Travel Insurance and Hurricane Irene

Were your plans disrupted by the recent hurricane? Travel Insurance Select may be able to help if your policy was purchased prior to Sunday, August 21, 2011.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption is covered if Inclement Weather caused delay or Cancellation of your Trip.

The Travel Delay benefit will cover the cost of necessary additional accommodations if your plans are delayed for 12 hours or more due to Inclement Weather.

For more information, call us at 800-937-1387.

Chilean Volcanic Ash Cloud Continues to Cause Travel Disruptions

Travel issues from Chile's Puyehue-Cordon Caulle’s volcanic eruption continue as an ash cloud moves over Argentina, Uruguay, South Africa and Australasia.

• Qantas Airways has canceled all New Zealand flights for today and postponed Buenos Aires flights until Friday. Domestic flights will operate as scheduled.
• Air New Zealand will continue to fly at a lower altitude to avoid the ash cloud, which requires about 10% more jet fuel.
• Turkish Airlines has cancelled flights to East Africa – including Istanbul-Addis Ababa, Istanbul-Khartoum, Istanbul-Entebbe, Istanbul-Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam-Nairobi, Nairobi-Istanbul.
• Kenya Airways has canceled all flights on the Ethiopia-Djibouti route.
• Dubai’s Emirates airline canceled flights to Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Experts from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's volcanic ash unit say they expect the ash cloud to continue to cause travel disruptions for at least another 24 hours. If you are scheduled to travel in these areas, check with your travel agent or airline to see if you're affected.

Hundreds of Flights in Europe Canceled Due to Volcanic Ash

Iceland’s Grimsvotn volcano began to erupt on Saturday, sending clouds of ash into the air over Europe. European air traffic controllers say they expect about 700 flights to be canceled today, however the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation has said that the worst is over, and they expect flight schedules to return to normal by Thursday.  

Some airlines are rebooking passengers on later flights or fully refunding their fare. Travel Insurance Select has coverage for Inclement Weather and Natural Disaster, so travelers who purchased the policy before 5/21/11 and are affected by the volcano can call us at 800-937-1387 for details.

For more information on finding travel insurance that can refund the cost of a trip, go to www.travelinsure.com/what/selecthigh.asp.

 

Travel Insurance and the State Department Worldwide Alert

Following recent events in the Middle East, the State Department issued a Worldwide Travel Alert on Monday. It warns all U.S. citizens of “the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan” and urges those in affected areas to "limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations.” Read the full alert.

Travelers looking for travel insurance with Terrorism coverage can purchase Travel Insurance Select Plus or, in most states, Travel Insurance Select Elite. The policy covers “a Terrorist incident occurring within 30 days of your arrival in a city on your trip’s itinerary.” The Elite option also includes Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, which allows travelers to cancel their trip for any reason - including fear of traveling to a politically unstable area - and receive up to 75% of their insured trip cost. (To receive the CFAR benefit, insurance must be purchased within 21 days of initial trip deposit and the trip must be cancelled at least two days prior to departure.)

Get an instant quote for Travel Insurance Select or contact us at 800-937-1387.

Travel Warnings: Syria and Uzbekistan

Syria, April 25, 2011
Due to continuing unrest and a possible increase in anti-foreigner sentiment, the U.S. Department of State has issued a warning to U.S. citizens urging them to leave Syria immediately while commercial transportation is still available. U.S. citizens who remain in Syria are advised to limit nonessential travel within the country. U.S. citizens not in Syria should postpone all travel to Syria at this time. The Department of State has ordered all eligible family members of U.S. government employees as well as certain non-emergency personnel to leave Syria. Embassy operations will continue to the best possible extent.

Uzbekistan, April 25, 2011
Due to a potential for terrorist attacks and civil disturbance, the Department of State urges U.S. citizens in Uzbekistan to exercise caution when traveling in the region.

Nuclear Threat in Japan leads to Travel Disruptions, Massive Evacuation

The continuing nuclear threat from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in northeast Japan has led to a travel nightmare, as many try to flee the area to avoid radiation exposure.

The plant was badly damaged last Friday when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake hit the main island of Honshu. Narita and Haneda Airports are overwhelmed with tourists scrambling to book flights out of the country.

Airlines have issued the following updates to their schedules:

• Deutsche Lufthansa is diverting flights away from Tokyo to Osaka and Nagoya until the weekend

• Taiwan's EVA Airways is cancelling flights to Tokyo and Sapporo until the end of March

• United Continental has cancelled flights to Sendai

• Delta Air Lines has suspended flights to and from Tokyo’s Haneda airport. Its Tokyo-Narita hub continues to operate normally.

• Qantas, SAS, Alitalia and KLM airlines have temporarily moved Tokyo flights to Osaka or added an intermediate stop to Tokyo

• United Airlines and Continental Airlines are maintaining their normal schedules and monitoring the situation

• American Airlines is maintaining its normal schedule, but offers customers the option to change their travel plans.

The U.S. State Department is sending chartered planes to Narita and Haneda airports to begin evacuating U.S. citizens beginning March 17^th.  There will be a limited number of seats available, and priority will be given to passengers with medical emergencies or severe medical conditions.

Passengers will be taken to a “safe haven” and are expected to make their own way home from that point. Payment is not expected upon boarding, but passengers will be expected to reimburse the government at a later date. The State Department also warned those planning to board evacuation planes to "be prepared for a substantial wait at the airport” and to “bring food, water, diapers and other necessary toiletries."

The Travel Insurance Select plan available through USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services includes Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, and Travel Delay coverage due to the Insured’s residence or destination being made uninhabitable by natural disaster. The plan must have been purchased before Thursday, March 10, 2011, for coverage to be in effect.

Policyholders affected by the earthquake can also receive emergency travel assistance for things such as flight and hotel booking, wire transfers, message relay and more by calling 1-866-346-1803 or 1-715-342-3541 (collect). Assistance representatives have access to up-to-date information regarding airline schedules and airport closures, and can help insured passengers make alternate travel arrangements.

Earthquake and Tsunami Off the East Coast of Honshu, Japan

A large magnitude earthquake has occurred near the east coast of Honshu, Japan, on Friday, March 11, 2011, creating mass devastation and death. This also triggered a large tsunami that affected many countries. Google has created a Crisis Response site for the affected area that provides news, maps, and other resources, including a person finder tool.

The Travel Insurance Select plan available through USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services includes Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, and Travel Delay coverage due to the Insured’s residence or destination being made uninhabitable by natural disaster. The plan must have been purchased before Thursday, March 10, 2011, for coverage to be in effect.

Policyholders affected by the earthquake can also receive emergency travel assistance for things such as flight and hotel booking, wire transfers, message relay and more by calling 1-866-346-1803 or 1-715-342-3541 (collect). Assistance representatives have access to up-to-date information regarding airline schedules and airport closures. They can help insured passengers make alternate travel arrangements.

Important Alert: Travel Issues in Libya, New Zealand and Bahrain

Recent political unrest and a natural disaster have led to U.S. and foreign governments advising travelers postpone trips to the three countries below:

Libya

The State Department has warned against non-essential travel to Libya due to the potential for ongoing unrest. Violent clashes between protesters and security forces continue to threaten the safety of visitors. Several other countries have issued similar warnings, and British Airways and Air France have cancelled all flights to Libya.

New Zealand

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand. Considerable damage has been reported in the Christchurch Central Business District and in Lyttelton. Locals have reported experiencing strong aftershocks that are expected to continue.

Bahrain

Continuing violent protests in Bahrain have led the U.S. State department to issue a travel alert urging all U.S. citizens to postpone non-essential travel to the country. The U.K., Australia and South Korea have issued similar travel advisories.

If you need to cancel a trip, check with your travel insurance agent to see what your policy covers in the event of a natural disaster or political unrest. USI Affinity travel policy holders with Trip Cancellation and Interruption Travel Insurance can be reimbursed up to 100% of their Trip Cost if they cancel for a covered reason.

Cairo Evacuation Information from U.S. Embassy

U.S. Embassy Cairo
January 31, 2011 

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo informs U.S. citizens in Egypt who wish to depart that the Department of State is making arrangements to provide transportation to safehaven locations in Europe. This assistance will be provided on a reimbursable basis, as required by U.S. law. U.S. citizens who travel on US government – arranged transport will be expected to make their own onward travel plans from the safehaven location. Flights to evacuation points will begin departing Egypt on Monday, January 31. There will be a limited number of seats available on evacuation flights. Priority will be given to persons with medical emergencies or severe medical conditions. Persons interested in departing Egypt via USG-chartered transportation should contact the US Department of State and Embassy Cairo by sending an email to EgyptEmergencyUSC@state.gov or by calling 1-202-501-4444. Please provide the following information:
Name, age, place of birth, U.S. passport number and any special medical needs.

Immediate family members (spouses and children) who are not U.S. citizens must be documented for entry into the safehaven country and/or U.S., if that is your final destination. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

I’m ready to go. What do I do?
Documented U.S. citizens may proceed to Terminal 1 Hall 4 (Hajj or VIP Hall) of the Cairo airport as of Monday, January 31, 11:00 am. U.S. citizens are not advised to travel to the Cairo airport during curfew hours. 

NOTE: U.S. citizens located near Luxor, Alexandria or Aswan airports should secure a private commercial flight to depart Egypt. The U.S. government is not arranging transport from these locations at this time.  The airports are all OPEN and there are commercial flights available to U.S. citizens. If traveling to Luxor, Alexandria or Aswan airport please be sure to have a confirmed ticket and know the terminal you need to go to before heading to the airport. 

My child is a U.S. citizen. Can my whole family be evacuated? 
A U.S. citizen child may be escorted by one adult, preferably a parent, who has appropriate travel documents. If a family has more than one U.S. citizen child, the one-adult rule still applies.

Do I need a U.S. passport?
All U.S. citizen travelers and their spouses and children, are required to have valid travel documents. The U.S. Embassy in Cairo will assist U.S. citizens with travel documents. U.S. citizens who do not hold a valid U.S. passport or visa and are interested in departing Egypt via USG-chartered transportation should contact the US Department of State and Embassy Cairo by sending an email to EgyptEmergencyUSC@state.gov or by calling 1-202-501-4444.

What do I do if my passport is expired? If you are the holder of a U.S. passport that has expired within the last ten years please proceed directly to the Cairo airport. You will be able to board the U.S. chartered flight with your expired passport en route to the safe haven. It is important to note you will probably need to get an emergency passport upon arriving at your safe haven so that you can continue your travels en route to the United States. If you are the holder of a passport that has been expired for over ten years then you will need to get an emergency passport at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. 

What do I do if my child is a U.S. citizen, but hasn’t yet been documented?
Contact the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.  U.S. citizens who do not hold a valid U.S. passport or visa interested in departing Egypt via USG-chartered transportation should contact the U.S. Department of State and Embassy Cairo by sending an email to EgyptEmergencyUSC@state.gov or by calling 1-202-501-4444. 

My family members aren’t U.S. citizens. Can they travel with me?
The scheduled evacuation flights will transport U.S. citizens and their immediate family members. Immediate family members – defined as spouses and children – who are not U.S. citizens will be required to have travel documentation that will permit their entry into the safe haven destinations. At this time, flights are expected to travel to Istanbul, Turkey, Athens, Greece, and Nicosia, Cyprus. Safe haven destinations may change. U.S. citizens requesting evacuation will not be able to select their safe haven destinations.

Will you fly me to the United States? 
Our goal is to get people to a safe place, where they can make their own onward travel arrangements. Travelers will be responsible for their own onward travel arrangements and accommodations in the safe haven city. Consular officers will provide travelers with information on airlines and hotels.

What should I bring?
Travelers should bring valid travel documents and any necessary medications.
Each traveler may bring one suitcase and a small personal carry-on item.
U.S. citizens seeking evacuation should be prepared for a substantial wait at the airport. Travelers are advised to bring food, water, diapers and other necessary toiletries with them to the airport.

What about my pets?
Evacuation flights will not be able to accommodate pets. 

Do I have to pay for the flight?
U.S. citizens requesting evacuation will be asked to sign paperwork promising to reimburse the U.S. Government for flight costs at a later date. Exact flight costs are not yet available, but should be comparable to a one-way commercial flight from Egypt to the safe haven location.

How do I get to the airport?
At this time, public transport to include taxis is still operating in Egypt.

Record Winter Weather Paralyzes Much of Europe

Heading to Europe? Well, Ol' Man Winter seems to have beaten you there, and he's causing quite a ruckus.

Most of Paris has been paralyzed by icy roads after the region's heaviest snowfall in 25 years hit earlier this week. The Eiffel Tower was closed Wednesday, and flight delays and cancellations at Charles de Gaulle Airport halted travel in and out of the country.

Germany suffered the same fate when heavy snow storms forced hundreds of flights cancellations and train delays. The Frankfurt International Airport was shut down on Wednesday and Thursday, and almost 200 flights were cancelled in Berlin.

Britain is also experiencing the wrath of winter, as streets and airports are shut down. The region continues to see record snowfall after November brought more snow than it had seen in 65 years.