Regular contributor Mac ruminates on the world of travel & some of his adventures along the way. This time round hes enjoying How to Survive Travel Emergencies as written by Brad Tuttle, who asks What Should I Do When:-
…I MISS MY FLIGHT ? Get to the airport right away and ask to be put on the next flight. If an agent gives you grief, explain why you missed the flight particularly, why it wasn’t your fault. Airlines are more likely to ask for additional payment if an agent thinks you missed the flight simply because you wanted to change your ticket without paying a change fee. With a little luck (and a sympathetic agent), you’ll be on a flight later that day at no extra charge.
Worst case: Paying the difference between your new ticket and the original fare
When all else fails: Realize that no matter what the official policy is, agents can cut you some slack, mentioning that you belong to the airline’s frequent-flier program can’t hurt.
…THE AIRLINE LOSES MY LUGGAGE ? Take the obvious first step and contact the airport’s lost-and-found. File a bag-claim form and ask about the airline’s policy for reimbursing you for toiletries and other essentials. Most bags are recovered and will be shipped to you, so stay polite.
Worst case: About 2 percent of delayed luggage disappears forever. If your bag vanishes for good, file a form that itemizes what was inside it. Most airlines won’t pay for precious items, including cash, artwork, electronics, and jewellery, so don’t pack them in luggage. For covered items, you’ll be paid for the depreciated value, not what it would cost to buy brand-new gear (including the bag itself). Sometimes you’ll even have to produce receipts.
When all else fails: Instead of looking for receipts for items purchased years ago, bring in printouts of the current value of comparable items for sale as “used” on Amazon. Overall, the moral is: Never pack anything of value in your checked luggage.
…I CRASH MY RENTAL CAR?
After the accident insist on calling the police and make copies of the report. If you declined collision damage waiver insurance coverage, your auto-insurance policy should cover damages. If you declined rental coverage and don’t have auto insurance, the credit card you used to pay for the rental should pay for damage to the vehicle.
Worst case: You didn’t check for loopholes in your policy’s fine print, and now you’re stuck with a huge bill. Coverage provided by your credit card or auto insurer often doesn’t apply to vans and luxury vehicles. That’s why you need to call your credit card company and check the fine print before you depart.
When all else fails: Never agree to pay anything to the rental company on the spot. If you’ve looked into all the other options and it looks like you’re on the hook, call a lawyer.
…MY TOUR OPERATOR GOES OUT OF BUSINESS ?
Hopefully, you paid with a credit card, which you should always do because it offers the most protection. If so, call your card company and explain what happened. Your money can be refunded if you contest the charges within 60 or 90 days of when your statement is mailed to you.
Worst case: You paid with a check and didn’t buy travel insurance that specifically covers the financial default of a tour operator. In which case, you’re not getting your money back.
When all else fails: Contact the relevant Tour Operators Association to see if the tour operator was a member of their group and as such, would have been required to keep reserves to refund to customers.
…MY PASSPORT IS STOLENAND I’M THE VICTIM OF A CRIME ?
For most crimes except minor pick pocketing, call the police. If you’ve been hurt or robbed, or your travel plans must be changed, the police report will help you file claims with health and travel insurers. Cancel any stolen debit and credit cards, too.
Worst case: Your passport was stolen, and without it you won’t be allowed back into the country. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate ASAP. With luck, you normally either travel with a photocopy of your passport, which will help speed up the process of getting a new one, or you’ve e-mailed a scan of your passport to yourself at a Web-based account you can access.
…MY CHECKED LUGGAGE IS ROBBED ?
You’ll probably never get your stuff back, but you should file reports anyway. Why ? They increase the chances that the thieves will eventually be caught.
Worst case: File a claim for reimbursement for lost and stolen items with the airline directlyand quickly, because claims often must be submitted within as little as 24 hours of an incident. Ironically, airlines won’t pay for the most-likely-to-be-stolen items, such as jewellery and electronics, and they impose caps on their total liability per passenger.
…I’VE BEEN ARRESTED OVERSEAS ?
Drugs are involved in roughly one-third of the arrests of abroad, so it goes without saying to just say no. Legal systems vary widely around the globe, however, and to avoid getting in trouble because of an unusual foreign lawin Singapore, for instance, you can be fined for not flushing the toiletstudy up on your destination’s peculiar regulations in guidebooks.
Worst case: You’re facing serious jail time, or worse. When speaking to the police, be respectful and apologetic without necessarily admitting wrongdoing.
When all else fails: Tell everyone who will listen that you demand to speak with an embassy officer, who can help you navigate that country’s legal system, find a local attorney, and send messages to your family.
…I’M CAUGHT IN A NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTER ? Serious emergencies can happen anywhere (see: London, Haiti, Chile, Mumbai, New Orleans), so it’s a good idea to e-mail your itinerary, including flight and hotel info, to a friend back home.
Worst case: If you’re fortunate enough to have life and limb intact, money shouldn’t be a concern: When true emergencies occur, hotels and airlines are generally very sympathetic to travellers and waive cancellation and change restrictions.
When all else fails: Figure out a way to get yourself to an embassy or consulate, which can provide safety and coordinate evacuations. Getting home may take time, so be patient, and try to console the travellers around you, who may become your new best friends.
Note from The Ant : the suggestions in this article are advisory only based on the author, the reviewers & the clubs opinions…always confirm as soon as practically possible, depending on your own circumstances.
