What are the top 3 travel mishaps faced by travellers from Singapore?
TRAVEL
MISHAP 1: FLIGHT DELAYS
Sadly there’s not much you can do to avoid flight
delays since the cause tends to be out of your hands. But you can still make
the most of an unfortunate situation. First, check the flight status before you
set off. If you know it’s delayed ahead of time you can spend your time more
productively than hanging around at the airport.
If you’re already at the airport when you learn of the
delay, make sure you get the airline representative to explain to you exactly
what is happening. You’re often entitled to food and accommodation depending on
the length of the delay, so make sure you understand your options.
If you’re planning to make a claim for the delay with
your travel insurer, you will probably need a document from the airline
confirming the flight number, the length of the delay and the reason. It pays
to keep a copy of your travel insurance policy with you or to have the contact
number handy so you can check what you’ll need on the spot.
TRAVEL
MISHAP 2: FALLING SICK
Nothing can spoil a holiday quite as easily as falling
sick, but there’s plenty you can do to avoid it in the first place. Make sure
you research your destination before you travel: in less developed countries
it’s a good idea to only drink bottled water, for example. Use bottled water
for brushing your teeth, and make sure that uncooked food like salad has not
been washed with tap water.
While prevention is better than the cure, accidents
and illness do happen. It’s worth checking in advance where the nearest medical
facilities are so you know what to do in an emergency. If you’re planning on
claiming on your insurance, then you should call your insurer as soon as
possible after the incident so they can advise you on what to do.
TRAVEL
MISHAP 3: LOST BAGGAGE
Few things in life are worse than the sinking feeling
that comes when everyone else has already left the baggage claim area and you
realise that your luggage hasn’t made it.
First of all, try to keep as many essentials as
possible in your hand luggage so you know that you will at least have the
basics with you if you lose your check-in luggage. Restrictions on taking
liquids on planes make that trickier these days, but if you have a change of
clothes and a toothbrush with you then at least you have most of what you need
should the worst happen.
If your bags do go missing, your first step is to
speak to the airline representative while you’re still at the airport. They
will give you documentation to prove your claim, and they’re also your first
point of contact for compensation. Some airlines will also provide a toiletry
bag with basic necessities upon request.
Next up is to contact your travel insurer to let them
know. They will need copies of the documentation from the airline, so make sure
you have it handy. If there’s a suspicion that your bags have been stolen
rather than lost, then you may also need a police report, so it’s best to call
your insurer before you leave the airport. Keep your policy somewhere safe (in
your hand luggage of course!).
Check out the ACE Travel Insurance website - www.acetravelinsurance.com.sg before you leave for your holidays.
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