Ugh, who likes getting canceled? Not me. Unfortunately, even if you’re a seasoned traveler, it sometimes cannot be avoided. In the same vein, losing some of your hard-earned money becomes a reality.
When this first happened to me, one of the first questions that popped into my head was “Does travel insurance cover hotel cancellation (having paid a big reservation fee for luxury accommodations back then)?”
Unfortunately, the answer at the time was “no.”
Having learned my lesson since I now know that this is where travel-related insurance comes in to save the day. Back then, I didn’t even bother with it because I had no idea how important it is for frequent travelers to be insured. As a result, I had no choice but to let go of my hotel reservation and cancellation fees and give them up for loss. However, I still consider myself lucky not to have gotten sick or had a medical emergency abroad without being adequately insured!
Now, not only do I have travel insurance – I also learned that there are several ways to get insured and refunded should things like an emergency or force majeure reasons push you to cancel your travel plans. Below are just some of them – hopefully, you will find them useful, too!
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Getting travel insurance coverage means you won’t have to fret just in case an airline loses your luggage, or if a minor medical problem pops up. Some insurance companies (or even your credit card company) can also offer something called a “cancel for any reason” benefit. I know of several journalist friends who take advantage of this offer because of political unrest or instability in certain countries they have to visit for their work. A cancel-anytime clause basically allows you to go beyond the usual reasons for canceling a trip at least 48 hours before your scheduled travel. However, you will have to be eligible for this particular benefit, so have a good long talk with your insurance provider before availing it.
For wider coverage, it’s best to get comprehensive travel insurance, which will cover both the issues I mentioned previously, plus other important stuff such as force majeure factors like calamities, inclement weather, unstable political situations, etc. This kind of coverage will reimburse you for the inconvenience caused by whatever the reason there is for the cancellation so that you will recoup your losses at the very least.
Hotel Cancellation Insurance
I thankfully got coverage and insurance for hotel cancellation via my mileage-earning credit card company! After that initial snafu (and losing nearly a thousand dollars of my travel fund in the process), I pushed myself to study the insurance fine lines offered with my credit card contract. From there, I learned that it included an insurance package covering minor medical emergencies and the chance to cancel a week before check-in at my reserved hotel. This came as both a relief and annoyance (mainly in part because I was unaware and unconcerned about its existence) and made me feel better that I won’t have to hemorrhage money in the event of a future hotel reservation cancellation.
Flight Refund Insurance
If you have ever taken advantage of one of those airline “seat sales” that sell flight tickets at unbelievably low prices – chances are those didn’t come with refundable coverage. You’re basically taking the risk of getting your flight canceled and not being refunded for it – or worse, not having any kind of accommodation to make up for the inconvenience. This almost happened to me when I first started traveling, so I was glad I had a friend in the city I was staying in. He allowed me to couch surf for the night. Imagine how uncomfortable and cold it would have been to sleep on the airport floor up until they worked out my new flight schedule!
So budget non-refundable ticket prices aside, you can get refunded for a flight cancellation if there are natural calamities like typhoons, earthquakes, and other extreme weather conditions either in your departure location or your destination. You could also get refunded if you suddenly get sick and need to be hospitalized, or have a family member that warrants immediate hospitalization. Certain legal obligations such as being called for jury duty also apply. A talk with your insurance agent can clarify any and all reasons that will make you eligible for a flight refund.
Delayed Flight Reimbursement
While this doesn’t exactly fall under the travel insurance flight refund category, you nevertheless can get reimbursed for loss of income or other claims if your flight gets delayed. The good news is that you can apply for flight reimbursement yourself just by going online. And it’s independent of your flight insurance, too!
I discovered this helpful travel hack through a frequent-flier friend who is just the most serene person you will ever meet – even with a job that has her jetting in and out of the country almost on a weekly basis. She told me about AirHelp, which is a company that helps process claims and reimburse stranded airline passengers. What they do is check on your behalf once you file a complaint to them about a delayed flight. They will ask for your flight itinerary and details, and their staff (which is made up of legal professionals) will study if the airline does owe you a reimbursement. They mainly handle the entire process while you wait, and if you’re eligible for a settlement, AirHelp will just get 25% of the claim as their fee – meaning, you won’t have to pay them money up front for their service!
The Verdict?
The importance of getting travel insurance cannot be stressed enough – especially if you’re going to be traveling a lot! Aside from getting reimbursement for things that are out of your control, you’re basically paying for peace of mind, as well. I’m glad I wised up and read up about the different kinds of coverage I need to expect whenever I travel. And yes, while you have to spend money in the process, the type of money you will be saving, in the long run, will be worth it (and all the potential frustration involved).
When this first happened to me, one of the first questions that popped into my head was “Does travel insurance cover hotel cancellation (having paid a big reservation fee for luxury accommodations back then)?”
Unfortunately, the answer at the time was “no.”
Having learned my lesson since I now know that this is where travel-related insurance comes in to save the day. Back then, I didn’t even bother with it because I had no idea how important it is for frequent travelers to be insured. As a result, I had no choice but to let go of my hotel reservation and cancellation fees and give them up for loss. However, I still consider myself lucky not to have gotten sick or had a medical emergency abroad without being adequately insured!
Now, not only do I have travel insurance – I also learned that there are several ways to get insured and refunded should things like an emergency or force majeure reasons push you to cancel your travel plans. Below are just some of them – hopefully, you will find them useful, too!
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Getting travel insurance coverage means you won’t have to fret just in case an airline loses your luggage, or if a minor medical problem pops up. Some insurance companies (or even your credit card company) can also offer something called a “cancel for any reason” benefit. I know of several journalist friends who take advantage of this offer because of political unrest or instability in certain countries they have to visit for their work. A cancel-anytime clause basically allows you to go beyond the usual reasons for canceling a trip at least 48 hours before your scheduled travel. However, you will have to be eligible for this particular benefit, so have a good long talk with your insurance provider before availing it.
For wider coverage, it’s best to get comprehensive travel insurance, which will cover both the issues I mentioned previously, plus other important stuff such as force majeure factors like calamities, inclement weather, unstable political situations, etc. This kind of coverage will reimburse you for the inconvenience caused by whatever the reason there is for the cancellation so that you will recoup your losses at the very least.
Hotel Cancellation Insurance
I thankfully got coverage and insurance for hotel cancellation via my mileage-earning credit card company! After that initial snafu (and losing nearly a thousand dollars of my travel fund in the process), I pushed myself to study the insurance fine lines offered with my credit card contract. From there, I learned that it included an insurance package covering minor medical emergencies and the chance to cancel a week before check-in at my reserved hotel. This came as both a relief and annoyance (mainly in part because I was unaware and unconcerned about its existence) and made me feel better that I won’t have to hemorrhage money in the event of a future hotel reservation cancellation.
Flight Refund Insurance
If you have ever taken advantage of one of those airline “seat sales” that sell flight tickets at unbelievably low prices – chances are those didn’t come with refundable coverage. You’re basically taking the risk of getting your flight canceled and not being refunded for it – or worse, not having any kind of accommodation to make up for the inconvenience. This almost happened to me when I first started traveling, so I was glad I had a friend in the city I was staying in. He allowed me to couch surf for the night. Imagine how uncomfortable and cold it would have been to sleep on the airport floor up until they worked out my new flight schedule!
So budget non-refundable ticket prices aside, you can get refunded for a flight cancellation if there are natural calamities like typhoons, earthquakes, and other extreme weather conditions either in your departure location or your destination. You could also get refunded if you suddenly get sick and need to be hospitalized, or have a family member that warrants immediate hospitalization. Certain legal obligations such as being called for jury duty also apply. A talk with your insurance agent can clarify any and all reasons that will make you eligible for a flight refund.
Delayed Flight Reimbursement
While this doesn’t exactly fall under the travel insurance flight refund category, you nevertheless can get reimbursed for loss of income or other claims if your flight gets delayed. The good news is that you can apply for flight reimbursement yourself just by going online. And it’s independent of your flight insurance, too!
I discovered this helpful travel hack through a frequent-flier friend who is just the most serene person you will ever meet – even with a job that has her jetting in and out of the country almost on a weekly basis. She told me about AirHelp, which is a company that helps process claims and reimburse stranded airline passengers. What they do is check on your behalf once you file a complaint to them about a delayed flight. They will ask for your flight itinerary and details, and their staff (which is made up of legal professionals) will study if the airline does owe you a reimbursement. They mainly handle the entire process while you wait, and if you’re eligible for a settlement, AirHelp will just get 25% of the claim as their fee – meaning, you won’t have to pay them money up front for their service!
The Verdict?
The importance of getting travel insurance cannot be stressed enough – especially if you’re going to be traveling a lot! Aside from getting reimbursement for things that are out of your control, you’re basically paying for peace of mind, as well. I’m glad I wised up and read up about the different kinds of coverage I need to expect whenever I travel. And yes, while you have to spend money in the process, the type of money you will be saving, in the long run, will be worth it (and all the potential frustration involved).
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