What is FLIGHT INSURANCE and is it Worth It?

Should you buy flight insurance offered by the airline or Expedia when you book your flight ticket? Uncover the truth about popular flight insurance plans, like AIG offered by United Airlines and Allianz offered by Delta Airlines. you'll learn what these popular flight insurance plans cover and what do not, as well as what the policy means in terms of trip coverage for cancellation, trip delay, baggage protection, medical coverage and more. Learn the differences between flight insurance and a comprehensive international travel insurance plan so you get the travel insurance you actually need and don't waste money on your next trip.

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Welcome to Portable Professional, where I, Megan, use my experience from over 300 flights to offer you simple, practical and game-changing travel tips and hacks. Our mission is to help you reduce stress and make the most of every trip.

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🐶 Chapters
00:00 Do you need airline trip insurance?
00:17 What is flight insurance?
01:00 What is and is not covered
01:10 Flight delay coverage
01:21 Baggage protection
01:39 Travel assistance & trip cancellation
02:13 Trip interruption coverage
02:31 How airlines trick you
02:47 Why you DON'T need flight insurance
05:26 Travel insurance vs. airline travel insurance
06:08 When to skip flight insurance
06:22 When to buy flight insurance
07:01 Do I buy flight insurance?
07:26 The insurance I use
08:20 travel insurance for Americans 50+

[jeffreyclinard]

Read the policy before you buy one. I foolishly bought one one a flight where eventually I would not have been allowed to board it (COVID related), and Travel Guard refused to pay. Worse, they forced me to cancel the ticket first, meaning I could not even play the waiting game to see if Air Canada moved the flight times to the point where I could canceled. I've since read travel insurance policies, and only buy medical ones. The simple fact is, there is almost no way to collect unless I died, in which case I don't need the money and my heirs wouldn't know how to collect.

Understand, the most you can lose is the price of your non-refundable items if your trip is canceled. That's why I won't insure anything other than medical expenses, which can be substantial. Even then, you might have to play games to get reimbursement. A Canadian hospital refused to provide an itemized list of charges for my dad's stay, which caused his insurance claim to be denied. He solved the problem by reporting the charges on his credit card as fraudulent. It was interesting how that hospital suddenly was able to provide the itemized list when faced with not being paid.

[itsnotme]

Travel insurance is like postal insurance. They do their best to NEVER pay out. Thanks for covering this Megan!! Great job as always!!

[denshewman]

I have to give props to Allianz, who insured my trip to Denver a couple years ago. I hurt my shoulder and had to cancel my trip. Allianz refunded my plane ticket and a concert ticket I’d bought

[christinebaribeaugustavcar]

I am over 65 and am no longer covered by credit card travel insurance. I buy mine through Costco for much less $$$ than the airlines charge. Also I travel many times during the year and find an annual multi- trip 30 day plan works the best for me. I have made many claims over the years & am very satisfied. I am healthy & don't smoke.

[s.patrickmarino]

The only time I purchased it, I was on a flight from NYC to Chicago. Due to an ear infection, I kind of blew an eardrum. The insurance covered rescheduling my next flight, booked me in a nice hotel, and covered some basic medical care. I don't know if they covered the dry cleaning for the woman who was sitting next to me and was blood splatted when my ear popped or her treatment for psychological trauma.

Edited to say: That last bit was a bit of a joke. It did not actually go of in a pyrotechnic way. It did feel like it.

[awifeinterrupted]

WOW perfect timing. I haven't flown internationally in 15 years and now I'm a 60+ traveler! I had purchased the travel insurance with my Delta ticket (Allianz). After watching this video, I fully realized the limitations it provided. It did NOT include medical evacuation back to the United States (my primary concern). Fortunately I had 15 days to cancel which I did. Now I can purchase an appropriate policy for my trip in April. Thank you! 😊

[lorigallegos]

I don't buy travel insurance for US Domestic flights. I purchase Allianz Global when I book tours to Europe as it covers full cancellation, medical and other items that they have added after covid. I'm in the insurance industry and have read all the policy forms. Make sure you read the Full Cancellation coverage form if your going on a tour. The tour company I use offers travel insurance but I read their form and it said if you didn't purchase at the time you booked the tour than the full cancellation was NOT covered.

[MsMorganGirls]

Funny. I got an ad for travel insurance in the middle of this video!

[johnpayne]

I purchased medical insurance from Aliance for our trip to Italy in 2022 which came in handy as I spent 3 days in the hospital in Florence and was covered.

[dartow]

An airline charged me $2000.00 for a trip and then wanted a $1000.00 more if I had to cancel for some reason. All of this stuff is a rip off.

[michelepineau]

I don't buy travel insurance from the airlines, but do get insurance through my travel agent. Even at my age (65) the medical portion is cheap. The remainder, however, skyrocketed in price post pandemic.

[johnshellenberg]

Older folks should shop around a LOT for travel medical insurance. My wife and I are retired and spend winters away (Portugal and Spain this year...) and we found so many loopholes in plans. The medical stability clause is one where insurers have a way to deny you coverage. Did you visit the doctor within six months of your travel date? A change in medications? These things can indicate that you were "medically unstable" and should not have traveled.

Being retired teachers in Alberta, we found coverage through our retiree association that has no medical stability clause or loopholes for pre-existing conditions. This year, two weeks before we left, my wife injured herself with a muscle strain. She saw the doctor, got some medications and an exercise routine and the doctor cleared her to travel. The trip was great, no issues, but suppose that two weeks in, her injury got worse despite the doctor's prognosis and we had to return home. That medical stability clause in many policies would have denied us any coverage.

[sf]

Awesome video! Yeah, we purchase comprehensive travel insurance every time we cruise or travel internationally. The flight insurance through airlines has yet to show cost value considering what airlines are required to provide along with coverage we have with our credit cards. Well done!!!!

[well-blazeredman]

Pre-pandemic, my travel insurance cost me £60/year. After? My renewal quote was £300. I shopped around and found a policy for £100. I then took a gander at the BA website, which quoted ... £600!
I wouldn't travel without insurance, even to Europe, where, post-Brexit, Brits do still have some access to EU states' health systems.
Excellent video, Megan.

[rdetota]

Another well presented and beneficial video. Thank you for the explanations and tips. Your effort is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[mauricegodfrey]

My wife and I have two trips to Europe planned in the next few weeks and I did purchase travel medical insurance. Like all insurance it is best never to use it, but nice to know it is there,

[elitepctech]

I never add the airlines' flight insurance since I always book business class with a premium travel credit card like an Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire

[lisalindland]

Very helpful video, Megan, as always. Thank you so much!

[MichaelsMusicMix]

For any Aussies reading, we used Covermore for a European trip last year and they were fantastic. Paid out for compensation on a lost/stolen (we never did figure out which) knapsack with zero issues. Would happily use again (we're 60+ travellers)

[jolimiller]

Great info Megan. Gone are the days that I WON'T get travel Insurance . Our last trip, I ran into some medical issues, requiring 2 separate days to the infirmary. Then our flight home was cancelled. I will now always recommend Allianz Travel Insurance. Very personable, Paid 100% medical costs, even more of the expenses due to our cancelled flight. Always remember to keep your receipts. Keep up the great work Megan.