Technology Has Only Begun to Impact Travel Insurance

Travel protection may be one of the least exciting elements of the vacation purchase journey, but technology has radically reshaped the product and service delivery over the last five years, with even greater changes on the horizon for travel agents and consumers alike. Today, travelers can avail themselves of a host of services that could not have been developed without technology. For example, airline passengers can request their insurance company track their flights, and if there is a delay that meets their plan's terms and conditions, a claim can be automatically filed, and funds transferred to their bank account even while they are waiting in an airport lounge to depart. "Proactive payments for some travel delays, digital payments made directly to debit cards, and a focus on claims automation have drastically altered the way our customers get reimbursed for covered travel situations," said Dan Durazo, Allianz director, marketing and communications, USA. "These innovations have simplified and expedited the claims process to put money back in travelers' pockets faster than ever before," he said.