When you’re planning on going on a vacation or looking forward to going somewhere, the last thing that you would want to hear is that your flight is delayed. When mishaps happen, the question that crosses your mind is, does travel insurance cover delayed flights? Even though there’s no direct answer to that question, it depends on whether you have a comprehensive travel insurance or not, and who played a part in your missed departure.
Insurance Coverage and Delayed Flights
If the reason you missed your flight is due to the insurer’s reason, you’ll surely be covered. But, if your flight is delayed as a result of travel delays by the airlines, the airline will get you on the next flight and the insurer will not be part of it.
If your journey to the intended place will take one carrier, there’s nothing much to worry about. When you miss your connection, the airline will get you on another flight and in case of long delays, it will provide you with food and accommodation and you will not pay a dime. However, if your journey requires more than one airline and you miss your connecting flights, there could be a problem. Unlike the first airline, the second airline cannot put you on another flight as a result delay experienced on the first carrier. This means that you will not be covered because travel insurance doesn’t cover for missed connections as a result of airlines, and you’ll have to buy another ticket.
When Travel Insurance Covers for Missed Flights
- If you get into an accident and miss your connecting flight
- Missing a flight as a result of natural disasters such as riots or hijacking
- If you’re unfit to travel. In this case, a medical expert must notify the insurer in writing why you cannot travel
When Not Covered
- Mechanical issues, overbooking, or delays
- Time mismanagement — for instance if you miss your flight as a result of traffic jam on your way to the airport
- If you refuse alternative flights or compensation by your airline
- If you miss your flight as a result of severe weather, such as your winter vacation, but you upgrade your ticket, the insurer only covers for the initial ticket price
It is evident that not every flight delay is covered. However, if you’re covered, this is what you need to claim for missed flights
- A proof from the airline confirming that indeed, you experienced delayed flights or flight cancellation
- In case you miss your flight as a result of a road accident, gather evidence from the responsible transport authority
- If you feel that you cannot travel comfortably due to health issues, get a written proof from your doctor stating your health condition
Bottom Line
Traveling is fun, but your world could come crashing down if your flight is cancelled or delayed. So, does travel insurance cover delayed flights? Since we’ll never know what can happen in the future, it’s best to ensure that you get a timely flight by traveling to the airport on time, book all flights to your intended destination with the same airline, and notify your airline in case you encounter any problem on your way to the airport. Most importantly, it’s worth noting that travel insurance covers only the unavoidable and unforeseen circumstances — so be prepared and pack accordingly, to do all you can to avoid delayed flights.