Booking a flight can be the most expensive part of your travel budget, and encountering the risk of cancellations, last-minute changes, delays, missed connections, and lost luggage can have a great impact on your overall adventure. Such scenarios can lead to a heavy burden, considering you have already spent a lot on the ticket.
At that moment, flight insurance can shield your travel plans from unexpected scenarios. Whether your situation includes calling off a trip or lost baggage, this protection will reimburse you for nonrefundable flight costs if your trip plans are disrupted during the journey.
If you are wondering, “Is flight insurance worth it?” Know that it can keep your travel plans safe from high-stakes scenarios. Plus, you can purchase it at the time of flight booking with the airline or online on the booking site. You can select from a range of comprehensive trip insurance for flights. Keep on reading to know more!
What is Flight Insurance? Quick Discussion!
Flight insurance also referred to as flight protection and flight cancellation insurance, protects you financially if your flight plans are disrupted due to cancellations, delays, missed connections, diversions, or unexpected illness before your departure, allowing you to potentially recover the cost of your non-refundable flight ticket in such situations. More importantly, trip insurance for flights paves the way to safeguard yourself against unexpected travel disruptions that could lead to financial loss.
You can get it as a standalone policy, from an airline’s insurance provider or third-party flight booking sites, or get a comprehensive travel insurance plan directly from an air journey insurance company.
Perhaps you’re questioning, “Should I buy travel insurance through the airline or separate?” The answer depends on several factors, such as policy coverage, flexibility, trip details, credit card coverage, cancellation rules, etc. Make sure to use customer service before finalizing your decision.
Two Types of Flight Insurance
When you are deciding on purchasing trip insurance for flights, you can choose between two types: standalone flight insurance or comprehensive travel insurance.
- Standalone flight insurance only covers flight-related issues, such as cancellations and delays. It’s often offered as an add-on when booking a flight, either directly from the airline or through a third-party site.
- Comprehensive travel insurance is the highest level of travel insurance coverage. It typically includes protection for trip cancellation, interruption, delays, lost luggage, medical expenses, emergency evacuation, and sometimes even accidental death benefits. This usually covers a wide range of potential travel disruptions and emergencies in just one policy.
When Should You Consider Getting the Flight Insurance?
Generally, passengers can get flight insurance for their air journey until the day of departure. However, it is recommended to get it at your earliest convenience. Getting your travel plans covered ahead of time is better, as unforeseen circumstances can happen at any time. Therefore, it’s smarter to stay prepared and ready!
Cost of Flight Insurance
Travelers planning to get flight insurance must be ready to pay between 4% and 10% of their total trip cost. This means that if the cost of your trip is about $1,000, you will have to pay travel insurance of about $40 to $100. It will depend on the coverage level and provider.
Additionally, the price of flight insurance can change based on a variety of elements, such as your age, the price of your flight, the level of coverage you choose, the duration of your trip, which insurance company you select, and any extra features like the ability to cancel your trip for any reason.
Purchase Flight Insurance with Credit Cards
Protecting your flight against uncertainties can be free depending on which credit card you use for the insurance purchase. There are many credit card companies that provide trip protection as a perk for no extra charges. These benefits can help protect you in the event of unexpected travel disruptions.
Flight Insurance Coverage
No matter where you purchase flight insurance – through a comprehensive travel insurance plan, your premium credit card, or as an airline add-on – there will likely be some common types of coverage available. However, the specific coverage amounts and limits will differ depending on the policy or credit card you choose.
Here are some points that are usually covered in your travel insurance plan:
Accidents: If you purchase flight insurance and are involved in a plane crash that causes your death or severe injuries while on the flight, the insurance company will provide a financial payout to your designated beneficiaries as a benefit claim.
Baggage Delay or Loss: In case your luggage is lost, damaged, or delayed during a flight, you can potentially receive financial compensation for the related costs by having flight insurance, which covers such a situation.
Medical Coverage: When you get sick or injured while on a plane, flight insurance can help pay for necessary medical treatment on the flight. It can also arrange for emergency transportation to a hospital via an air ambulance to receive further medical care. All of this depends on the severity of your condition and the coverage details of your policy.
Missed Connection: For times when you miss a connecting flight because of a situation that is not your fault, the purchased flight insurance policy may cover the cost of booking a new flight to reach your final destination. Such situations include a severe weather delay or a mechanical issue with your first flight.
Flight Cancellation: If you want to cancel a non-refundable flight due to a covered reason like getting sick, getting injured, or experiencing a death in the family, the travel insurance may pay you back some or all of the cost of the flight that you can’t get refunded from the airline.
Delayed Flight: When your flight is significantly delayed or canceled, a travel insurance policy with “flight insurance” coverage can reimburse you for costs. This includes costs like getting to a hotel, staying in a hotel room, and buying meals while you wait for your next flight.
Interrupted Journey: If you have to suddenly return home from a trip earlier than planned due to an unexpected event, the flight insurance can help pay for the cost of a new flight back home. It may also reimburse you for the part of your original flight that you didn’t use, especially if that original flight was non-refundable.
Flight Insurance Plan of Top 4 Airlines
It is important to understand airline flight insurance because coverage varies by provider and policy. That’s why we have explained the travel protection plans of the top 4 US airlines, including two budget-friendly carriers.
Delta Travel Protection Plan
The travel protection plan of Delta Airlines provides coverage for a variety of incidents. Passengers can add this service at the time of flight booking or as an add-on to existing reservations. The Delta travel insurance covered reasons are as follows:
- Trip cancellation
- Medical emergencies
- Lost or delayed baggage
- Travel delays
- Hurricane policy
Is Delta trip insurance worth it?
Whether Delta Airlines’ travel protection plan is worth it or not depends on your travel needs and risk tolerance. However, many people do not consider it the best option as it might be too expensive compared to other travel insurance providers. Some of the reasons why Delta travel insurance might not be the best option are because:
- It offers limited coverage,
- Levies higher cost, and
- Offers lack of flexibility.
United Airlines Flight Insurance
Passengers flying on United Airlines get flight insurance through AIG Travel Guard. This provides a minimum coverage air ticket plan. If you get this, you can cover flight cancellation or interruption, missed connections, delayed trips, and some baggage issues. But the medical benefits are provided only up to $10,000 for expenses and $50,000 for evacuation.
Is the United insurance plan worth it?
Yes. The United trip insurance worth it miles membership holders, as it can help them get their miles back if the flight is canceled for a covered reason. In addition to this, you will also receive a reimbursement for taxes and deposit fees.
JetBlue Airlines Travel Insurance
JetBlue provides travel insurance through Allianz Travel Insurance. Passengers can add this during their flight booking. It can help protect passengers and their budgets from unexpected travel problems and emergencies. Benefits include:
- Trip cancellation
- Trip interruption
- Emergency medical and dental
- Emergency medical transportation
- Travel delay
- Baggage protection
- Baggage delay
- 24-hour assistance
Is JetBlue travel insurance worth it?
JetBlue flight travel insurance can be advantageous for many passengers. It can provide peace of mind in case of unexpected events, such as trip cancellation or interruption, lost or delayed baggage, and medical benefits. It will be around 11.5% of the trip cost. Many travelers are impressed with the ease of filing a claim and the outcome.
Southwest Travel Protection
Unfortunately, there is no trip insurance Southwest Airlines for regular flights. However, the airline does offer travel protection for Southwest Vacation. This will cover vacation deposits from booking to return home and is valid for destinations in the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Last but not least: Is travel protection worth it?
Is it worth it to get flight insurance for your air journey? Flight insurance can be worth it if you are dealing with a non-refundable flight, going on an international trip, or when your ticket does not offer flexibility.
There is no need to get flight insurance if you have purchased a ticket that comes with free changes and cancellations. Plus, you will not receive any such benefits with award flights, where you’ve used miles or points as currency. Also, make sure to check your credit card benefits. If it already includes travel protection perks, then you don’t have to purchase coverage separately!
Common Queries Related to Travel Insurance:
Yes. Travel protection is beneficial in scenarios where you have purchased a non-refundable ticket, an international flight, or an expensive fare.
Many travelers do not consider Delta trip insurance a good option, as it is expensive and offers limited coverage. There are multiple options available in the market at lower prices!
You can get travel insurance for your flight; it will protect you from financial losses and challenges that might happen during traveling.
It is generally wise to get travel insurance, as it provides you peace of mind by providing a shield of protection to your trip.
Flight insurance covers cancellations, delays, missed connections, baggage loss, medical emergencies, non-medical assistance, accidental deaths, emergency evacuation, etc.
Yes, travel insurance with cancellation coverage can provide a full refund for a canceled flight and accommodation. However, it can vary and may have some restrictions as well.
