To keep things simple, when we refer to flight insurance, we mean insurance that will protect your nonrefundable flight that was paid for in cash or with miles. There are a few ways to protect your flight:.
Comprehensive travel insurance. Premium travel credit cards. Airline trip insurance add-on. A comprehensive travel insurance policy will include the most benefits, including trip cancellation, trip delay, baggage loss , emergency medical , repatriation and more. Premium travel cards e. Terms apply. However, the limits are usually lower, medical costs may not be included and the entire trip must be charged on the same card to receive coverage.
Although these three types of policies are different, one common theme among them is that the protections are only valid if your trip is canceled or delayed for a covered reason such as a natural disaster, illness, death or other extraordinary event. A fear of flying due to coronavirus is not a covered reason. Check out our findings here: Best Travel Insurance of Trip cancellation insurance will reimburse you for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if your flight is canceled for a covered reason.
In the event of a trip cancellation booked with points or miles covered by your premium credit card, American Express and Chase will reimburse you in cash for the value of those points. Comprehensive policies and airline add-ons normally will reimburse you for the full cost of your flight, up to the policy maximums.
Each policy details the reimbursement amount that is allowed along with how long the delay must be in order for the trip to qualify. An approaching snowstorm in the connecting city delays your flight, and after hours of waiting in the airport, you find out your upcoming flight is delayed until the next morning. Now you need a hotel room, toiletries, dinner and breakfast the next morning. Airline travel insurance can be bought directly from the airline you're flying when you book your trip.
You will receive information on coverage terms and policy limits, and you'll have to pay for the insurance when you pay for your ticket. Some airlines might allow you to add coverage after you book, but it will be more expensive at a later date. Your airline might let you to use frequent flyer miles or award points to pay for the insurance plan. Purchasing a plan directly from the airline is convenient, but you may find more affordable plans on your own.
Companies such as Travel Insured and Travel Guard offer you insurance plans with various coverage levels. Get a quote from these companies before you book with your airline, and then you can compare the rates and what kind of insurance you are getting in exchange for your premium.
The airline ticket insurance company will provide you with customer service information, including instructions on who to call for help while you are traveling. The claims procedure will depend on your plan, but you can expect that you'll need to provide a detailed explanation of what happened and an estimate for the costs you need to be reimbursed. Please try again later. Recommended Reading.
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