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05 Sets of Features That Can Help Travel App Users in Crises

Dante Bui

November 13, 2025

When travel companies talk about helping you explore the world, it’s often about dreamy destinations, exquisite food, glamorous experiences. Good companies also lay out how they are ready to support users during mishaps such as losing luggages, amending itinerary, or emergency hotel rebook. Great travel apps become both a lifestyle and a lifeline to their users by offering help in moments they need it the most: crises such as natural disasters or social unrest.

1. Real-Time Alerts and Localized Warnings

The first and most immediate need during a crisis is awareness. Many travelers only realize the severity of a situation when it’s too late to act. This is where smart travel apps can intervene.

Push notifications and in-app alerts based on geolocation can warn users of natural disasters, transportation shutdowns, or civil unrest in real time.
Integrated data sources from local authorities, embassies, and meteorological services allow apps to deliver verified updates, reducing misinformation during chaos.
Some advanced travel platforms even use AI-powered risk maps to forecast potential disruptions before they occur, allowing travelers to adjust plans proactively.

2. Instant Communication and Emergency Support

In a crisis, communication often breaks down — phone lines are jammed, and travelers don’t know whom to call. Travel apps can close this gap through:

Emergency chatbots or live support features connecting users to 24/7 assistance teams or embassy hotlines.
Offline emergency information (e.g., local hospitals, evacuation centers, emergency numbers) stored in the app even without network access.
Traveler check-ins, where users can mark themselves safe or share live location updates with family or travel companions.

These tools not only save time — they save lives.

3. Dynamic Itinerary Management

When disaster forces cancellations or reroutes, travelers often scramble to rebook flights or find safe accommodation. Apps that connect directly with airlines, hotels, and local transport providers can automate this process:

Automatic rebooking suggestions based on real-time availability.
Smart refunds and insurance claim integration, so travelers can focus on safety instead of paperwork.
Flexible itinerary rebuilding — powered by AI — that adjusts plans and suggests safe alternatives instantly.

4. Community and Peer Support

During uncertainty, fellow travelers can become an invaluable source of help. Travel platforms can harness this collective knowledge by:

Enabling crowdsourced safety updates from users on the ground.
Creating community-driven “safe zone” maps, where travelers can see nearby shelters, embassies, or verified safe hotels.
Offering localized social features where travelers can communicate with others nearby for mutual assistance.

5. Emotional Safety Matters Too

Beyond physical security, being caught in a crisis abroad is deeply stressful. AI-enabled wellness chatbots, access to mental health support hotlines, or even simple check-in reminders can make travelers feel less alone.

A traveler in distress isn’t just seeking information — they’re seeking reassurance. The best travel technologies blend both.

As the world faces increasing environmental volatility and geopolitical tension, crisis response should become a core design principle for travel tech — not an afterthought.

Imagine a travel app that not only helps you plan your trip but also protects you when plans go wrong:

It knows when you’re near a flood zone.
It suggests the nearest embassy before you even ask.
It checks on you after a local emergency.

That’s not just travel convenience — that’s digital humanitarianism at scale.

In the age of climate shocks and political instability, helping a traveler in distress isn’t just good UX — it’s a moral and business imperative for every travel platform.

Having first hand experience both in how crisis responses work in South EastAsia, and in developing forward-thinking technology for travel companies, we have a lot to share about how technology can be a lifeline to travelers. Our wide spectrum of expertise also helped global partners scaling their technology and user base. We can support you too! Please don’t hesitate to contact our colleagues Tony Bui , Lars van den Bos , Annie Nguyen to get the discussions going.