January 28th Ice Storm Sends Travelers a 2007 Flashback Message: Add a Travel Insurance Plan to Cover Valentine's Weekend Getaways

East Hartford, CT (PRWEB) February 5, 2009 -- Travel Insured International (www.travelinsured.com), citing last week's snow-ice storm that spread major travel disruptions from Texas to Maine, saw a flashback to the infamous two-day ice storm of Valentine's Day 2007 that brought eastern U.S. air transportation to a virtual standstill. Delays last week included a 9-hour onboard delay in an aircraft stuck on an Ohio runway due to ice that prevented departure to Orlando. According to NBC television in Orlando, about two dozen flights were cancelled from scheduled arrivals from around the country into Orlando. Widespread three-hour flight delays were reported at airports throughout the Northeast.

The 2007 Valentine's storm disruptions began on Feb. 13, 2007 and extended through the following day. One popular domestic airline suffered system-wide flight delays, some involving passengers held many hours onboard without moving or deplaning before flights were cancelled. Immediate, widespread consumer complaints prompted a national movement for a passenger "bill of rights" regarding flight delays, but the bill did not pass Congress.

Among cancelled 2007 Valentine's Day travelers was a Connecticut high school swim team headed for a prepaid training vacation in Orlando. After waiting in a Newburgh, NY airport for two days, including an overnight, for flights to Florida that were ultimately cancelled, the team's trip was also cancelled. The team's coach told a Danbury, CT newspaper that, although airfares were refunded, his team lost "60% of trip costs" including prepaid hotels, pool time, ground transportation, theme park tickets, diving instruction and other expenses. All such losses of prepaid costs could have been reimbursed with a comprehensive travel insurance plan.

Travel Insured reminds travelers booking getaways this combined 2009 Valentine's Day (Sat. Feb. 14) and Presidents Day (Mon. Feb. 16) to remember the weather-related coverage included in every Worldwide Trip Protector comprehensive or Trip Protector Lite plan. Both plans include full trip cancellation protection of up to 100% of prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs when weather causes complete cessation of your airline or other common carrier's service for 24 consecutive hours.

Worldwide Trip Protector includes up to $750 in Trip Delay coverage for expenses incurred due to a weather-related delay of six (6) or more hours to or from the destination. It also includes up to $750 in Missed Connection, including Missed Port of Call, coverage if a weather-related or other common carrier delay of three (3) or more hours causes you to miss a cruise or tour departure. Trip Protector Lite, at a lower premium for budget-minded travelers, offers up to $500 in Trip Delay coverage and up to $300 in Missed Connection coverage for the same weather-related disruptions.

Missing part, or all, of your scheduled trip due to a weather disruption of your departure is cause for unhappiness. But losing prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs or unplanned expenses with your trip disruption is miserable. Make this year's Valentine's getaway a happy, romantic experience in any weather conditions.

About Travel Insured International

Travel Insured delivers comprehensive travel protection benefits ranging from trip cancellation and trip interruption to emergency assistance and Medevac insurance, travel accident and sickness medical expense, accidental death and dismemberment, missed connection and baggage delay or loss.

The company's travel insurance plans include its comprehensive Worldwide Trip Protector, the most popular travel protection plan (http://www.travelinsured.com/Travel-Insurance/TravelPlan.aspx?plan=333) and Worldwide Trip Protector Gold (http://www.travelinsured.com/Travel-Insurance/TravelPlan.aspx?plan=334), an enhanced travel insurance plan designed to protect luxury vacations and business trips. Travel Insured also offers two travel insurance plans designed to provide basic yet flexible protection for families and budget conscious travelers, its Worldwide Trip Protector Lite insurance plan and Worldwide Trip Protector Lite Expanded insurance plan. Finally they offer a Medical Protector insurance plan, an Airline Ticket Protector plan as well as a complete offering of Group Travel Insurance plans including Student Group insurance plans.

Visit Travel Insured's web site at www.travelinsured.com or speak to a friendly, knowledgeable Travel Insured customer care professional at 1-800-243-3174.

Travel Insured International, based in East Hartford, Connecticut, was founded in 1993 by the foresight of insurance industry executive Peter Gehris when he acquired the travel protection division of the Travelers Insurance Company. Coverage is underwritten by Arch Insurance Company (a Missouri corporation, NAIC #11150) with executive offices located in New York, NY. Not all insurance products or coverage is available in all jurisdictions. Coverage is subject to actual policy language.

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