Flying? 4 Things to Do Before You Head to the Airport

Traveling by plane can be a stressful experience, no matter how many times you've done it. And even for those who rely on travel insurance, mishaps can happen, and frequently do. To help, Squaremouth shares four travel insurance tips travelers need to know before heading to the airport

Purchase Coverage Early. One of the most common mistakes travelers make is purchasing coverage too late and missing out on standard pre-departure benefits. Travel insurance will only pay claims on policies that were purchased prior to a covered event occurring, such as inclement weather or illness, so it is key to purchase a policy early in order to get the most out of these benefits. Buying travel insurance early also increases your chance of being eligible for certain time-sensitive coverage, including the popular Cancel For Any Reason and Pre-Existing Condition benefits.

Review Your Policy. Travelers should plan to review their policy before departure, paying attention to coverage for common issues like trip delays. Most policies include Travel Delay coverage, but there are requirements that must be met before that benefit takes effect. For example, if a flight is delayed for a covered reason, such as inclement weather or mechanical failures, there is still a minimum amount of time that the traveler must be delayed, typically between 3 - 12 hours.

Protect Your Valuables. Most comprehensive travel insurance policies include the Baggage and Personal Items Loss benefit, which protects travelers in the event their bags are lost, stolen, or damaged during a trip. However, this benefit has a reimbursement limit, and is not designed to cover valuables, such as jewelry, furs and electronics. Squaremouth recommends travelers insure expensive items valued above $1,000 through other sources, such as homeowners insurance or the credit card that was used to purchase the item.

Don't Be Late. While most policies include benefits for travelers who miss a flight, the reason must be specifically covered by the policy. Travel insurance does not cover missed flights due to airport security delays or heavy traffic, unless the traveler is involved in an accident on their way to the airport. Common covered reasons include airline delays due to mechanical failure or inclement weather, lost or stolen passports, weather conditions and road closures that prevent you from getting to the airport, or a traffic accident.

Source: Squaremouth. Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2019. All rights reserved.


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