Ticket Protector

ANCHOR LEAD
NOWADAYS WITH FUEL COSTS AS HIGH AS THEY ARE THE PRICE OF AIRLINE TICKETS IS SOARING...
THE BEST PRICES YOU CAN GET ARE FOR NON-REFUNDABLE TICKETS. SO YOU PLONK DOWN THE CASH, AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU HAVE TO CANCEL?
NOW...THERE'S A NEW TYPE OF INSURANCE THAT COULD PROTECT YOU. HERE'S_________WITH A HEADS UP!

NAT SOT Length: 01
Nats of plane taking off

TRACK ONE Length: 07
AAAH....VACATION TIME.
SOMETHING WE SPEND MONTHS PLANNING FOR.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMETHING ELSE SUDDENLY COMES UP?

SOT
NO KEY
"We've had to cancel flights before."

TRACK TWO Length: 06
KRIS ALLARD NEVER BUYS TRIP INSURANCE WHEN SHE TRAVELS WITH HER FAMILY....AND SHE'S BEEN STUCK WITH NON-REFUNDABLE TICKETS.

SOT
KEY @: 16 ( QUICK) Kris Allard, Air Traveler
"We could just get a credit to our account with the airline."

TRACK THREE Length: 06
BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE...AND EVEN WHEN IT IS, THERE ARE HEFTY TICKET- CHANGE FEES WHEN YOU GO TO RE-BOOK.

NAT SOT Length: 01
Nats of airport

TRACK FOUR Length: 14
NOW A GROWING NUMBER OF AIRLINES ARE OFFERING "TICKET PROTECTOR"-
IT'S SIMILAR TO CONVENTIONAL TRAVEL INSURANCE, BUT THERE'S AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE. IT DOESN'T COVER HOTELS, RENTAL CARS OR MOST ANYTHING ELSE. AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, IT COVERS THE PRICE OF THE TICKET.

SOT
NO KEY
"I call it travel insurance light...because the coverage is fairly minimal."

TRACK FIVE Length: 12
MINIMAL... MEANING...
IF YOU GET SICK OR HAVE AN ACCIDENT...YOU'RE COVERED.
DITTO FOR SOME ACTS OF GOD...
OR IF YOU'RE CALLED TO JURY DUTY.
BUT DON'T EXPECT TO BE COVERED IF YOUR BOSS NEEDS YOU...OR IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND.

SOT
KEY @: 56 Ed Perkins, Airline industry expert
"It's only the so-called covered reasons that count."

TRACK SIX Length: 05
ED PERKINS IS AN AIRLINE INDUSTRY EXPERT. HE SAYS THERE'S A PLACE FOR THIS KIND OF INSURANCE.

SOT
KEY @: 1:06 Ed Perkins, Airline industry expert
"If you don't fly much or if you buy a ticket that is truly 100% non refundable, then I think it's a very good idea."

TRACK SEVEN Length: 05
CLIENT NOTE: please see source information
SO WHAT WILL TICKET PROTECTOR COST YOU?
...AN EXTRA FOUR TO FIVE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT.

NAT SOT Length: 01
Nats of Kris and her kids looking through vacation photos

TRACK EIGHT Length: 07
FOR KRIS...SHE MAY NOT BE BUYING INSURANCE FOR HER TRIPS CLOSE TO HOME...
BUT SHE MAY WHEN HER DESTINATION IS MORE EXOTIC.

SOT
NO KEY
"If we were planning a once in a lifetime trip to Europe...or some far away place that we had never been before."

ANCHOR TAG
YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING ABOUT TERRORISM AND IF YOU'RE COVERED.
TICKET INSURANCE DOES COVER YOU IF THE COUNTRY YOU'RE GOING TO GETS HIT BY A TERRORIST ATTACK WITHIN 30 DAYS BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
COUNTIRES THAT HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE PREVIOUS SIX MONTHS ARE EXCLUDED.
ONE OTHER NOTE....
TICKET INSURANCE TYPICALLY DOES NOT COVER PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
YOU CAN BUY IT FROM THE AIRLINES OR FROM PRIVATE COMPANIES.

SOURCES

Ed Perkins
941 Pinecrest Terrace
Ashland, OR 97520
541-488-8849

Ed Perkins is an airline industry expert. He is a Nationally Syndicated Travel Writer and former Consumer Advocate for the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA)

Source information for Track Seven:
As of July 18, 2005 Continental and America West offer ticket protector policies for an additional 4%.
Northwest offers its international travelers a similar policy for an additional 5.5%.