Embassy of the United States Paris, France

The recent disruption to air travel caused by volcanic ash over Europe quickly created a web of problems for hundreds of thousands of travelers.  Unable to fly home as planned, many tourists and business travelers found themselves facing unexpected expenses as they waited for air travel to resume and space to accommodate them on a flight, or having to resort to creative new itineraries to find a way back home.  At times like this, Embassies often receive inquiries from travelers or their family members in the United States who are anxious to know what, if anything, we can do to assist them.

“Any American Embassy has a responsibility to assist Americans in distress, and that is a high priority for us,” said David Brizzee, the Chief of American Citizen Services at the U.S. Embassy in Paris.  “The first thing we recommend is that people start by checking our website for the latest information and tips for travelers.”

The Embassy’s website, and that of the Department of State, contain useful information for travelers and are updated quickly in the event of a disaster or other major disruption that could affect U.S. citizens abroad.  Visit france.usembassy.gov or travel.state.gov to get the latest information.

For life-threatening emergencies, the Embassy can and does provide assistance, and has a 24-hour switchboard and an officer on duty at all times.  But the U.S. government cannot move mountains or overcome force majeure events like natural disasters.  As Brizzee said, “Sometimes the expectations are not aligned with what is possible.  We make every effort to assist people in distress, but the Embassy has a limited staff and is not equipped to rebook tickets, get hotel rooms, or dispense cash to large numbers of American travelers.  The professionals of the travel and tourism industry in France reliably provide such services.  Once people understand that, they are usually satisfied, and we are able to focus on the emergency cases.”

“The best advice I can offer is to plan for contingencies to the extent possible,” commented Brizzee.  “Consider obtaining travel insurance.  Carry an electronic device like a cell phone or PDA that can receive updates from your airline. Before you leave home, call your credit card company to let them know you are traveling, make sure your limit is high enough to cover your expenses, pack copies of prescriptions and your passport, and always remember that travel can lead to unexpected adventures.”