Travelling is undoubtedly an exciting experience, but it can also be stressful and unpredictable. For example, one of the most frustrating situations you might face is a delayed or cancelled flight. A disrupted flight may ruin your plans and cause financial losses. In this case, travel insurance can at least help to get your money back.
Nevertheless, those who have travel insurance still have dozens of questions regarding their disrupted flight. These usually are:
- Can you get travel insurance flight delay compensation?
- What are the travel insurance policy’s benefits that can be provided in case of a flight delay or cancellation?
- Are missed transit flights covered by travel insurance?
- Can you extend your travel insurance?
And many more.
In this article, we will answer all of these questions and consider various scenarios where travel insurance may help. But first, let us define what travel insurance is and what it generally covers.
What is travel insurance?
Travel insurance is a type of insurance coverage that provides financial protection against losses that happened while travelling. It can cover a variety of expenses, including medical care, lost luggage, trip cancellation, flight or baggage delays as well as emergency evacuation.
Can travel insurance help if a flight is cancelled?
Depending on the type of insurance you have purchased, you may be able to get a refund or reimbursement for non-refundable tickets, as well as any additional costs.
Travel insurance may reimburse expenses that occurred while you were waiting for the next departure, such as temporary accommodation, transportation, and meals.
However, in order to get flight delay compensation, there should be specific reasons listed in your travel insurance policy that led to a disrupted flight. Therefore, it is crucial to read your policy thoroughly to ensure that these costs will be covered.
Are transit flights covered by travel insurance?
Missed connecting flights are typically covered by travel insurance if your trip is delayed because of a reason indicated in your policy. Usually, these reasons include aeroplane manufacturing flaws, equipment failure, or severe weather conditions.
You can claim for additional expenses needed to proceed with your trip.
What happens if you miss your connecting flight?
If you miss your flight, the airline may be able to rebook you on a later flight depending on availability. If not, you may need to purchase a new ticket for a different flight. Depending on the airline’s policy, you may also be eligible for a refund or travel voucher if your flight is cancelled or delayed.
If you missed your transit flight for a reason listed in your travel insurance, you are entitled to get flight delay compensation. Your insurance might also include coverage specifically for missed connecting flights. This kind of coverage allows you to reimburse the money spent on changes in your trip plans after missing a transit flight due to an unpredictable reason. Missed connection coverage is rarely listed in basic travel policies. Therefore, you might need to upgrade your travel insurance plan.
Is it possible to extend travel insurance?
If you had to face a cancelled, delayed or overbooked flight, you may need more time to get back to your home country. Luckily, most insurance companies offer the option to extend travel insurance plans for extended trips or to cover any additional days that may be needed.
It is important to contact your insurance company to find out what their specific policies are regarding extensions and additional coverages and how much they will cost.
Final thoughts
Travel insurance is a reliable way to protect yourself and your belongings while travelling. With compensation for a delayed flight, you can get back some of the money lost due to delays or cancellations. It is essential to devote some time to shopping around and comparing different travel insurance policies to find the coverage that best meets your needs.
Make sure you are aware of the different policies available and that you understand that coverage is key to getting the most out of your travel insurance. Remember to read all terms and conditions carefully before signing up for any policy so that you know exactly what is covered and what is not.
