Does Travel Insurance Cover Missed Flights?
Yes, travel insurance can cover missed flights, but this depends on the specific type of insurance and the circumstances surrounding the missed flight. There are different ways that travel insurance might assist with this situation:
1. Trip Delay Coverage
If you miss your flight due to reasons like weather delays, transportation issues, or other covered incidents, trip delay coverage may reimburse you for additional expenses incurred while waiting for the next available flight. This could include:
- Hotel accommodations
- Meals
- Transportation costs
However, this coverage typically applies if you experience a delay in reaching the airport or your flight is delayed after you arrive, and it may not necessarily cover you if you miss the flight due to your own fault (e.g., arriving late at the airport).
2. Missed Connection Coverage
Some travel insurance policies offer missed connection coverage, which specifically covers the cost of catching a new flight if you miss your connection due to a covered event, such as:
- Flight delays caused by the airline (e.g., mechanical issues, weather delays)
- Unforeseen events like strikes or accidents that cause a delay in your arrival at the connecting airport
This coverage can help pay for additional flight rebooking fees, hotel stays, or meals if you miss your connection and need to rebook or stay overnight until the next available flight.
3. Trip Interruption Coverage
If you miss your flight due to an emergency or situation that causes you to miss your departure (e.g., medical emergency or an unforeseen event like a natural disaster), trip interruption coverage may reimburse you for the costs of rebooking your flight and any related expenses to help get you back on track.
This coverage typically applies if the missed flight is due to circumstances outside of your control, like an illness, family emergency, or unexpected event.
4. Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) Coverage
If you decide to cancel or delay your trip for any reason—such as missing your flight due to your own mistake—Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage can help you recoup some of your non-refundable expenses. While CFAR generally applies to trip cancellations, it can also apply in situations where you need to postpone or rearrange your trip entirely.
However, CFAR typically only reimburses a portion of your non-refundable trip costs (usually around 75%) and requires you to cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure.
5. What Won’t Be Covered
It’s important to note that travel insurance won’t typically cover missed flights caused by the following:
- Arriving late to the airport: If you miss your flight because you were late getting to the airport, travel insurance generally won’t cover this unless it’s due to a covered event (like an accident or emergency on the way to the airport).
- Personal issues or oversights: If you miss your flight due to forgetfulness, miscommunication, or personal error, insurance will likely not cover the cost of rebooking.
- Non-covered delays: Travel insurance typically doesn’t cover missed flights caused by delays not included in the policy, such as airline staffing issues, technical failures not considered emergencies, or personal reasons.
