Save your wallet from the cost of airport delays with travel insurance.
By Valerie Moloney and Nina Kokotas Hahn
Whether it’s fees for overweight baggage, long lines at the scanners or packed flights with too-little elbow room, as travelers, we’ve come to expect the minor hiccups that come with traveling. And for the most part, we can handle these hiccups because, at the end of the day, we usually end up somewhere beautiful like a beach vacation or a spring break getaway.
Here's some reassuring news for people who are hesitant to book airline tickets or make vacation plans because of concerns about the economy and their jobs.
JetBlue has launched a program to protect customers who get laid off. The airline will refund an airline ticket, minus any booking fees, for passengers who involuntarily lose their full-time jobs after February 17, 2009. The program applies to JetBlue flights booked between February 1 and June 1. See details
Orbitz honors the JetBlue program and offers a travel insurance policy to help protect travelers from job layoffs and other unexpected issues, like sudden illness or extended travel delays.
There's also Orbitz Price Assurance. Under this exclusive program, if another customer books your same flight for less, Orbitz will send you the difference in cash, between $5 and $250 per traveler. It's automatic. No need to call, e-mail or fill out forms. Expect to receive a refund check about 30 days after your trip.
Related Orbitz resources:
Thinking about getting travel insurance, but you’re not sure if you need it? That’s a pretty common concern for travelers trying to weigh what can be considerable benefits against the extra expense.
In addition to covering at least part of your costs if you have to cancel your trip, travel insurance also can cover emergency medical expenses and emergency evacuation expenses.
Orbitz employee Paul Rattin got travel insurance before his recent trip to Tanzania.
“The whole time there it just felt comforting knowing if something happens there’s someone looking out for me,” he says.
Travel insurance fees are typically calculated as a percentage of your total trip or airline ticket cost. Orbitz provides travel insurance through
Allianz Global Assistance, which offers several levels of coverage.
Airline Ticket Protector, for example, is designed specifically for travelers purchasing airline tickets. It covers non-refundable ticket costs for up to $3,000 if you have to cancel your trip due to a medical emergency, bad weather, strikes and more. You also have access to a 24-hour hotline.
Ticket Protector Plus is designed for international airline travelers, with trip cancellation coverage, emergency medical coverage, medical transportation and concierge service — which offers help with restaurant tips, theater tickets and booking golf tee times.
Trip Protector Plus covers trip cancellation or interruption but also includes emergency medical or dental care, emergency medical transportation, coverage for lost, delayed or damaged baggage and rental car coverage.
Allianz Global Assistance also preauthorizes hospitals across the globe, so you’ll know you’re going to receive quality care while traveling abroad.
Those are just a few of the travel insurance options. Visit Orbitz.com for more information. You can purchase insurance here or while booking a trip on Orbitz.
Related Orbitz resources:
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