How Travel Insurance Can Cover Flight Delays

It’s never a good idea to leave Singapore without travel insurance.

You probably already know that travel insurance protects you by paying your medical bills should you get into an accident or fall ill while you are on your trip abroad.

But that’s not the only reason travel insurance is so important to have. Travel insurance can also protect you when you experience flight delays, including those that might necessitate flight cancellations. Here’s how.

1. You get stranded at the airport and need food and accommodation

A normal flight delay can, in the most benign scenario, cause you to sit at the airport for hours twiddling your thumbs. However, in more serious circumstances, you might be forced to spend the night at the airport.

This is where your travel insurance can be invaluable. Other than offering you compensation for the delay itself, your travel insurance policy can also reimburse you for certain expenses incurred, such as hotel stays and food. It could be the difference between spending the night at the airport and sleeping in a comfortable hotel.

2. You miss a connecting flight

When you travel, it’s not uncommon to get off one plane only to catch another, or to have to rush to a train or bus station to catch a connecting ride.

A flight delay can cause you to miss all these connections, leaving you high and dry. While full-service airlines usually try to book you on the next available flight, this can result in you having to wait around at the airport for hours during your trip.

Travel insurance typically offers compensation for missed connections, especially when cancel-for-any-reason benefits are included. This is vital if you are not able to arrange for alternative transportation within a certain amount of time.

3. Your trip gets cancelled

If your flight gets delayed to the point where you need to cancel your trip, your travel insurance can compensate you.

To qualify for this kind of compensation, your flight usually needs to be delayed for quite a long time such as 24 hours. Such long delays tend to be due to very serious situations such as natural disasters or political unrest.

In such situations, you would typically be reimbursed by your travel insurer for the price of your air tickets and/or any deposit you paid your travel agent for the trip. This is a clear example of where travel insurance with flight cancellation coverage proves essential.

4. You end up waiting around at the airport for hours

While not quite as bad as a missed connection or having to check in to a hotel, a flight delay can nonetheless still waste your time as you sit around at the airport for hours with nothing to do.

If this happens in Singapore, you might be able to head home and then return to the airport a few hours later. But if it happens on your trip overseas, you’re out of luck.

In both scenarios, your travel insurance should be able to offer you some form of cash compensation if your flight is delayed for a certain number of hours.

5. You have to postpone your trip

If your flight is so seriously delayed that you are forced to postpone your trip, a good travel insurance policy will offer you some compensation up to the benefit limit.

As with trip cancellations, your flight typically needs to be delayed for quite a long while, such as 24 hours, before you can qualify for trip postponement compensation.

Flight delays are not fun, but when you protect yourself with travel insurance, they become a lot less stressful since you know you are covered and going to receive payouts that can cushion the blow and any money lost or spent because of the delay.

Buy travel insurance

So never leave Singapore without a travel insurance policy that covers you in the event of flight delays and cancellations. HL Assurance offers both single-trip and annual travel insurance policies that offer you peace of mind no matter where in the world you’re headed to.

Frequently asked questions about travel insurance for flight delays

Can I extend my travel insurance coverage if my trip is extended?

Yes, you can extend your travel insurance coverage if your trip is extended, subject to our underwriter’s approval. Please ensure to call or email us before your current policy expires to arrange for the extension.

 

Can I cancel my travel insurance policy if my plans change?

If your plans change, you may cancel your travel insurance policy before the start of your trip. Administrative charges will apply.

By Joanne Poh

 

Disclaimer: All info contained herein is intended for your general information only and is not a substitute for insurance advice. If you have a specific question, please consult our insurance experts at 6702 0202.