When purchasing flight insurance, you can choose between plans offered directly by your airline or those provided by independent travel insurance companies. Oftentimes, you can find better value by taking time to compare policies side-by-side.
Major airlines often partner with large travel insurance companies to offer basic trip protection to their customers. This coverage is often specific to your flight, and is not intended to cover the entirety of your trip.
You have the option to purchase travel insurance outside of your airline, which can often lead to superior coverage for less.
Flight insurance, like other types of travel insurance, provides reimbursement for covered financial losses caused by unexpected events such as flight cancellations, lengthy delays, medical emergencies, and mishandled luggage. These plans are not designed to cover costs if you choose to cancel your flight on a whim.
To receive compensation, you must file a claim with your insurance company and provide any available supporting documentation. The claims process typically takes 4-6 weeks.
Unlike policies purchased through airlines, flight travel insurance plans from independent providers protect you for the entirety of your trip, beyond just your time in the sky. Flight insurance coverage varies by provider, but must offer the benefits listed below.
Reimburses 100% of your non-refundable travel expenses if you cancel due to covered reasons like illness, injury, severe weather, or job loss
Covers expenses if your trip is cut short due to an unforeseen event, such as a family emergency or a natural disaster at your destination
Compensates for additional expenses like food, lodging, and transportation if your flight is delayed for a set period (typically 3+ hours)
Coverage for lost, damaged or stolen belongings, as well as reimbursement for items if your luggage is delayed en route to your destination
Provides coverage for unexpected medical emergencies while traveling, including hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription medication
If an unexpected delay results in a missed flight, insurance can reimburse costs needed to make new travel arrangements
While flight travel insurance can provide valuable protection, it’s important to understand its limitations and exclusions. Coverage varies depending on whether you purchase a plan from an airline or an independent provider.
Common travel insurance exclusions include:
This is based on internal sales data from hundreds of thousands of travelers who purchased comprehensive travel insurance through Squaremouth over the last 12 months. Travelers spend an average of $415 on travel insurance for cruises with an average trip length of 14 days.
Several factors determine your flight insurance cost, including trip length, coverage limits, and traveler age, and insured travel expenses. On average, cruise insurance costs 4-10% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.
Flight Insurance QuotesBefore purchasing a flight insurance policy, consider the following tips from Squaremouth:
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Yes, purchasing flight insurance is worth the expense as long as the plan is from a third-party provider. These policies provide well-rounded trip protection, covering expenses relating to flight disruptions, medical emergencies, and baggage loss.
Shopping around typically results in finding protection, more flexibility, and lower pricing compared to the limited coverage airlines offer. While purchasing coverage directly from an airline may seem convenient, it’s often limited in scope and more expensive than plans from independent travel insurance companies.
Finding the best flight insurance plan comes down to comparing your options and choosing coverage that matches your needs. Instead of settling for limited airline-offered plans, take a moment to shop around and get better protection at a better price.
When searching for the best coverage, you should:
Squaremouth shares their tips and recommendations based on the most frequently asked questions from passengers.
Yes, you can purchase travel insurance anytime after booking your flight up until your departure date. With that said, it’s best to buy coverage as soon as possible.
The earlier you purchase, the more coverage options you’ll have. Buying travel insurance early also allows you to qualify for time-sensitive benefits like pre-existing condition waivers and Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage.
Travel insurance covers flight cancellations and delays that result from covered events, such as inclement weather or a mechanical breakdown. In the event your travel plans are impacted, your policy may cover the cost to book new travel arrangements.
Travel insurance does not cover voluntary changes to your plans, like wanting a new departure time or no longer wanting to travel. For the most cancellation flexibility, purchase a policy that includes the CFAR upgrade.
Flight cancellation insurance can reimburse you for non-refundable travel expenses, including airline tickets, if you cancel your trip for a covered reason. Most plans cover cancellations relating to an unexpected illness, injury, family emergency, or severe weather events.