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Flight insurance should be a part of any frequent flyer’s travel arsenal. The coverage can help protect you from the financial toll of unexpected flight delays or cancellations and protect your miles/points/cash if you need to change or cancel a flight.
Flight insurance can be a great way to get your money or miles back if a trip is cancelled or delayed. But how do you know which type of policy will be most helpful for you? We looked at all the different types of coverage, and here’s what we found out.
Flight insurance is a type of travel insurance that can be purchased to protect you in the event of an incident before or while you are on the flight. If you are planning to travel by air, purchasing flight insurance can give you some peace of mind. It can assure you that everything will be taken care of if something unfortunate does occur, such as the following:
You might be wondering why purchasing flight insurance might be necessary if you already have health care coverage. The answer is simple: most health care plans do not cover air travel unless you are explicitly flying to another location for treatment when that treatment is unavailable locally.
In most cases, you should get a good idea of what your travel insurance will cover just by reading the policy’s fine print. But in case it still leaves you with questions, we’ve rounded up some of the most important things that travel insurance policies typically cover:
Travel insurance is one of those things that is highly recommended for travellers but rarely purchased. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you have to file a claim, travel insurance benefits can be invaluable. Many companies will not cover you under their standard policies if you haven’t purchased travel insurance.
Most travel insurance policies will not cover pre-existing conditions or injuries that directly result from your own negligence. For example, suppose you decide to participate in illegal activity (like driving without a permit), and you get hurt. In this case, your claim would probably be denied. Covered activities may differ between policies, so it’s essential to read the fine print before deciding which approach is right for you.
Because travel insurance requires such detailed coverage of an insured person’s activities and movements, there are certain instances, such as the above, where claims are turned down because they don’t want to take the risk of covering you.
Airlines are well-known for being unreliable and inefficient, but what happens when these issues affect you? It can be incredibly stressful when you’re stranded without a flight, or your luggage is lost. The last thing you want to deal with in this situation is the airline’s customer service; furthermore, it can be difficult to get compensated for all of the fees and expenses that come along with these situations.
A flight insurance policy takes out the guesswork in the event of travel delays and cancellations. It also provides comprehensive coverage for medical expenses, emergency cash, baggage theft, and more—whether your trip is business-related or purely for pleasure.
This thorough protection gives you peace of mind that you’ll have backup to get home safely in an emergency. With a wide range of extras available, including 24×7 access to a personal assistant who will help you find accommodations during times of delay or cancellations, there’s no reason not to add this coverage to your itinerary.
When planning a big trip, the last thing you want to think about is whether or not something will go wrong. But as much as you’d like to pretend it’s a Disney movie, this is the real world where things can and do go wrong. If your flight is cancelled due to weather or mechanical issues, or if you lose your luggage and have to buy new clothes for your trip, what then?
Flight insurance costs between 5–6% of your trip cost on average, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis of travel insurance rates. For example, the average price of travel insurance is $228 for a $5,000 trip (which includes both the cost of airfare and hotel).
However, that doesn’t mean all travel insurance policies are equally affordable. The range in prices goes from $154 for a basic policy up to $437 for a policy with generous coverage. Knowing what kind of coverage you need will help you decide how much you’re willing to pay for it.
Flight insurance is a vital consideration for the modern traveller. With airlines constantly raising fees and reducing services, there’s more reason to be concerned about how your trip will be affected if anything goes wrong.
The options for insuring your flight are vast and include comprehensive travel insurance, premium travel credit cards, airline-specific policies, CFAR coverage, and cancellation insurance.
Comprehensive travel insurance is the most common form of flight insurance, offering a wide variety of trip protection features and various levels of coverage based on your needs. And for a smooth, seamless flight booking experience, why not check out Cleartrip?
Flight insurance is a vital consideration for the modern traveller. With airlines constantly raising fees and reducing services, there’s more reason to be concerned about how your trip will be affected if anything goes wrong.
If you want to cover every aspect of your trip but just want to ensure the cost of the non-refundable ticket, a comprehensive travel insurance plan can cover both your flight and non-flight-related expenses up to a certain amount.
In the event of trip cancellation, you’re looking to get your money back—and possibly some extra compensation for your troubles.
Flight insurance providers may reimburse you for all or part of the airfare, depending on the policy you have, and could also provide extra compensation for any non-refundable expenses related to the trip, such as hotel stays and tours.
Flight delay insurance is less concerned with finding a way to refund your money than it is with helping you make up for a missed connection. If a delay keeps you from reaching your destination on time, flight delay insurance can help pay for alternate transportation arrangements or reimburse you for meals/lodging while you’re there.
Travel insurance can reimburse you for any non-refundable costs incurred due to a cancellation or delay, including:
1. The cost of your ticket
2. Your non-refundable hotel and other travel reservations
3. Your pre-paid meals and other expenses
4. Transportation home from your trip
5. Activities you plan on doing while on your trip that are now no longer possible because of the delay or cancellation
In some cases, flight insurance also covers cancellation due to medical reasons, death of a close family member, or even political unrest. A good flight insurance policy will have at least some of these benefits.
