, accommodations and rental cars,” Durazo said. “Whether you’re traveling for leisure or business, the unexpected can happen. That’s why millions of travelers trust Allianz Global Assistance to provide great coverage for an affordable price.”
All travel insurance policies from Allianz include a “10-day free look” so travelers can thoroughly review their coverage. “If they have questions, they should call their provider,” Durazo added. “It they decide the policy isn’t right for them, they can cancel it within 10 days of purchase for a complete refund. Like all insurance products, travel insurance includes important terms, conditions, coverage limits and exclusions that consumers should take the time to read and understand.”
TravelSmart Mobile App for on-the-go Assistance
In addition to 34 offices on five continents and a global network of 400,000 medical and non-medical providers, Alliance Global Assistance has call centers staffed with multilingual problem solvers who are available to help travelers with medical, legal or travel-related problems 24 hours a day.
To make it easier for travelers to utilize their travel insurance policy while on the go, there’s the TravelSmart Mobile App as well.
“It’s a simple-to-use tool that can help keep travelers safe and their trip on track with features that include the ability to file a claim, access their policy, reach the hotline of award-winning assistance experts, check their flight status and much more,” Durazo said. The app is free and available for iPhone or Android.
“Travel is one of life’s great joys,” Durazo concluded. “But even the most carefully planned trip can be complicated by unforeseen events. Whether it’s lost luggage, cancelled flights or a medical emergency, an unexpected mishap can turn a relaxing vacation into a taxing experience. Travel insurance from Allianz Global Assistance is designed to keep your travel on track.”