Memorial Day is just around the corner, bringing barbecues, parties, and of course millions of people traveling.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), approximately 20% of travelers experience delays as part of their Memorial Day travel each year.
And, as any experienced traveler will attest, airline delays and cancellations are no fun.
Travel insurance won't prevent delays, but it can help reduce costs and frustration.
With this in mind, Travel Pulse recently spoke with experts at insurance comparison site SquareMass about the benefits of taking out travel insurance for your Memorial Day trip. We talked about what would be covered, and what would unfortunately be covered. That's not it.
Here's what you need to know:
What delays are covered?
Most travel insurance policies include travel delay coverage. This coverage also pays for meals and hotel accommodations if your trip is unexpectedly delayed by at least 3 to 12 hours.
However, not all types of delays cover the same level of coverage.
Delays caused by airlines
Travel delay benefits in insurance policies are most commonly caused by travel supplier delays. And Squaremouth says coverage will kick in even if delays are caused by bad weather or mechanical failure.
In other words, the standard platitude that travelers often hear from airlines, “weather is beyond the airline's control, so we are not responsible for costs in the event of weather delays” is not the case when it comes to travel insurance policies. does not apply to
“This is just for airlines,” Squaremouth's Jenna Hammer told Travel Pulse regarding the weather advisory. “Weather is one of the biggest things we claim. During hurricane season, we get a lot of claims.”
You can't buy travel insurance and expect it to cover you if the hurricane has already been named and announced in the news, but if you buy it before a weather incident occurs, you can Expenses for related accidents will be covered.
Regarding delays due to flight disruptions
Also worth noting is the Several SquareMass said its insurance, which includes Travel Delay Cover, covers almost all delays for tour operators, including the postponement of flights to relocate passengers due to disruption or overbooking.
“While all insurance policies will cover delays due to weather, we always recommend considering broader coverage as many of the other types of delays we are currently seeing may also be included.” Hammer says.
“Choosing travel insurance coverage is like a buffet and doesn't necessarily have to be expensive,” Hammer added.
I missed my flight due to traffic jam.
Memorial Day is notorious for congesting roads across the country. More than 42 million Americans traveled during Memorial Day weekend last year, the highest total in 20 years, according to AAA.
However, Squaremouth says not all delays are covered by travel insurance. That includes if you miss your flight due to traffic jams on the way to the airport. Unfortunately, insurance will not cover the costs associated with this type of trouble.
With more people expected to be on the roads and in airports this Memorial Day weekend, even travelers with insurance should prepare in advance for traffic and long security lines. SquareMath experts suggest that you need to plan ahead.
I missed my flight because the line at airport security was long.
Why don't you all say it together? Airports are busier than usual during Memorial Day weekend. That much is normal.
If you miss your flight due to long lines at check-in or security, your travel insurance won't cover the cost, so give yourself plenty of time to get around the airport.
“The Department of Transportation recommends getting to the airport at least two hours in advance,” Hammer says. “But on a personal level, it really depends on the airport. If you're not familiar with the airport, look online to find out more about wait times.”
conclusion
The average cost of travel insurance for international travel during Memorial Day is approximately $149. Meanwhile, the premium for domestic travel during the Memorial Day travel season is about $86.
Hammer said he can rest assured if there are any delays because it's money well spent.
“Travel delay compensation is really helpful. That's one thing we recommend,” Hammer says.
“Having this insurance will make your long weekend a lot more comfortable,” adds Hammer. “When purchasing insurance, choose a company with a good customer service rating and make sure you can contact them 24/7 if something goes wrong.”
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