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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 that investment called flight insurance.

Is flight insurance worth it? Here are a few things worth considering before you add any flight insurance to a booking.

What is Flight Insurance?

Flight insurance protects only the cost of your flight. It doesn’t cover all of your prepaid and nonrefundable trip expenses. Generally, if a problem covered by your flight insurance policy derails your travel plans, you can get reimbursement for only nonrefundable flight costs. Policies can range from offering simple refunds to covering lost or damaged baggage.

Some common problems that are typically covered by flight insurance include:

• Flight cancellations caused by bad weather conditions, like storms and blizzards.
• Unexpected flight delays that cause you to miss a connection, like equipment failure.
• A mid-flight diversion that forces you to arrive at a different airport.
• An unexpected injury or illness before your departure.
• A terrorist event within proximity to the city you are traveling to.

While airline insurance policies can vary by plan type and insurer, there are a few common benefits that may be included in flight insurance plans:

• Flight delay coverage: You’ll receive a payment up to a certain amount if your flight is delayed by the amount of time specified by the policy. For example, we reviewed a Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection policy that pays a $50 “inconvenience fee” if your flight is delayed for at least 120 consecutive minutes.
• Trip interruption or cancellation coverage: If you need to cancel the flight or return home early because of a problem covered by the policy, this coverage reimburses you for prepaid and nonrefundable flight expenses.
• Lost or delayed baggage coverage: This coverage reimburses you for lost or delayed baggage, up to your policy limit. For example, a Flight Insure Plus plan from Travelex Insurance Services offers up to $1,000 in coverage for baggage and personal belongings.
• Travel assistance: This benefits offers you assistance in rebooking your flight itinerary or making other travel arrangements.

What’s Not Covered by Flight Insurance?

Airlines that offer basic flight insurance plans typically lack certain coverage types that you might get with a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Comprehensive travel insurance policies have more robust coverage options which can include:

• Emergency medical and dental coverage: This coverage reimburses medical or dental costs for injuries and illnesses covered by the policy while traveling.
• Emergency medical transportation coverage: Reimburses and arranges necessary medical transportation following an accident or illness covered by the policy.
• Missed connection coverage: Reimburses you for costs incurred from missing a flight, cruise, or other transportation connection due to an unexpected event covered by the policy.

When your travel plans go awry, some of these benefits may come in handy. For example, let’s say you’re in Bogata, Columbia, and get food poisoning that needs medical attention. If you purchased a comprehensive travel insurance plan, your emergency medical coverage may help pay for some of the costs your health insurance provider won’t cover abroad (up to the limits of the plan).

Continue reading “Is Flight Insurance Worth It? What Does It Cover?”