Affinion Group Challenges Traditional Pay-Per-Trip Model of Travel Insurance Plans

NORWALK, Conn., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Affinion Group, a global leader in customer engagement solutions and one of the ten largest travel and leisure agencies in the US, today unveiled an alternative to the traditional model of pay-per-trip travel insurance. By launching an ongoing subscription-based model for the purchase of travel insurance plans, dubbed "Everyday Travel Insurance," Affinion has created a perpetual travel insurance plan that can automatically cover insureds and their families any time they travel more than 100 miles away from home.

This newly-offered insurance plan covers all forms of travel, whether by car, air, train or boat, and can be purchased for either individual or family coverage. According to the United States Travel Insurance Association's travel insurance market survey from 2006-2008, Americans spent more than $1.58 billion in 2008 on all types of travel insurance. Additionally, according to the US Travel Association, almost one third of adults have taken at least five weekend trips in the past year, generally without a travel insurance plan to with help reimbursement for a cancelled hotel reservation, stolen baggage, unexpected medical expenses/emergencies or 24 hour assistance services.

"Whether it's a weekend visit to the beach or an amusement park, driving the children to college, or visiting relatives over the holidays, we're aiming to provide a travel plan to individuals and families to cover all of their travel routines," said Tom Rusin, CEO of Affinion North America. "We're challenging the notion that travel insurance should only cover the stand-alone, more expensive trips, and providing an affordable option so that anyone who even occasionally travels more than 100 miles from home can have consistent coverage."

"Everyday Travel Insurance" can provide insureds with automatic travel coverage any time they are traveling more than 100 miles from home. The program, which is currently being tested with leading financial institutions, is offered with the following:

• $1,000 trip Cancellation coverage
• $1,000 trip Interruption coverage
• $500 - lost/stolen/damaged baggage and travel documents coverage
• $1,500 travel delay allowance (up to $150 per day)
• 24/7 Assistance Services
• Additional services for emergencies that can happen during a trip
  

"Everyday Travel Insurance" is reasonably priced for individuals and families, and is available in 48 states, excluding North Dakota and Vermont.*

For more information, please visit www.affinion.com.

About Affinion Group
Affinion Group is a global leader in providing comprehensive customer engagement and loyalty solutions that enhance or extend the relationship of millions of customers with many of the largest and most respected companies in the world. Affinion partners with these leading companies to develop and market programs that provide valuable services to their end-customers using 35 years of expertise in customer engagement, creative design and product development. These programs and services enable the company's marketing partners to strengthen their customer relationships, as well as generate significant incremental revenue, as well as strengthen their relationships with their end-customers, which can lead to increased acquisition of new customers, longer retention of existing customers, improved customer satisfaction rates and the increased use of other services provided by our marketing partners. Based in Norwalk, Conn., the company has approximately 3,500 employees throughout the United States and in 10 countries across Europe, and markets in 14 countries globally. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO 27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI compliant and Cybertrust certified. For more company and investor information visit www.affinion.com.

*This is only a brief description of the coverage(s) available. The Policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions. Insurance underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., a Pennsylvania insurance company, with its principal place of business at 175 Water Street, New York, NY 10038. Is currently authorized to transact business in all states and the District of Columbia. NAIC No. 19445. Coverage may not be available in all states. Travel assistance services provided by Travel Guard.