Help when travel doesn’t go to plan

International travel can be disrupted by circumstances that are completely outside a traveller’s control. A flight may be cancelled. An airport may close. A border may become restricted. Civil unrest may affect an area. Severe weather may prevent onward travel. Or a traveller may suddenly require medical treatment far from home.

In these situations, knowing who to contact can be just as important as knowing what to do. Global Traveller provides assistance based on the circumstances of each case, helping travellers assess their options and coordinate the practical support they need. Where specialist support is required, we coordinate with appropriate local providers and other parties involved in the response.

Medical assistance abroad

A medical problem can be particularly difficult to manage when you are away from home. Global Traveller assists with the practical coordination of medical support, from identifying appropriate care through to communicating with medical facilities and arranging transportation where necessary.

Our assistance can include:

• Locating suitable medical facilities

• Coordinating appointments and treatment

• Liaising with hospitals and medical providers

• Supporting communication where language presents a difficulty

• Coordinating medical transportation

• Assessing and coordinating evacuation requirements

• Keeping relevant parties informed during an ongoing case

For more complex situations, our medical travel assistance service provides dedicated support around the medical needs of a traveller.

Security assistance while travelling

Security conditions can change quickly. A traveller may find themselves affected by civil unrest, political instability, local violence, a security incident or another developing situation. Our team provides practical assistance based on the circumstances, helping travellers understand their options and coordinate appropriate support.

Where a situation requires a more specialist security response, Global Traveller coordinates the necessary assistance, including transportation and evacuation where appropriate. Travel security assistance is available as part of our wider international assistance capability.

When your travel plans are disrupted

Not every travel emergency is a medical or security emergency. Airspace restrictions, airport closures, strikes, severe weather, border restrictions and other disruptions can leave travellers stranded or unable to continue their journey as planned. Global Traveller can help travellers assess alternative options and coordinate practical assistance where available.

This can include support with:

• Alternative transportation

• Changes to travel arrangements

• Local transportation

• Accommodation coordination

• Route planning

• Airport and border disruption

• Other practical arrangements required to continue or complete a journey

One point of contact when you need help

When something happens abroad, travellers can quickly find themselves dealing with several different organisations at once — airlines, hospitals, insurers, local authorities, hotels and transportation providers. Global Traveller provides a single point of assistance to help coordinate the response. We work alongside the traveller and, where appropriate, their employer, insurer, travel manager, family or other designated contacts. This means the traveller does not necessarily have to manage every part of a difficult situation alone.

Assistance around the world

International travel can take you far beyond familiar systems and support networks. Our global assistance capability is designed for travellers who need support outside their home country, whether they are travelling for business, leisure, study, fieldwork or other purposes. The circumstances will always determine the appropriate response. Our role is to provide practical assistance, coordinate the right resources and help the traveller navigate the situation.

Why have international travel assistance?

Travel insurance can provide important financial protection, but financial protection and practical assistance are not the same thing. When something happens abroad, travellers may first need to know:

Who should I call?

Where should I go?

What are my options?

How do I arrange the next step?

International travel assistance provides a human point of contact for those situations. Global Traveller helps travellers deal with the practical realities of an unexpected event, from initial guidance through to the coordination of more complex assistance when required.

Built for real-world travel

International assistance is rarely about following a fixed process. Every situation is different. A medical issue in a remote location requires a different response from an airport closure affecting hundreds of travellers. A security incident may require immediate transportation, while a cancelled flight may simply require help identifying practical alternatives. Global Traveller takes a case-by-case approach, providing assistance according to the circumstances and coordinating the appropriate response.

International travel assistance, without the uncertainty

Being away from home can make an unexpected problem harder to solve. Global Traveller provides a human point of contact when you need practical assistance abroad, helping you understand your options, coordinate the appropriate support and move towards a solution.

Get travel assistance