InsureMyTrip Blog

Image credit: Wikimedia user Piotrus, licensed under Creative Commons attribution

There’s a lot going on in the world of travel this week — so much, in fact, that it’s almost difficult to decide what to talk about.  Should we discuss the ongoing snowstorms and raging floods happening in various parts of the country, which are having the usual deleterious effects on travel?  What about the sequester-related furloughs that are crippling airports and creating a demand for exemption to the tarmac delay rule?  Or how about some discussion on the subject of the sudden and shocking change fee hikes announced by major airlines?

The truth is, there is almost no event in the travel world that doesn’t tie back to insurance somehow.  Whenever things go wrong and travelers are stressed or inconvenienced, there’s the possibility that some type of travel insurance coverage, somewhere, in some policy offered by some provider, could be of help.  There are no guarantees, and as always, coverage for events like the ones unfolding so rapidly in recent days is entirely dependent upon the individual traveler’s situation and insurance policy.  However, it’s worth running through some of the highlights in case you find that your circumstances resemble any of the following:

1. FAA Dismay.  If you’re waiting at the airport…and waiting…and waiting…to get on a flight that has been delayed by the ongoing FAA furlough drama, check the terms of your insurance policy.  Most of them stipulate that after 5 or more hours of travel delay, you can at least seek reimbursement for incidental expenses related to your comfort and well-being, such as food or lodgings near the airport (in cases of extreme delay).  Make sure that if you’re planning to file a claim for these items, you keep all your receipts to help make your claims process go more smoothly.  Travel insurance coverage may also, in some cases, allow you to cancel your trip altogether after a significant delay (usually 24 hours or more, or a certain percentage of your scheduled trip length), and receive reimbursement of your pre-paid, non-refundable expenses.
   It’s also worth keeping in mind that beyond financial reimbursements, travel insurance providers are able to provide you with tangible assistance to navigate the frustration of a hitch in your plans.  A phone call to your provider’s assistance hotline could get you help in rebooking flights or finding hotel accommodations as needed.
2. Speaking of rebooking… Rebooking your flight could, of course, come with one of those monstrous change fees that’s just been announced by some of the major carriers.  The good news is that since travel insurance tends to operate on a “make-whole” philosophy, chances are good that you’d be able to file a claim that includes your rebooking fee.  The intention of a sound travel insurance policy would be to ensure that you are able to change plans due to unforeseen circumstances without having to absorb significant additional costs.  Your travel insurance company will, of course, only consider reimbursement of expenses that aren’t already refunded to you by the airline, so you’ll need to make sure that you understand and account for any adjustments made to your account by your carrier before you file your claim.  Also, while it’s not a given on all policies, your particular insurance company might have a maximum amount that can be reimbursed for change fees, so make sure you know what the terms of your plan are.
3. Tarmac Torture.  Time for some brutal honesty: There isn’t much that your travel insurance can really do for you if you’re subjected to an unbearably long tarmac delay, beyond the benefits for travel delay that we’ve already discussed.  Complicating matters further, once you’re on that airplane and the push-back is stopped, your options for changing plans are obviously quite limited, since you’re not going to be allowed to leave the aircraft.  However, if you do get to deplane after some length of time, it’s better to be one of the lucky travelers who has an insurance company to assist with rebooking hassles and reimbursements than to be without.

This is, without a doubt, an interesting time to be traveling.  With greater potential for inconveniences than we can recall in recent memory, something as relatively simple as boarding an airplane is suddenly an action that’s not for the faint of heart.  If you’re traveling in the near future and would like to discuss the terms of your travel insurance policy with an expert prior to your departure, so that you can be fully prepared for any eventuality, please feel free to call our licensed Customer Care representatives at 800-590-2650.

Image Credit: FEMA (public domain)

Travelers have no doubt heard about the possible effects the forthcoming sequester, set to take effect in just four days, may have on their plans.  News outlets across the country have been covering Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s statements that the sequester’s budget-cutting measures will eat into the funds used to keep the FAA and TSA functioning at an optimal level.  LaHood noted that  the requirement to place nearly 50,000 travel-related government employees on furloughs would cause a ripple effect, leading to potential delays of up to 90 minutes at peak air travel times, and leaving many travelers stressed or stranded.

With such a dire impact on travel looming, we can only cross our fingers and hope that LaHood’s predictions don’t come true.  However, if they do, it’s worth reminding everyone of the benefits travel insurance can provide in situations of travel delay.

Reimbursement for expenses.  Travel delay coverage on most package policies allows you to file a claim to be reimbursed for necessary expenses, such as food and lodgings, that may result from a prolonged delay.  Note the word “prolonged,” however; while terms will vary by policy and provider, in general, your flight would have to be delayed for 5 hours or more before you’d be eligible for the benefit.  Secretary LaHood estimates delays of 90 minutes, which likely wouldn’t fall under the coverage on many policies, but then again, what begins as a delay of 90 minutes in one airport can end up as a much longer delay somewhere else down the line.

Baggage Loss and Delay coverage. Given the picture of understaffed, overworked, harried airport employees that follows on any talk of furloughs and budget cuts, it’s always possible that there may be a slight uptick in the number of bags that don’t quite end up where they should, when they should.  Likely, no; but possible, yes.  Just in case, it may be wise to review your travel insurance policy’s conditions surrounding baggage loss and delay.  In most cases, your bag will need to be missing for 24 hours or more before coverage kicks in; but once it does, you could potentially get reimbursed for incidental necessities and, in the worst-case scenario, for the replacement of the items lost with your luggage.

While it’s unlikely that the type of delays and inconveniences Secretary LaHood has forecast will cause most travelers to have to reach for their insurance policies, it’s never a bad idea to be prepared.  Situations like this one can, at the very least, remind us to educate ourselves on the benefits of having  travel insurance for unexpected events.  So while we all wait to see if the sequester becomes a reality, take a few moments to review your policy, make note of any benefits it could provide to help you in the case of a lengthy delay, and if you have any questions, feel free to give us a call.

If, like many other travelers at this time of year, you’re thinking about booking a cruise vacation, then it’s also a good time for you to review travel insurance and the benefits it can offer to you during your trip.  Cruising comes with a unique set of challenges that could potentially interfere with your carefully laid plans; fortunately, the right travel insurance policy will offer specific coverages that can help you get things back on track, financially and otherwise.

Unless you’re one of those lucky travelers who lives quite close to a port of call where you can just hop on your ship and start relaxing immediately, cruising is unique because it generally requires a fair bit of traveling before you really get to start your trip.  Whether by plane or some other mode of transportation, anyone taking a cruise will need to get to the ship on time, or else risk being left behind — and missing out totally on what was supposed to be a wonderful experience. Beyond taking basic precautions, such as making sure to arrive in your cruise’s departure city no later than the day before you’re scheduled to board the ship, what can you do to avoid (literally) missing the boat?  Travel insurance can’t stop your flights from being delayed or cancelled, and it can’t guarantee that you’ll be there to embark on time.  What it can do is help you recover quickly from the disappointment and stress of a missed cruise departure, so you can move forward with your plans as much as possible.

The benefits of travel insurance in the case of a missed cruise connection actually start to become evident before you even reach the dock and realize that your ship is gone.  If you’re delayed because of a late or cancelled flight, for example, most comprehensive travel insurance policies would offer you an array of benefits to help you with the associated costs — and headaches.  While specific benefits and terms vary by policy, in most cases, a flight delay of more than 5 or 6 hours would entitle you to seek reimbursement for any food, lodgings, or reasonable incidental expenses you may have incurred while waiting for the plane to take off.  Also, your travel insurance provider likely has a 24-7 assistance hotline, which you could call at any point in time to ask for assistance in getting seats on a different flight, researching other transportation options, or even finding lodgings for an overnight stay near the airport  if necessary.

If your transportation doesn’t get you to the cruise as scheduled, and the ship sails without you, your travel insurance provider may then be able to assist you in making the arrangements necessary to pick up the cruise at the next feasible port of call, so you don’t have to miss out on the entire experience.  You might also be able to file a claim for any additional expenses incurred as a result of making last-minute arrangements to meet the ship at another port.  Also, if you had pre-paid for any particular experience as part of your vacation — for example, a snorkeling adventure with a local guide at one of the ports of call — and had to miss it due to the unexpected change in your itinerary, you may be able to recoup those expenses, depending on the terms of your individual policy.

Coverage for a missed connection resulting from travel delay is just one of the many travel insurance benefits that are worth exploring if you’re booking a cruise vacation.  If you’d like more information about purchasing insurance for an upcoming cruise, or any other travel experience, make sure to speak with one of our licensed Customer Care experts at 800-487-4722.