Traveling has its ups and downs, and while the unexpected is just that, unexpected – there are a few things that your clients can do to lessen the blows from travel mishaps.
We spoke to our assistance team, and they gave us five common mistakes customers make while traveling and tips to help them understand how to protect their vacations.
Mistake #1: Not leaving a back-up person while they’re away
When going on vacation, even if only for a weekend, encourage clients to tell a trusted friend or family member about their travel itinerary, and remind them to leave copies of important travel documents or personal information while they’re away.
In case of an emergency, having someone to contact with necessary information on hand can help an assistance team member provide service or help replace lost or stolen documents. If they’re traveling for an extended period of time, having a person take care of their belongings also helps prevent theft, robbery, or damage to their property at home.
Mistake #2: Packing valuables in their checked luggage instead of keeping them on-hand
Baggage can get lost, stolen, or damaged. To avoid losing expensive items while en route – remind travelers to place valuable items like electronics, cash or credit cards, jewelry, and travel documents in their carry-on.
Bonus Tip: Packing a light outfit in their carry on can also come in handy if they unexpectedly find themselves having to spend the night in LaGuardia, or their bags have decided they would rather visit Milan than Rome.
Mistake #3: Failing to notify credit card companies of their travel plans
Most financial institutions have implemented fraud detection to keep their customers’ accounts and information safe. While it’s in their customers best interest, getting a notification that their account has been frozen for suspicious activity while away on vacation is a terrible feeling. Alerting the bank of their travel plans beforehand can make accessing cash while away a walk in the park.
As an extra precaution carrying a safe amount of cash or traveler checks is also a great idea in the event there is an emergency and unable to access their account for whatever reason.
Mistake #4: Misunderstanding local culture and customs
A new location means a new law of the land. Becoming familiar with the customs and norms of a new country, or even a new city, can help travelers make the most of their vacations without confusion. However, if they should find themselves in any danger, advise them to first call emergency responders, contact local authorities, and report any incident that occurs.
Mistake #5: Not continuing to travel through the pitfalls
Travel hiccups happen to the best of us – a fender bender on the way to the airport, getting bumped from a flight, or an event getting canceled. When travel pitfalls occur, encourage your clients to continue their vacation.
While it can be difficult to proceed on a vacation through the downfalls, if they have purchased travel insurance certain claims for benefits such as trip interruption or delay may require them to have made a good faith attempt to keep their trip going, which typically means taking at least half of the trip.
These common mistakes are useful talking points to begin the conversation about the importance of travel insurance with your customers. If your clients have questions about how travel insurance benefits can assist travel plans, please have them contact our customer service representatives at 800-284-8300 for more information.