Flight delays: Your rights & how travel insurance can help (2024)

FAQs

Will travel insurance cover flight delays? ›

Travel insurance benefits for a trip delay generally kick for a covered reason after a specified length of time, which varies by insurance plan. For example, your plan might start providing benefits after a six-hour delay. In addition, the cause of the delay must be specified as a covered reason in the policy.

When making a claim, you will need to provide travel documents that show the delay (such as a ticket, boarding pass or flight number) and provide proof of reasonable expenses.

Delayed Flights

If an airline delays your flight, it must rebook you on a different flight. However, until 2024, federal law didn't require airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation for delayed flights. According to the DOT, you're entitled to a refund if your flight is “significantly” delayed.

Trip delay insurance helps cover financial losses from prepaid, nonrefundable costs due to a covered delay in your trip. Reimbursem*nt can also extend to additional expenses incurred because of the delay, including meals, accommodations and transportation.

Most travel insurance policies won't pay out if you're negligent while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and have an accident or have property stolen.

If your flight's delayed for 3 or more hours

You're entitled to get compensation if the flight arrives more than 3 hours late and it's the airline's fault - for example, if they didn't get enough bookings or there was a technical fault.

It's worth checking with your travel insurance provider to see if you can make a claim. You could be entitled to get compensation if your flight is more than 3 hours late, and the airline's at fault. But, if the delay is out of the airline's control you may be unlikely to receive compensation.

How do you know when you should claim compensation for a delayed or canceled flight? Though the law can be complicated, we're here to break it down for you: Delayed flights: you may be able to claim compensation if your flight arrived 3 hours or more late.

The Travel Inconvenience Benefits are offered as part of a Business Travel Accident plan to help employers fill gaps in coverage and help cover the cost due to trip cancellations, interruptions & replacements, rearrangements, and delays … a trip prior to departure.

If your flight is delayed, many airlines will provide vouchers for you to buy food and drink. If you require accommodation, they may book a hotel and arrange transportation for you. Sometimes airlines are unable to arrange care and assistance for all passengers.

What is the 2 hour rule for flight delay compensation? ›

Checking your claim for a 2-hour flight delay

When flight delays are 2 hours or more, you're not entitled to financial compensation. However, you may still be able to make a claim to cover expenses you incurred during your wait if you spent money on something the airline should have offered you.

Here's how much you're entitled to: Arrival of 1-2 hours after scheduled time: Compensated 200% of your one-way ticket price (up to $675 USD) Arrival of 2+ hours later than scheduled time for domestic flights: Compensated 400% of your one-way ticket price (up to $1350 USD)

Proof of delay including the booking reference number, date and time of the incident, cost breakdown with currency, new travel dates, time, and destination, as well as any alternative arrangements, compensation, refund, or credit offered. Proof of relationship.

I claim compensation relating to flight (flight number) which I booked from (departure airport) to (arrival airport) on (booking date). The flight was delayed for more than (delay time) hours OR canceled OR took place without me. The problem was not based on exceptional circ*mstances or act of god.

Medical emergencies, stolen baggage, lost passports, cancelled flights. Every travel insurance company provides 24/7 support for all of these needs. This service is most important when you have a medical issue.

Your travel insurance provider will arrange as well as pay for the alternative flight tickets. In case of a significant delay, following which you might have to make some unexpected additional expenses, flight delay coverage will reimburse such unplanned additional expenditures as well, such as an overnight hotel stay.

Unlike in the case of missed flights, travellers are generally covered when there is a flight delay, rescheduling or cancellation that impacts further travel arrangements, or they cannot return home as expected and, as a result, they need to extend their stay or arrange new flights.

You can usually find the best way to put in a claim by calling the airline or checking their website. If no standard procedure is available, it may be best to make initial contact by email, so you have a record of the communication. You can also send a letter – always keep a copy, if you decide to do this.

Definition: You have to change the dates on your airline ticket for a covered reason. Travel insurance can reimburse you for the fees charged by the airline to change these dates up to the benefit limit described in your plan's letter of confirmation.