Half the fun of the travel is the esthetic of lostness. ~ Ray Bradbury
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Know The Facts
Open your U.S passport to page two and you may be surprised by the following warning:
HEALTH INSURANCE. Persons considering foreign travel should determine what health insurance coverage, if any, they require while outside the United States. Medicare does not cover health care costs outside the United States and its territories, except under limited circumstances in Canada and Mexico.
The simple fact is that many international travelers do not have appropriate insurance protection. Government sponsored health programs such as Medicare almost never cover care received in a foreign country. Employer-sponsored plans often limit overseas coverage to emergency care only (and the burden will be on you to prove it's an emergency). |
Higher Prices Change The Business Travel Paradigm
Submitted by sfti on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 15:23.Higher airfare, new luggage fees, fuller flights and what seems like more cancellations all add up to a litany of added stress.
"It's really tough right now because overall it's very expensive," said a well-known business executive, noting that 45% of her business' expense now goes toward travel, up from 32% a year ago. She isn't the only business executive feeling the pinch of higher prices and trying to adjust her employees behavior accordingly.
In the past three reporting months, businesses increased their air travel spending by 12% from a year ago while the number of tickets purchased decreased by 1%, according to a cross sample of more than 80 clients with Ovation Corporate Travel, an independently owned travel management company. The trends make a lot of sense considering that recent airfare increases have come hand-in-hand with an overall economic downturn.
Michael Steiner, Ovation's executive vice president, said "We're seeing our clients' policies tightening around certain criteria such as approvals for trips, class of service, etcetera."
TSA's 3-1-1 For Carry-Ons Rules
Submitted by sfti on Wed, 05/21/2008 - 14:34.
Make Your Trip Better Using 3-1-1
3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3 ounce bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin.
One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3 oz. container size is a security measure.
Consolidate bottles into one bag and X-ray separately to speed screening.
Be prepared.
Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing
3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.
3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.
Declare larger liquids.
Medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice are allowed
in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to
be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the
checkpoint.
Come early and be patient. Heavy travel volumes and the enhanced security process may mean longer lines at security checkpoints.
TSA working with our partners. TSA works with airlines and airports to anticipate peak traffic and be ready for the traveling public.
HEALTHY TRAVELING IN COLD AND FLU SEASON
Submitted by sfti on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 15:24.Cold and flu season make it more important than ever for travelers to be proactive. While Grandma’s advice to get plenty of rest and fluids still applies, it takes more to beat the odds. Before your departure overseas, consult your doctor for updates on infectious diseases of the region into which you’re traveling. The CDC is a great resource for updates. The World Health Organization also has detailed information on pandemic vaccines and international health issues. They both recommend to not only wipe your hands often with antibacterial wipes or sanitizers, but use sanitizers to clean anything from your airplane seat to your taxi interior to your hotel room.
After the recent cases of Swine Flu, some international airlines have new policies preventing passengers from even boarding who exhibit flu symptoms. China and Japan have been known to hold passengers in quarantine if another traveler onboard exhibits illness while in the air.
SAFETY FIRST’S ADVICE FOR LOST OR DAMAGED LUGGAGE
Submitted by sfti on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 14:59.The lowest level of inconvenience is delay. Airlines have tracking systems, and 98 percent of all misplaced luggage is ultimately located, typically on the next flight. If you can’t wait the few hours, give the baggage attendant a phone number of your hotel or home address. Many airlines deliver your luggage when it is found. Some even reimburse costs of items purchased because of the delay when adequate receipts are presented. Make sure to obtain the proper phone number to obtain status updates on locating your missing luggage.
It's hard for inconvenience to not escalate into aggravation in the rare cases when your luggage is actually lost. Airlines often use different forms for “lost luggage” than for “missing luggage.” Make sure you get a receipt documenting the loss. Domestic flights cap loss at $3,300 while international flights vary depending on international treaties. You can check your carrier’s website in advance, but why aggravate yourself in advance.
Travel insurance provides additional indemnification for missing and lost luggage.
You Should Know• Even if you are already enrolled in a health plan, your coverage is limited when you travel abroad. In fact, your plan may not pay to have you safely evacuated if you are critically ill. • Where do you turn to learn which hospitals and doctors meet your standards? Keep up with breaking news about health and safety threats? Translate key medical terms and brand-name drugs? • How do you find a western-trained, English-speaking doctor with the appropriate skills? How do you arrange a convenient appointment and avoid claim forms? • Outside the United States, most hospitals won't provide any treatment until the hospital has received a guarantee of payment, which is rarely issued by a u.s. based health carrier. Without travel insurance, you'll likely pay in advance--as much as tens of thousands of dollars, if your credit card limit allows.
Travel insurance that includes online and telephone assistance services helping you develop contingency plans and manage the unexpected. |
