AIG Travel Guard Helps Travelers Navigate Hurricane Season
STEVENS POINT, Wis., May 17 /PRNewswire/ — With this year’s first named storm, Subtropical Storm Andrea, formed over three weeks in advance of the official start of hurricane season, another well-above average 2007 hurricane season is forecast for the Atlantic basin. Experts foresee the probability of major U.S. hurricane landfalls in 2007 to be much higher than last year, with some 17 named storms and nine hurricanes predicted for 2007, and a total of 40 hurricane days — almost double the average of 24.5 — forecasted for this year.*
While 2006 proved to be rather calm without any hurricane landfalls, the harsh hurricane season of 2005 is still fresh in the minds of many Americans. To help reduce the impact weather can have on vacation plans — from being stranded in the Caribbean to missed cruises or flights overseas, or delayed arrivals at the beach house — travelers should consider covering vacation investments with a travel insurance plan which includes 24-hour assistance and emergency travel services.**
AIG Travel Guard, the nation’s leading provider of travel insurance plans and assistance services, offers travelers resources during the hurricane season. Travel insurance can help cover their vacation investment if severe weather conditions directly affect their travel arrangements or accommodations. For example, if a traveler is forced to cancel a trip due to a covered hurricane, travel insurance with trip cancellation coverage can provide a reimbursement for pre-paid nonrefundable expenses, up to the limit of coverage purchased. For losses to be covered, travel insurance must be purchased before a hurricane is forecasted or predicted. Once a warning has been issued, losses resulting from a hurricane that has been forecasted or predicted on or before the effective date of coverage are excluded.
If a covered severe weather condition forces the evacuation of the traveler’s hotel or resort, the travel insurance can provide reimbursement for nonrefundable expenses, and additional travel expenses.
“Summer and early fall are great times to travel. We simply suggest that consumers consider travel insurance just in case a tropic storm impacts your trip,” says Dan McGinnity, Vice President of AIG Travel Guard. “In addition to covering your travel investment, our plans also offer emergency travel services, which come in handy when faced with the unexpected. For example, Travel Guard customers have access to our 24/7 LiveTravel emergency travel service to rebook cancelled flights, make new travel arrangement or hotel reservations.” **
All of Travel Guard’s comprehensive travel insurance plans also include 24/7 assistance for emergency medical needs or referrals, cash transfers, replacement of lost travel documents, pre-trip health and safety advisories and live e-mail and phone messaging to family and friends.**
For more information about Travel Guard’s selection of travel insurance and assistance programs, travelers can visit http://www.travelguard.com/ or call Travel Guard’s World Service Center at 1-800-826-1300.
AIG Travel Guard is America’s leading provider of travel insurance plans for more than 6 million travelers each year. Travel insurance plans through AIG Travel Guard are distributed by more than 12,000 travel agents across the United States.
Travel insurance through AIG Travel Guard may include coverage for trip cancellation, travel interruptions and delays, emergency medical expenses, medical evacuation expenses, and lost or delayed baggage. AIG Travel Guard’s plans also include 24-hour travel emergency service for emergency medical assistance, last-minute or emergency travel changes, lost luggage tracking, pre-trip travel advice, and more.
AIG Travel Guard is a wholly owned subsidiary of AIG Travel, Inc., a member company of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). AIG, world leaders in insurance and financial services, is the leading international insurance organization with operations in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions. The AIG Companies serve commercial, institutional and individual customers through the most extensive worldwide property-casualty and life insurance networks of any insurer. In addition, the AIG Companies are leading providers of retirement services, financial services and asset management around the world.
The travel insurance offered through AIG Travel Guard is underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., with their principal place of business in New York, NY, a member of the AIG Companies(R). The policy contains reductions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions. Not all coverages are available in every state.
— AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW —
To arrange an interview with a key spokesperson for AIG Travel Guard, please contact: MMG Mardiks at 212-219-7560; Colleen McCormick (ext. 6770) or Valerie Geiss (ext. 6777)
* — Philip J. Klotzbach and William Gray, Colorado State University
Hurricane Forecast Team research, April 3, 2007
(http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts/)** — Non-insurance assistance services are provided by AIG Travel Assist
