Flight Travel Insurance With Assistance Services: How It Can Help When You Fly

Family at the airport ready for their flight

When flying, there are very few details you want to leave up in the air. Travel protection for flights, which may also be called flight insurance or airline insurance, can help you travel with more peace of mind in case something unexpected happens. We’ve all heard about flight cancellations and delays, but how can travel protection for flights help? And what other benefits does a plan offer in addition to just helping to protect your flight?

Travel protection offers coverages and services that include benefits not found with many airline or flight-only insurance plans. If you become unexpectedly ill, are laid off from work, or the plane has mechanical difficulties, then a trusted travel protection plan may help.

For example, if you buy flight insurance through an airline, then it may compensate for the flight cancellation, but it may be credit towards a new flight. Airlines are not required to reimburse for missed hotel stays or transportation.  However, you can seek reimbursement from a travel protection provider for these expenses.

Flight insurance only plans cover mishaps that have to do with your flight, and that’s it. If you want a plan that includes Trip Cancellation or Travel Delay coverages, then look for a plan that offers these as well as other pre- and post-departure coverages. But keep in mind, all travel protection plans have limitations about what kind of events are covered.

 

Flight Insurance Benefits for Cancellations and Delays

If your flight is cancelled or delayed, then it could cause a ripple effect. As part of your travel protection plan, you may recoup the costs associated with booking a new flight, your missed hotel stay, and transportation to and from the airport, in case of a covered event. Those costs can quickly add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars that you could be reimbursed for if have a travel protection plan.

Here’s an example. Let’s say you are leaving for France on a Sunday morning, and you have a prepaid, non-refundable hotel in Paris. The plane had mechanical difficulties and you wait at the airport for 5 hours before they tell you that you won’t be able to leave until the next day. When you arrive in Paris a day late, the travel protection plan may reimburse you for the hotel night you missed.

Frequent travelers recognize that this is something that happens all too often, and could happen to anyone. Imagine if you are going on a cruise and missed the cruise departure – you would have to try to catch up with the cruise at the next port of call. 

Also read:

What to do if Your Flight is Canceled
Flying While Pregnant and Other Tips for Travel During Pregnancy
Airport Security and Travel Advisory Quick Links

Airport flight departure cancelation screen

Flight Cancellations

Flight cancellations can derail your travel plans, especially if you need to reach a destination or cruise ship by a specific time. Consider this scenario: you're headed to catch a cruise, but your flight gets canceled. Without proper coverage, you'd be responsible for the costs of catching up with your ship at the next port. While airline-provided insurance might help with flight costs, a travel protection plan like ours may help reimburse you for:

- Missed hotel stays

- Transportation to and from airports

- Missed connections with tour groups

- Additional expenses to catch up with your cruise

- New flight bookings

Travel Interruption

Mechanical difficulties, weather issues, or other unexpected events can lead to significant interruptions. For example, imagine you're heading to Paris with a prepaid, non-refundable hotel reservation. After a 5-hour delay due to mechanical issues, your flight is pushed to the next day. With travel protection, you may get reimbursed for that missed hotel night in Paris.

How Travel Protection Helps with Lost or Delayed Baggage

Additionally, travel protection can also benefit those who experience other common airline-related difficulties including lost baggage, baggage delay, and missed connections. Some plans even include Sporting Equipment Delay coverage, which means if your golf bag is late, and you have a tee time scheduled, then you may be covered for the costs associated with renting clubs. 

When your baggage is delayed, then you may need to buy a few basic toiletries like a toothbrush and toothpaste until your baggage arrives. With travel protection, you may have coverage for these items. Aside from the emotional heartache, travel protection can offer some benefits when your baggage is lost. Before you leave on your trip, take a picture or make a list of the items inside your suitcase. That way, you won’t be guessing its contents if you need to file a claim.

In the very unlikely event that there is an Air Flight Accident, travel protection may cover Accidental Death & Dismemberment. 

Also read: How to Keep Your Bags and Valuables Safe While Traveling

Coverage for Missed Connections

In some cases,  travel protection helps cover expenses related to missed connections. However, not all travel protection plans are the same, and it's important to read your state specific Plan documents to understand when it kicks in.

Plans typically don't cover missed connections due to your own errors or actions. However, if airline or weather delays outside your control cause you to miss a preplanned, pre-ticketed event, your plan may reimburse you for those expenses.

For example, imagine you're flying to Florida from South Dakota for a cruise. Weather delays in Chicago cause you to arrive a day after you planned, and the cruise ship has already left. Travel protection could help cover the costs of changing to another cruise or provide reimbursement for the cruise trip.

What Is Accidental Death and Dismemberment – Air Flight Accident  Coverage?

Accidental Death and Dismemberment – Air Flight Accident coverage provides a payment in the rare case someone loses a limb or is killed due to an accident or other issue while flying on a plane. Typically, this coverage applies to flying commercially. 

 

Other Benefits of a Well-Rounded Travel Protection Plan

Canceled Trips

A travel protection plan may help when certain unexpected events force you to cancel your trip entirely. Coverage may apply if you:

- Become unexpectedly ill

- Experience a job layoff

- Face other listed covered circumstances that prevent travel

Medical & Dental Coverage

While your regular health insurance might not follow you abroad, travel protection may provide essential Medical and Dental coverage during your journey, giving you peace of mind while exploring new destinations.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment for Flights

In the unlikely event of an air flight accident, travel protection plans may provide Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage, offering an additional layer of security for you and your loved ones.

24/7 Travel Assistance Services

One of the most valuable benefits is access to round-the-clock travel assistance services. When flight issues arise, having professional help just a phone call away may help make all the difference in getting your trip back on track.

Why Travel Protection When Flying is More Important Than Ever

Recent trends make travel protection more crucial than ever. Consider these factors:

- Widespread technical meltdowns are becoming more common due to adverse weather

- Airlines face maintenance staff shortages due to labor strikes

- Air travel costs continue to rise

Travel Protection Tips 

These challenges make travel protection an essential consideration for travelers. While no one wants their travel plans disrupted, having the right coverage provides peace of mind in today's unpredictable air travel environment.

Should you need to file a claim, here are a few tips to consider. Be sure to submit receipts for items whenever possible, fill out the appropriate travel protection forms and file the claim within one year after a covered loss. If you have questions about these details, then call your provider and ask. When it comes to travel protection for flights, don’t be shy. Also, it’s a good idea to keep a copy of your plan documents with you in your carry on so that you can refer to your state specific Plan documents.

Whatever your plans are at 30-thousand feet, be sure to consider buying a travel protection plan from a reputable provider such as Generali Global Assistance well before heading to the airport. That way, the only thing that will be left up in the air is your feet on the footstool in front of you.

Don't let common travel issues become trip-wreckers. Help protect your vacation by getting a quick free quote customized for your trip.

8529802502, 6413512510

Get a plan that covers flights and more
Average Customer Rating:
Reviews