The tension between the U.S. and Iran is leading to summer travel disruptions, causing an uptick in travel insurance purchases and emergency evacuation services. A Global Rescue survey reveals that 85% of Americans fear their travel plans may be hindered due to global unrest.
This concern is heightened with the busy U.S. summer event schedule, featuring FIFA World Cup games across 11 cities and nationwide America250 celebrations. Travelers are advised to prepare with these steps to safeguard their trips and finances.
The first step in summer travel planning is to keep an eye out for deals. With domestic airfares increasing by about 18% from last year, and international flights up by 7.5%, travelers need to be flexible with their plans. A helpful tip is to fly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as they are cheaper compared to Sundays and Mondays.
Using price-tracking apps like Skyscanner, Hopper, Kayak, and Google Flights can help travelers snag deals and keep costs down. However, travelers should be wary of potential disruptions due to weather conditions, particularly in the Southeast or Caribbean.
To avoid long wait times at airports, signing up for expedited security services such as TSA PreCheck or CLEAR+ is recommended. These services make the process more efficient and faster, avoiding the stress of airport security during peak travel times.
Booking flights directly with the airline can help travelers navigate any delays or cancellations more easily. Keeping track of flight updates through the airline’s app can also help travelers stay informed and be prepared for any changes.
To avoid flight delays and extra costs, Nastro suggests targeting early morning flights and booking non-stop when possible. Delays often pile up throughout the day, and getting an early start can help avoid them.
Travel insurance can be a worthwhile investment for travelers, especially for long or multifaceted itineraries such as overseas trips. However, it’s crucial to understand what situations are covered under a policy. Travel insurance typically covers serious illness or injury, severe weather or natural disasters, and terrorist attacks, but may not cover disruptions due to global conflicts.
It’s worth noting that cancel-for-any-reason policies offer more flexibility, but they also come with caveats. Typically, these policies need to be purchased shortly after booking the trip, and reimbursement may be offered as a credit towards a future trip rather than cash back. Additionally, these policies are more expensive, ranging from 9% to 15% of the trip cost compared to 6% to 10% for standard coverage.
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