Travel Guard Plans Covers Travelers Against “Grounding” By AIirline-Ticket Change Fees

Plans also offers industry-leading medical evacuation

Stevens Point, WI – (August 31, 2009) – Although millions of consumers book airline flights every day, most are blissfully unaware that illness, emergencies and even re-scheduled meetings collectively cost travelers $2 billion each year in ticket-change fees and cancellation penalties. While baggage fees tend to generate far more attention, ticket-change fees - which impact leisure as well as business travelers - are actually higher than baggage fees for some airlines. Furthermore, ticket-change fees have emerged as a profit center for carriers: according to Department of Transportation statistics, change and cancellation fees amount to an extra 3.2 percent of U.S. airline passenger revenue, totaling $527.6 million in the first quarter of this year.

Fortunately, Travel Guard (www.travelguard.com), a leading travel insurance and assistance plans provider, offers a variety of plans that can cover travelers against airline change fees and cancellation fees.

For example, Travel Guard’s flexible My Travel Guard plan offers comprehensive travel insurance including coverage for trip interruption and delay, as well as emergency medical treatment or evacuation; lost, stolen or damaged baggage and personal effects; and baggage delay. My Travel Guard also includes 24/7 LiveTravel access to travel assistance services including flight re-booking, hotel and rental-car reservations; the tracking of lost luggage; passport replacement; cash wire assistance, pre-trip advisories and more.

“Many leisure travelers take advantage of the lower costs that airlines offer for nonrefundable fares, but don’t realize they are taking a financial risk if they have to cancel their plans due to a family illness or other unforeseen circumstance,” said Dan McGinnity, Vice President of Travel Guard.  “Travel Guard offers comprehensive plans that will reimburse travelers for these nonrefundable fares if they have to cancel their trip for a covered reason, and will also cover airline change and cancellation charges.   Through our 24/7 emergency travel service, we will also help our clients rebook their flights and help with other travel arrangements.” 

In addition to the base coverage provided as part of the My Travel Guard plan, travelers can customize their plan with a host of options, including increased medical and baggage coverage limits; rental-car collision coverage and even the option to purchase Cancel for Any Reason coverage.

Travel Guard offers a number of comprehensive travel insurance plans that can provide reimbursement for trip cancellation, interruption, as well as delay due to covered reasons, lost, stolen or delayed baggage, and emergency medical expenses, including medical evacuation.  Most plans also include a full range of personal and travel assistance services consumers can access before and during their trip.

For more information about Travel Guard’s selection of travel insurance and assistance service plans, visit www.travelguard.com or call Travel Guard’s World Service Center at 1-800-826-1300.

* = The Wall Street Journal, “Your Bad Luck is a Windfall for the Airlines,” 7/30/09.