Follow these travel insurance tips if your flight is delayed or cancelled.
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to October 23 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For plans purchased after October 23 2024, please see below.
So you’re stuck at the airport … we’ve all been there. If your flight has been delayed or cancelled, or you’ve missed your connection, your airline should always be your first port of call. But travel insurance* may be able to help in certain circumstances. Read on for more info.
In many cases, if your flight has been cancelled or you miss a connection, your airline will automatically rebook you. Before travel, download your airline’s app, and refresh the app as soon as you realize you’ve got flight issues.
If your airline has not automatically rebooked you, head to the service desk or call their customer care line. But don’t rush to buy a new flight, as the airline is not likely to reimburse you for a flight purchased on your own and travel insurance can only reimburse you if your flight is canceled for a reason specified by your plan.
Your airline is obligated to rebook you if your flight has been cancelled or you’ve been bumped from an oversold flight. Travel insurance won’t reimburse you if you’ve been bumped, so seek compensation directly from your airline. If they can’t get you on a new flight until tomorrow, ask to be rebooked on another carrier, or request meal and hotel vouchers. You must accept any reasonable alternative options offered by the airline. If you do end up making a travel insurance claim, you’ll need proof that you first sought reimbursement from your airline or other travel provider.
If the airline is unable to provide meal or hotel vouchers, you may be able to claim for reimbursement of out-of-pocket meal and lodging expenses under your trip delay benefit. You’ll need written confirmation from your airline that includes:
Head straight to the airline desk to get this critical information or ask a telephone agent to email you these details on the spot.
Remember to keep receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses you incur during your delay – you’ll need these to make a claim. Your trip delay benefit may cover local transportation, lodging and meals while you’re delayed. And if your bags are delayed too, by more than 12 hours, keep receipts for the essential toiletries and a change of clothes that you had to buy until your trip resumes, and you’re reunited with your bag. As soon as you realize your bag has been misplaced by the airline, you should also email our non-insurance service partner, Blue Ribbon Bags. They’ll get on the case and will update you every step of the way as they find and retrieve your bags.
If you do need to make a claim, check out our how to make a claim article for step-by-step guidance.
Travel insurance may be able to step in where your airline falls short. Here are some situations where travel insurance may be able to provide some relief.
World Nomads offers four plans, which each have different per day and maximum benefit limits. Read your chosen plan thoroughly to understand the benefit limits.
Traveler tip 1: Remember, travel insurance is for the unexpected. If a storm or strike, or any other event, was known when you bought your travel insurance plan, coverage may not apply.
What’s excluded:
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything. Exclusions include, but are not limited to:
Traveler tip 2: if you are going to miss your flight because you’re just running late, contact your airline. Travel insurance won’t be able to reimburse you for your missed flight if you overslept, got stuck in
We know delays and cancellations are frustrating, but here are a few tips to help smooth the journey.
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
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Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
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We'll provide assistance to get you to the hospital or home quickly.
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Covers the loss, theft or damage of your bags, tech and gear.
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The amounts listed represent the maximum benefit amount.
Protect your health
Protect Your Trip
Protect Your Stuff
Non-Insurance Services
Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Wherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact Generali Global Assistance:
Telephone:
+1 954-334-8143 (Collect outside the US)
+1 877-289-0968 (Toll-free in the US and Canada
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.