Traveling can be stressful. No matter how much you plan, something always seems to go awry. Missed connections, illness, and accidents are hard enough to deal with when you’re at home. In an unfamiliar place, these problems can turn a relaxed trip into a frantic experience. That’s why it’s important to keep your cool and use a common sense approach to deal with these types of situations. Here are five solutions for common travel emergencies by your favorite rental car agency in Los Angeles.
Missed Flight
Whether you’re held up by TSA or miss an early alarm, a missed flight can put a damper on your travel plans. This is especially true if you’re in a foreign country. In any case, the first thing you should do is contact the airline you’re flying with. An customer support person may be able to rebook you on a later flight. There’s a change you’ll get charged a fee, but that depends on the airline’s policy. Some airlines may put you on a standby list if you rebook. That means you can only fly if a seat becomes available. If you’re already at the airport, a gate agent will be able to help you rebook in person.
Rental Car Accident
Car accidents happen all the time. Rental cars are no different. If you’re ever traveling and you get in a car accident, remember to remain calm. After you make sure your passengers and the other driver are okay. If someone needs medical attention, figure out where you are and call 911. After, call your rental car agency for instructions. This is why rental car insurance is important. If you don’t have full coverage, you can still be liable for damages to the vehicle.
Getting Sick
Getting sick while traveling is always scary. If you’re traveling to a foreign country, purchase bottled water and practice good personal hygiene to avoid common illnesses. If you get sick in the United States, your course of action depends on the severity of the illness. Mild illnesses can be treated at most walk-in clinics. They accept most forms of insurance including Medicare. Save emergency room visits for the most serious issues. If you’re staying at a hotel in a foreign country and need help, call the front desk and have them send up a doctor. They can also call and communicate with emergency services if there is a language barrier.
Lost Phone
If you believe your phone is stolen, contact local law enforcement to file a report. Otherwise a lost phone becomes much more of an inconvenience than anything else. Most phones come with an app that allows you to locate your phone using GPS data. You can connect to these apps from a different device if you have your sim card and phone number information. This only works if the phone is turned on. If your phone is destroyed or lost for good, the first course of action is to purchase another phone. However, you’re better off bringing an additional phone, and buying a sim card with prepaid service in an emergency.
Debit Card Stops Working
Modern banks have automated fraud detection on all debit and credit card transactions. While this system has gotten better over the years, it’s not uncommon for travelers to have their funds frozen after a transaction is made far away from their home zip code. Credit card purchases from a different country are especially suspicious. You can avoid this by calling your bank and informing them of any travel plans before you leave. You’ll probably get a call from your bank after they freeze the card, but that isn’t guaranteed. The first thing you should do is contact your bank. They can unfreeze your account after confirming the last few transactions.
Looking For A Rental Car Agency in Los Angeles?
At Value Rental Car, we want to help you get to your destination quickly and safely. We offer clean and affordable rental cars for local driving in LA and Pasadena, with complimentary pickup and drop off service within seven miles of our two locations. If you’re a college student, we want to help you get on the road. Our rental car agency will rent to drivers under the age of 21, and we offer cash and debit card car rentals. Check out some of our other articles to learn more about how car rental works!