Travel Guard is highlighting travel insurance solutions that may help travelers recover eligible expenses when trips are disrupted. As the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) implements new rules addressing the causes of flight delays and airline responsibility, travelers may face changes in their ability to obtain compensation from airlines.
“These newly exempted causes of flight delays are not especially common, but we understand that the new rules might make travelers feel less protected when they fly,” said Robert Gallagher, CEO, North America, Zurich Cover-More, in a press statement. “That’s why Travel Guard offers advice and products to help airline passengers become better informed about ways to protect their travel expenses and travel with greater confidence.”
Travel Insurance Benefits
Many of the causes of flight delays addressed in the new DOT rules may qualify for Travel Guard’s Trip Delay coverage, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable policy.
Depending on the plan’s eligibility requirements, including the length and cause of the delay, travelers may qualify for reimbursement of eligible expenses once the policy’s required delay period has been met.
Trip Delay coverage may be particularly valuable when a flight disruption does not require the airline to provide compensation. However, travel insurance can also offer benefits when an airline is deemed responsible for a delay and provides reimbursement or vouchers, as coverage may extend to eligible expenses beyond those addressed by the airline.
“Travel Guard’s support services also assist clients in coordinating connecting travel arrangements to help them catch up with their itineraries,” said Gallagher. “But it’s important that travelers should review the details of their travel insurance plan to determine if it includes Trip Delay coverage, as well as the criteria to be met for the coverage to apply.”
What Advisors Should Know
Travel insurance may also cover eligible non-flight expenses and secondary disruptions, such as missed cruise departures, missed tour days or additional destination expenses that airlines may not cover, even when providing hotel vouchers.
For more information, visit Travel Guard.
