With 15 years of immersion in the world of personal finance, Ashley Kilroy simplifies financial concepts for individuals striving toward financial security. Her expertise has been showcased in reputable publications including Rolling Stone, SmartAsse.
Ashley Kilroy Insurance WriterWith 15 years of immersion in the world of personal finance, Ashley Kilroy simplifies financial concepts for individuals striving toward financial security. Her expertise has been showcased in reputable publications including Rolling Stone, SmartAsse.
Written By Ashley Kilroy Insurance WriterWith 15 years of immersion in the world of personal finance, Ashley Kilroy simplifies financial concepts for individuals striving toward financial security. Her expertise has been showcased in reputable publications including Rolling Stone, SmartAsse.
Ashley Kilroy Insurance WriterWith 15 years of immersion in the world of personal finance, Ashley Kilroy simplifies financial concepts for individuals striving toward financial security. Her expertise has been showcased in reputable publications including Rolling Stone, SmartAsse.
Insurance Writer Les Masterson Deputy Editor, InsuranceLes Masterson is a deputy editor and insurance analyst at Forbes Advisor. He has been a journalist, reporter, editor and content creator for more than 25 years. He has covered insurance for a decade, including auto, home, life and health. Before cove.
Les Masterson Deputy Editor, InsuranceLes Masterson is a deputy editor and insurance analyst at Forbes Advisor. He has been a journalist, reporter, editor and content creator for more than 25 years. He has covered insurance for a decade, including auto, home, life and health. Before cove.
Les Masterson Deputy Editor, InsuranceLes Masterson is a deputy editor and insurance analyst at Forbes Advisor. He has been a journalist, reporter, editor and content creator for more than 25 years. He has covered insurance for a decade, including auto, home, life and health. Before cove.
Les Masterson Deputy Editor, InsuranceLes Masterson is a deputy editor and insurance analyst at Forbes Advisor. He has been a journalist, reporter, editor and content creator for more than 25 years. He has covered insurance for a decade, including auto, home, life and health. Before cove.
| Deputy Editor, Insurance
Updated: Jul 23, 2024, 12:28pm
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Trips aren’t just a chance to unwind and see the world. They are also an investment. But there’s a way to protect a portion of your investment called flight insurance.
Flight insurance could be worthwhile if you want to recoup your nonrefundable airfare if you can’t go on your trip.
Flight insurance is generally a contract between you and an airline, travel company or travel insurance company. The contract specifies how and under what circumstances you’ll be compensated for the cost of nonrefundable plane tickets if your trip is disrupted.
Flight insurance that provides compensation only for plane tickets may be offered by airlines when you book a trip.
Standard flight insurance typically compensates you for the nonrefundable cost of your airfare if unforeseen events covered by your policy disrupt your flight.
Some basic flight insurance plans only refund your airfare if you or a family member become ill or are injured in an accident that prevents you from flying. More generous flight insurance plans provide more flexibility. Many major airlines offer full-fledged travel insurance policies that include coverage for trip cancellations, medical expenses and more.
Flight insurance policies can vary by policy type and insurer, but common benefits include:
Some common problems covered by flight insurance sold by travel insurance companies can include:
Basic flight insurance policies typically don’t have:
When you buy an airline ticket, flight insurance is usually offered directly from the airline or from other companies such as Expedia or Travelocity.
You can also buy flight insurance from travel insurance companies as part of a comprehensive travel insurance plan. Some travel insurance companies also sell stand-alone flight insurance policies.
Delta and American Airlines offer comprehensive flight insurance through a partnership with Allianz Travel. This policy includes benefits like trip interruption, trip cancellation, trip and baggage delay coverage, and travel medical insurance for international trips. United, Expedia and Travelocity also offer standard travel insurance through AIG, which sells Travel Guard policies.
Standard travel insurance policies with pre- and post-departure benefits compensate you for trip costs, including non-refundable plane tickets, if you cancel a trip for reasons covered in your policy.
Some travel insurance companies sell policies with limited coverage designed for flight inconveniences. These policies are targeted for flight snafus and generally don’t reimburse you for airfare costs.
For example, Travelex Insurance offers a Flight Insure plan as well as a Flight Insurer Plus plan. The standard Flight Insure plan has coverage for trip delay, accidental death and dismemberment, and travel assistance. The Plus plan adds baggage coverage and emergency medical and dental coverage. But the Flight Insure plans don’t include flight cancellation or trip cancellation benefits, so they don’t reimburse you for airfare.
Berkshire Hathaway’s AirCare policy is designed for travel inconveniences rather than cancellations. It covers tarmac delays, flight and baggage delays, lost luggage and missed connections. If your flight is canceled, you get $150 for the inconvenience, but the policy does not cover trip cancellation or reimburse you for airfare.
With so many variations of plan coverage and benefit options, it’s smart to compare the terms and conditions of each plan before purchasing one.
Flight insurance offered when you’re buying plane tickets isn’t always worth the cost. If you have many nonrefundable deposits invested in your trip—such as hotel stays and pre-paid excursions—buying a comprehensive travel insurance policy to cover your entire trip is likely a better option than flight insurance.
Still, basic flight insurance might be worth it if:
The cost of flight insurance depends on the type of policy. Your age, length of your trip and total trip cost you’re insuring can also affect what you pay. For example:
Determining if travel insurance is worth it or which insurance option is right for you will depend on the type of coverage you need, your budget and the complexity of your travel plans.
Your biggest concern is potentially having to cancel or change your flight.You’re concerned about losing money if you have to cancel your trip but also about potentially having to cut your trip short and other issues, such as travel delays.
Your flight is the most expensive part of your trip.Your trip costs are significant and you can’t afford to lose your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.
You’re traveling within the U.S. where your health insurance benefits will apply.You’re traveling outside of the U.S. and need coverage for medical costs if you’re sick or injured during your trip.
