Allianz and AIG Travel Guard are the two most-recognized US travel insurance brands. Allianz wins on plan-tier flexibility + brand-recognition; Travel Guard wins on global emergency-assistance network (200+ countries). For domestic + most international trips, Allianz is the benchmark; for higher-risk international travel where medical evacuation matters, Travel Guard's Deluxe tier is often the better fit.
Allianz Global Assistance
Industry-leading comprehensive coverage with strong claims-handling reputation.
Pros
AIG Travel Guard
Backed by AIG with strong global emergency assistance network.
Pros
Pick Allianz Travel Insurance if: Travelers who want broad coverage from an established global brand with strong claims track record.
Pick Travel Guard (AIG) if: International travelers who prioritize emergency medical + evacuation coverage.
Apply at Allianz Global Assistance →Apply at AIG Travel Guard →
Both offer emergency medical and evacuation coverage, but Travel Guard (AIG) is often chosen for higher medical-evacuation limits and a deep global assistance network — which matters most for international or remote-destination trips. Allianz offers solid medical coverage across its tiers too; the practical difference is usually the evacuation ceiling and assistance depth. For high-risk or far-flung travel, compare the medical-evacuation limit closely.
Allianz is known for a wide range of plan tiers — single-trip, annual/multi-trip, and add-ons like rental-car or adventure-sport coverage — making it easy to right-size a plan. Travel Guard also offers multiple tiers plus a la carte upgrades. If you travel several times a year, compare Allianz's annual multi-trip plan against buying separate single-trip Travel Guard policies.
Both offer CFAR as an optional upgrade on certain plans, not in the base policy — it typically reimburses 50–75% of nonrefundable trip costs if you cancel for a reason not otherwise covered. CFAR usually must be added within a set window (often 14–21 days) of your first trip payment and may require insuring the full trip cost. Confirm the exact percentage, eligibility window, and plan tier with the insurer before buying.
Both insurers offer a pre-existing condition waiver on eligible plans — but timing is critical. Generally the waiver must be purchased within 14–21 days of your initial trip deposit, you must be medically fit to travel at purchase time, and you must insure the full nonrefundable trip cost. If the waiver is not obtained within the window, conditions that generated a medical event in a look-back period (commonly 60–180 days, depending on the plan) are excluded. Travelers with chronic conditions should verify the exact look-back period and waiver eligibility before buying. Source: NAIC travel insurance buyer's guide at naic.org.
Trip cancellation covers prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs if you must cancel before departure for a covered reason (illness, death of a family member, jury duty, weather-related airline shutdown). Trip interruption covers additional costs to return home or continue your trip if you must cut it short after it has begun — including unused nonrefundable prepaid costs and the one-way ticket home. Both Allianz and Travel Guard include both coverages on most plans, but coverage limits differ by tier. Trip interruption limits are sometimes set at 150% of trip cost to account for last-minute airfare home. Source: NAIC travel insurance consumer guide.
Travel insurance adds the most value for nonrefundable international trips, cruises, or expensive tours where the financial loss from cancellation is significant and the destination carries medical-access or evacuation risk. It adds less value for: (1) fully refundable domestic travel where cancellation risk is low; (2) trips where a premium travel credit card (Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum) already provides trip cancellation, medical emergency, and baggage coverage — read your card's guide to benefits before buying a separate policy; (3) cheap domestic flights where the nonrefundable cost is below $200. Source: CFPB travel insurance guidance at consumerfinance.gov.
Both include baggage delay and baggage loss/damage coverage. Baggage delay reimburses essential purchases (clothing, toiletries) if your checked bags arrive more than a set number of hours late — commonly 6–12 hours depending on the plan. Baggage loss or damage reimburses the actual cash value of lost or damaged items subject to per-item and aggregate limits; valuables like electronics and jewelry often carry sub-limits. Your airline's liability under DOT regulations applies first (approximately $3,800 for domestic; higher for international under the Montreal Convention), and travel insurance layers on top. Keep baggage claim receipts and airline delay notifications to support any claim. Source: NAIC travel insurance guide at naic.org.
Standard base policies from both Allianz and Travel Guard typically exclude high-risk activities — skydiving, base jumping, mountaineering above certain altitudes, motorized racing, and some contact sports. Both offer optional riders or upgraded plan tiers that add adventure sports coverage for activities like skiing, scuba diving, zip-lining, or rock climbing. If your trip includes any activity beyond standard tourism, read the 'hazardous activities' exclusion list carefully before purchasing. The NAIC recommends reviewing exclusions before buying any travel policy. Source: NAIC consumer guide at naic.org.
Both insurers offer online claims portals and 24/7 assistance lines. For urgent situations (medical emergencies, evacuations), call the 24/7 assistance line immediately — the insurer coordinates transport and care in real time. For routine claims (trip cancellation, baggage delay), the fastest route is filing online through the insurer's portal — Allianz at allianztravelinsurance.com, Travel Guard at travelguard.com — where you upload receipts, airline statements, and physician notes directly. Claims typically process within 5–10 business days with complete documentation. Keep all receipts, airline delay confirmations, and police reports; missing documentation is the primary reason claims are delayed or denied. Source: NAIC travel insurance buyer checklist.
Both cover trip delays caused by weather — but only when the delay meets the policy's minimum threshold (commonly 6–12 hours depending on plan tier) and is caused by a covered reason. Covered weather events typically mean conditions severe enough to ground the airline, not just inconvenient forecasts. Pre-existing weather events that were publicly known before you purchased the policy are generally excluded — this is a primary reason to buy travel insurance soon after booking rather than close to departure. Neither insurer covers cancellation because you personally chose not to travel due to a weather forecast. Keep all airline delay notifications and expense receipts to support a trip delay claim. Source: CFPB travel insurance guidance at consumerfinance.gov.
Independent editorial comparison. ClearValue Lending is not the issuer of any product compared here; affiliate links may pay a referral commission at no cost to you — selection is independent of compensation.