Whilst travelling: 10 situations in which travel insurance can be worth its weight in gold

Contents:

• 1. Luggage chaos at the airport: When your holiday starts without your luggage

• 2. Strikes or unrest: When everything suddenly comes to a standstill at your destination

• 3. Sick instead of the beach: When your trip takes a different turn than planned

• 4. Damaged luggage: When your luggage arrives at your destination damaged

• 5. Stormy weather at your holiday destination: When your travel plans are thrown into disarray

• 6. A fall instead of a stroll through town: when you injure yourself whilst travelling

• 7. Work calls: When your cover suddenly drops out

• 8. Luggage gone astray: When your suitcase goes missing en route

• 9. News from home: When a relative needs your help

• 10. Emergency at home: When something has suddenly happened back home

• Step by step: How to activate your Travel Protect travel insurance

1. Luggage chaos at the airport: When your holiday begins without your luggage 

You’re standing by the baggage carousel, the first suitcases roll past, then the next ones – but yours seems to have gone missing. This is particularly frustrating on the very first day of your holiday: clothes, toiletries, perhaps even a charger or swimwear are missing just when you’d actually like to arrive and take a breather.

Travel insurance such as TravelProtect can help in the event of delayed luggage if your luggage arrives at least four hours after you reach your destination. In this case, necessary expenses for clothing and essential toiletries can be covered – up to the specified limit. It is important to report the disruption to the service provider and to keep the relevant receipts.

2. Strikes or unrest: When everything suddenly comes to a standstill at your destination

The day was actually planned differently: a day out, continuing your journey, perhaps a leisurely stroll through the town. But once you’re there, there’s a strike, traffic has ground to a halt or unrest is affecting the security situation. Suddenly, it’s no longer about what you want to experience, but about what to do next.

Travel insurance such as TravelProtect can be helpful if exceptional circumstances at your destination make it difficult or impossible to continue your journey. These include, amongst other things, strikes, civil unrest, riots or official travel warnings if the situation at your destination suddenly deteriorates. If the trip has to be cut short as a result, unforeseeable costs associated with the return journey, as well as unused travel services, may be covered.

3. Sick instead of the beach: When your trip takes a different turn to what you’d planned

Sometimes the mood can change faster than you’d like: one minute you were planning a beach holiday, a trip to the mountains or a city break – and suddenly you’re dealing with a fever, aches and pains, or the question of whether the trip can go ahead at all. Being ill is unpleasant enough at home – but when you’re travelling, it often becomes even more complicated.

If an illness means the trip cannot continue as originally planned, travel insurance such as TravelProtect can provide peace of mind. If an early or delayed return becomes necessary, the policy can cover, amongst other things, unforeseen expenses for accommodation, meals and transport associated with the return journey, as well as the cost of the unused portion of the trip.

4. Damaged suitcases: When your luggage arrives at your destination damaged

Your suitcase has arrived – but the handle has broken off, the shell is cracked or the contents are damaged. This is frustrating, costs time and causes stress, and can quickly lead to additional expenses whilst you’re travelling. 

TravelProtect travel insurance can provide cover for damaged luggage whilst travelling. Depending on the circumstances, repair costs may be covered up to the replacement value of the insured item. If repair is not possible, the replacement value may be reimbursed – in each case up to the specified limit of cover. An excess applies under the standard scheme; alternatively, there is a flat-rate scheme up to a certain amount, with no proof of purchase required and no excess.

5. Severe weather at your holiday destination: When your travel plans are thrown into disarray

Severe storms, flooding, landslides, avalanches or even a volcanic eruption can quickly change the situation at your holiday destination. Roads may be closed, continuing your journey may become difficult, or the place where you are staying may temporarily no longer be safe.

At TravelProtect, natural events may be classified as exceptional circumstances at your destination. If your trip has to be cut short as a result, or if your return journey has to be organised differently than planned, unforeseeable costs for accommodation, meals and transport associated with your return may be covered. Under certain conditions, the unused portion of the trip may also be reimbursed.

6. A fall instead of a stroll through town: if you get injured whilst travelling

An unfortunate misstep on wet paving, a fall whilst hiking or an injury during an excursion – when you’re out and about, sometimes all it takes is a split second for your travel plans to be turned upside down. Instead of visiting a museum, the seaside or going on a mountain hike, the focus then shifts to rest, organisation and the question of whether the trip can continue.

With TravelProtect, an accident involving the insured person is also one of the situations in which travel insurance can come into effect whilst you’re travelling. If this means the trip cannot continue as planned, additional costs associated with your return journey, as well as any unused travel services, may be covered.

7. Work calls: When your cover suddenly falls through

Everything’s actually sorted: the tasks have been handed over, the absence has been planned, and the stand-in is ready to step in. But then a message comes through from work – and suddenly it becomes clear that this very person is unable to work. Particularly in small teams or when it comes to high-responsibility tasks, this can unexpectedly throw a spanner in the works.

TravelProtect also covers accidents, illness or the death of the person standing in for the insured person at work. If the trip cannot therefore continue as planned, the travel insurance can help cushion the financial impact – for example, by covering unforeseeable costs associated with the return journey or by reimbursing the cost of unused travel services.

8. Luggage gone astray: When your suitcase goes missing whilst travelling

Not every luggage problem happens at the airport. A suitcase can suddenly go missing whilst you’re travelling too – on a train, on a bus, during a transfer or somewhere between your accommodation and your next destination. Situations like these are not only frustrating, but can also make the rest of your trip considerably more difficult.

If your luggage is lost, stolen, robbed, destroyed or damaged whilst travelling, travel insurance such as TravelProtect can help cushion the financial impact. Depending on the situation, repair costs or the replacement value may be covered – up to the specified limit of cover. It is important to report theft or robbery to the police and to have any damage to your luggage documented in writing by the relevant service provider. 

9. News from home: When a loved one needs your help

You receive a phone call from home that immediately puts your travel plans into perspective. A family member has fallen seriously ill, had an accident or there is another serious emergency close to home. At times like these, one thing is clear: the trip can wait; something else is more important right now.

Travel insurance such as TravelProtect can also provide peace of mind in situations like these. If the illness, accident or death of a family member means you have to cut your trip short or organise your return journey differently, the resulting costs can be covered – for example, for transport, accommodation, meals or unused travel services.

10. Emergency at home: When something unexpected happens at home

Whilst you’re away, something unexpected happens at home: a burglary, a fire or water damage. Instead of continuing your trip as planned, you suddenly have to assess the damage, report the incident and organise the next steps. This often raises the question: how quickly do you need to get back? 

Travel insurance such as TravelProtect can also provide cover for incidents at your home. If a burglary or serious damage caused by fire, water or a natural disaster means you have to cut your trip short, unforeseeable costs associated with your return may be covered. Under certain conditions, the unused portion of the trip may also be reimbursed. 

Step by step: How to activate TravelProtect travel insurance

With TravelProtect, travel cover is linked to the Swiss Bankers Travel Card. To ensure that travel insurance is valid in the event of an emergency, the cover should be activated in good time – that is, before you pay for your flight, hotel or other travel services. Once everything is sorted, the travel cover is valid for 12 months. 

Here’s how it works:

• Download the Swiss Bankers app: Install the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

• Order the card: Register in the app using your ID or passport and order the Swiss Bankers Travel Card.

• Top up your balance: Load at least CHF, EUR or USD 1,000 onto the Travel Card.

• Activate Travel Protect: You can then activate the free travel insurance for 12 months.

• Important before booking: The insurance cover must be activated before payment is made. Furthermore, the trip must be paid for in full using the insured card in order to be eligible for benefits.

Conclusion: Travel insurance doesn’t turn a mishap into a pleasant experience. But it can help if unexpected costs suddenly arise whilst travelling – such as due to luggage problems, a trip being cut short or an unplanned return. If you activate the cover in good time, you won’t automatically travel worry-free, but you’ll often be much more relaxed.