A Majority of Americans Have Traveled in the Last Year and Confidence in Taking an Annual Vacation Hits Record Levels

  Now more than ever, Americans are claiming their vacation days and making time to travel a priority. According to Allianz Partners USA’s 14th Annual Vacation Confidence Index*, a majority of Americans have taken a vacation in the last year, marking a significant milestone in the survey’s decade-plus-long history. In fact, they have never been as steadfast about the importance of taking an annual vacation, or more confident in using their hard-earned PTO days.   Defining a vacation as leisure travel of at least a week to a destination 100 miles or more away from home, the survey revealed that 57% of Americans have taken a vacation in the last year. Up from 44% last year, 2022 marks the highest percentage of Americans who reported traveling in the last year since 2009, when the survey was first conducted. Of the respondents who have traveled in the last year, two in 10 (22%) traveled in the three months leading up to the survey, with the 18-34 year old demographic (29%) leading this trend.   Signifying a new norm of Americans prioritizing vacationing, Allianz’s survey also found that three-quarters of Americans (74%) consider an annual vacation important, a huge leap from 60% in 2019 and one point higher than last year. Mirroring this trend, confidence in taking a vacation this year also has never been higher, with 65% of Americans expressing positive intentions to vacation, up two points from last year and a stunning 13 points over the highest prior year surveyed (52% in 2014).     Allianz Partners USA also defined a “vacation deficit” as the percentage of Americans who say an annual vacation is important to them, but are not confident they will take one this year. In 2022, the percentage of Americans who are experiencing a vacation deficit returns to 19% compared to 44% in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. With more Americans back to traveling, and with vacation intentions remaining strong, the vacation deficit is nearing an all-time low.   Looking at those who have been waiting longer to travel (43% of Americans have not taken a vacation in a year or more, down 13 points from last year), older Americans ages 55+ are demonstrating more hesitancy (55%) than their younger counterparts (41% for ages 35-54 and 31% for ages 18-34), as are lower-income Americans (56% of those making less than $50,000/year versus 34% who make more than $100,000).     “Our latest Vacation Confidence Index proves that taking an annual vacation has never been more important to Americans, and we’re seeing record levels of confidence that they’ll travel between now and the end of the year,” said Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA. “Instead of banking those PTO days, Americans are viewing their vacation time as a much-needed getaway to support their mental health.”   The Vacation Confidence Index has been conducted each summer since 2009 by national polling firm Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of Allianz Partners USA.   In March 2021, Allianz Partners announced enhancements** to many of its travel insurance products in most states through an Epidemic Coverage Endorsement. Products that include this endorsement may provide coverage to customers who become ill with COVID-19 or a future epidemic, are individually ordered to quarantine, or are denied boarding due to a suspected illness. These products also may cover emergency medical care and transportation or provide reimbursement for change fees and loyalty points deposit fees if the customer becomes ill with an epidemic disease. Availability of the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, and specific covered reasons under that endorsement, varies by product and by state. See your plan for details.   Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies, hotel companies, cruise lines and directly to consumers. For more information on Allianz and available travel policies, please visit http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/.

JetBlue Travel Products announced a multi-year partnership extension with Allianz Partners USA. The partnership offers JetBlue customers insurance cover to protect both their flights and vacation packages. The contract cements Allianz Partners as the official travel insurance provider of JetBlue Airways and JetBlue Travel Products. JetBlue Vacations travel advisors can now offer Allianz Travel Insurance plans over the phone to customers purchasing JetBlue packages. Products include Allianz’s Epidemic Endorsement, which covers travelers for cancellations, interruptions and medical emergencies due to illness with Covid-19 or a future epidemic. Since the pandemic, JetBlue Travel Products says it has seen a surge in demand for travel insurance. “We’re giving our customers more insurance options, so they can feel comfortable and prepared for their unique travel needs,” said Andres Barry, president, JetBlue Travel Products. “JetBlue has been proud to partner with Allianz for over a decade.”

 

REVISED COURSE!

Allianz Partners Specialist Program

A whole range of content has been distilled into three new engaging chapters, making it even easier to learn how to protect your clients’ vacation investments and add value to your services.

  What You’ll Learn  

• How the latest technology can help you to supercharge your sales:

  AgentMax Online: the award-winning, web-based selling tool TravelSmartTM: the travel safety app that helps your clients stay aware of their surroundings—plus easily reach help, access plan details, and file a claim on the go. More Tools to Make Your Sales Easier: like the agent marketing guide, turnkey multimedia marketing campaigns, and more  

• Key points to help you educate a diverse range of clients on why travel insurance is valuable and how it can protect them and their vacation investments

  Agents certified through The Travel Institute can earn credits toward maintaining their certification upon completion of this course.  

 

Beach Destinations from Hawaii to Florida Are Shore-to-Please Americans While City Breakers Head to Boston, New York and Los Angeles

  The 2022 summer season is shaping up to be a busy one, according to Allianz Partners’ Top 10 Summer Destinations review. Travel will be up 16% over last year with almost 75% of Americans planning to travel domestically for their summer vacations.   The travel insurance and assistance company analyzed more than 1,175,000 flight itineraries* for trips between five and eight days in length and for the sixth year in a row, found that Orlando, Florida and Cancun, Mexico are the most popular domestic and international destinations respectively for 2022 summer travel.   Tropical destinations continue the trend with the Hawaiian Islands taking two coveted spots as visitors plan to trips to Honolulu (#3), Oahu and Kahului (#5), Maui following the easement of Hawaii’s Safe Travel Program in March. The Pacific Northwest gained favor this year – Seattle, Washington (#2) moved up two slots from last year’s ranking and Portland, Oregon (#9) appeared on the Top 10 list for the first time since 2019.   Internationally, Americans are flocking to additional Mexico destinations outside of Cancun including San José del Cabo (#2, no change from last year) and Puerto Vallarta (#6, up from #9). Montego Bay, Jamaica (#4) and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (#5) moved up two and three spots respectively from last year, highlighting the Caribbean’s lasting allure for sun worshippers looking for an international dose of Vitamin D.   “Our findings show that ‘revenge travel’ is about to be taken to a whole new level in summer 2022,” said Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners. “While it’s no surprise that Americans are planning to kick back and relax in sun-soaked destinations both domestically and internationally, U.S. cities that were once buzzing tourist destinations pre-pandemic, like Boston, New York and Los Angeles, are seeing a significant return of travelers this summer as well, signaling a positive step in tourism recovery.”   In March 2021, Allianz Partners announced enhancements** to many of its travel insurance products in most states through an Epidemic Coverage Endorsement. Products that include this endorsement may provide coverage to customers who become ill with COVID-19 or a future epidemic, are individually ordered to quarantine, or are denied boarding due to a suspected illness. These products may also cover emergency medical care and transportation or provide reimbursement for change fees and loyalty points deposit fees if the customer becomes ill with an epidemic disease. Availability of the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, and specific covered reasons under that endorsement, varies by product and by state. See your plan for details.   Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies, hotel companies, cruise lines and directly to consumers.

  Travel insurance and assistance company Allianz Partners USA is contacting customers who are traveling in India right now as the country faces the world’s worst coronavirus outbreak, with more than 17.6 million cases since the pandemic began last year.   As the US State department advises Americans to leave the country, Allianz Partners is reaching out to 150+ customers who are currently in India to provide assistance – including rebooking policyholders’ travel arrangements and providing additional customer service support like contacting loved ones at home to provide status updates on their journeys home.   “Our Travel Assistance operations team at Allianz is available 24/7 to assist customers who may need our help,” said Daniel Durazo, director of marketing & communications. “The events in India are heart-wrenching and our team is working around the clock to ensure our customers are provided with the help they may need. Customers who need help us can also contact us with one touch from their Allianz TravelSmart mobile app or call the phone number on their travel insurance policy.”   Recently, the travel insurance and assistance company added epidemic coverage to travel insurance products to provide additional coverage and benefits to specific epidemic-related situations.

 

Allianz Partners USA Reviews Top Summer Destinations; Orlando and Cancun Named Most Popular Destination for Five Years Running, Hawaii Makes Waves and Caribbean Heats Up

  This year, Americans are making up for lost time, according to Allianz Partners’ Top 10 Summer Destinations review. After last summer’s vacation plans were largely scuttled due to the pandemic, Americans are regaining confidence in 2021 and planning trips to Florida, Hawaii and the Caribbean.   The travel insurance and assistance company analyzed more than 985,000 flight itineraries* for trips between five and eight days in length and for the fifth year in a row, found that Orlando, Florida and Cancun, Mexico are the most popular domestic and international destinations for 2021 summer travel.   For the first time in the survey’s history, four of the top 10 domestic destinations are in Hawaii with travel-deprived Americans saying ‘aloha’ to Maui (#2), Honolulu (#3), Kauai (#7) and the Big Island (#8). Newcomer Anchorage, Alaska’s (#5) inclusion on the Top 10 domestic list reinforces that America’s love of the great outdoors and wide-open spaces will continue in 2021.   Internationally, Mexico appears three times on the Top 10 list; Cancun (#1) is followed by San Jose del Cabo (#2) and Puerto Vallarta comes in at ninth place. Additional Caribbean destinations completing the Top 10 include Aruba (#3), Puerto Rico (#4), U.S. Virgin Island (#5), Jamaica (#6), Turks and Caicos (#7), Dominican Republic (#8) and the Bahamas (#10).   The pandemic has also seemingly impacted Americans’ trip length preference, with many favoring longer getaways over quick jaunts. The travel insurance and assistance company found almost two-thirds (59%) of travelers are taking seven-night journeys and one in four (37%) are opting for six nights away, compared to 2019 when four-night getaways were the most popular choice (30%), giving rising to the ‘micro-cation’ trend.   Whether headed on an international beach getaway or visiting a smaller metropolitan city (Seattle, #4; Las Vegas, #6; Boston, #9; Miami #10), it’s important to understand and follow safe travel rules and regulations. Remember to take photos of vaccination cards and test results, save them on your phone and make physical copies. Keep copies in a few different places and laminate one; in the case of a vaccine card, don’t laminate the original, as you may need to document future booster shots on it.   “For those who are vaccinated, Summer 2021 will be a welcome return to travel after a very long lockdown. For those who won’t yet be vaccinated or who are traveling with unvaccinated children, it’s important to protect your trip with a travel insurance plan that includes coverage for COVID-related illnesses,” said Daniel Durazo, director of marketing and communications for Allianz Partners, USA. “Allianz has rolled out temporary accommodations and permanent enhancements to some of our products that cover travelers if they become ill with COVID either before or during their trip.  As we begin to turn the corner back to normalcy, some unexpected situations can still pop up and it’s important to have access to 24/7 travel assistance that can help consumers navigate travel disruptions and find local attractions and accommodations.”   Although Allianz travel insurance products generally do not cover known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, government prohibitions, warnings, or travel advisories, or fear of travel, Allianz Partners USA recently announced the rollout of its new Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, which adds enhancements for new purchasers of some of its travel insurance products that may provide coverage to customers who become ill with COVID-19 or a future epidemic, are individually ordered to quarantine,** or are denied boarding due to a suspected illness. This new coverage formalizes and adds to some of the temporary accommodations the company put into place in March 2020 to assist travelers who had been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.   Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies and directly to consumers.  

  Travel insurance and assistance company Allianz Partners is rolling out Covid-19 enhancements to its travel insurance products. The new inclusions formalize and add to some of the temporary accommodations the company put into place in March 2020 to assist travelers who had been impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. Specifically, the enhancements add epidemic-related illness as a covered reason to cancel or interrupt a trip, or seek reimbursement for emergency medical care, emergency medical transportation, change fees and loyalty points redeposit fees. The enhancements also allow insured customers to cancel or interrupt their trip if they or their traveling companion have been individually ordered to quarantine, regardless of whether they are ill or have tested positive for a disease. The trip interruption and travel delay benefits on certain plans will also provide coverage if a customer or their traveling companion is denied boarding by their travel carrier due to suspicion of illness. These epidemic enhancements are currently available on certain Allianz Global Assistance travel insurance products offered through retail partners and directly to consumers in most states "The Covid-19 crisis has created an unprecedented hardship on both travelers and the travel industry," said Richard Aquino, Vice President and Head of Sales at Allianz Partners USA. "We're pleased to announce that we've added epidemic enhancements to many of our products that provide the coverage and benefits that are so valuable to today's traveler." Meeting requirements at certain destinations that travelers have coverage for quarantine-related accommodations, Allianz provides trip interruption coverage if an insured customer or their traveling companion is individually-ordered to quarantine while on their trip.  Under these benefits, insured customers may be eligible for reimbursement of the cost of additional food, lodging and transportation while quarantined. Additionally, as a temporary accommodation, customers who become ill with Covid-19 while on their trip will not be subject to the trip interruption benefit's five-day maximum limit for additional accommodation and transportation expenses.  

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bmi british midland announced yesterday that it is to launch of a no-frills airline which will be based at East Midlands Airport. The name of the new airline will be unveiled next week. It will begin flying a week before the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend on March 23, initially with two dedicated Boeing 737-300 aircraft. It will serve a range of leisure destinations including Barcelona, Nice, Palma, Malaga, Faro and Alicante. Earlier this week bmi clashed with Go over the low cost carrier’s plans to operate to from East Midlands Airport to Prague, and announced that it has applied for a licence to fly on the route. Go announced last month that it is to make East Midlands its third UK base. bmi denied yesterday’s announcement was designed to stop Go in its tracks claiming that it was part of a “long-held ambition to launch a no-frills airline in the Midlands." Frequencies and further routes are still to be announced, together with full details of the new airline's internet prices, which will start at £25 each way. There will also be an introductory offer when flights open for sale later this month. Tickets can be booked on the website at a discount, or via reservations. Travel agents will also be able to make bookings through a dedicated internet facility. Tickets booked using a debit card will not incur additional charges, but credit card bookings will incur a surcharge. Nigel Turner, bmi's director responsible for the new airline, said: "bmi is launching this new airline in response to a clear market opportunity and consumer demand. We have been operating from East Midlands Airport for over 35 years and we are delighted to increase our commitment to the Airport and the region through the creation of this new no frills carrier.” He added: “With the launch of this new airline, bmi will have a strong presence in both the no frills and full service airline sectors." In November bmi chief executive Austin Reid said the airline "remains and will continue to remain a full service airline and we have no intention to become a budget carrier. " bmi points out tha its latest move is not the beginning of an overall transition to becoming a no-frills carrier, stating that Heathrow is “clearly not suited to a low cost business model” and adding that “bmi is committed to its development of business routes within Europe and the USA, as well as being wholly committed to its membership of Star Alliance.”  

test keyword Low cost airline easyJet is in discussion with Boeing and Airbus about the acquisition of 75 new aircraft. EasyJet is considering buying either the Boeing 737-700 or the Airbus A319 aircraft for delivery up to 2007. No European low-cost airline has previously opted for Airbus because the original capacity of the Airbus A319 was 145 seats compared to 149 seats on the Boeing aircraft. However easyJet said that because the Airbus A319 will be available with up to 150 seats it is a “viable competitive alternative.” Chief Executive Ray Webster said: "Given the current state of parts of the global aviation industry, this is potentially a very good time to be addressing our long-term aircraft needs. "We have already committed to grow aircraft capacity by approximately 25% per annum until 2004 and need to secure delivery positions beyond that date. The exact growth rates will be dependent on both the final aircraft delivery schedule and the retirement of a number of existing aircraft, which are still under discussion. "While commonality of fleet is an important component of the easyJet business model, we feel it is appropriate to consider all options and have, therefore, entered into negotiations with both Boeing and Airbus.” easyJet has a 27 strong fleet consisting of 18 Boeing 737-300 and 9 Boeing 737-700 aircraft. A further 23 Boeing 737-700 aircraft will be added to the fleet by May 2004.