Travel Insurance Suggestions Please

[Libby-Lee]

I was wondering if there are any travel insurance companies that offer coverage for carrier flight cancellations. I have a flight booked with Garuda and so far they have changed the flight times 4 times which is causing a domino effect with my connecting flights. Each insurance company seems to claim 'flight cancellation cover' but this turns out to be only if the passenger cancels the flight, not the carrier. I cancelled the insurance cover I had when I found out they didn't cover this eventuality but have been surprised that I can't find any company that covers this most basic event. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[trooper]

I am assuming you have booked separate tickets for these "connecting" flights? If not I don't understand the problem as the airline would be responsible for sorting out misconnects if it was all on one PNR....

Assuming separate tickets then...I think the problem is that the risks involved in booking such unprotected "connections" are so high as to be effectively uninsurable... the insurance companies would end up paying out a fortune in change fees/higher fares... and wouldn't be able to help anyway if the subsequent tickets were non refundable/non changeable...

It's often a great way to save money.. but it is also an easy way to get bitten. I do it regularly.. but I generally build in an overnight stop between each ticket.

 

[Libby-Lee]

I am assuming you have booked separate tickets for these "connecting" flights? If not I don't understand the problem as the airline would be responsible for sorting out misconnects if it was all on one PNR....

Assuming separate tickets then...I think the problem is that the risks involved in booking such unprotected "connections" are so high as to be effectively uninsurable... the insurance companies would end up paying out a fortune in change fees/higher fares... and wouldn't be able to help anyway if the subsequent tickets were non refundable/non changeable...

It's often a great way to save money.. but it is also an easy way to get bitten. I do it regularly.. but I generally build in an overnight stop between each ticket.

Hi

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I was talking to a friend who is also travelling overseas this year and he was surprised to find out that he wasn't covered for carrier flight cancellations. I think a lot of people just assume this is covered. My problem is that Garuda keep changing the flight times so I am thinking I will have to book two lots of connecting flights just in case. At least that will save us from being stranded in Amsterdam.

 

[serfty]

In years gone by most Tourists would traditionally go to a TA or Airline travel office who would book all the flights on the one booking.

If a carrier changed a flight, the passenger would be protected and a free re-route would be provided by the carrier. So TI was not required.

These days with the ability to book via the web, multi segment, multi booking itineraries, one takes such a risk.

As a result, many TI policies won't provide flight cover for missed connections on different bookings - if on the same booking the PAX was covered by the carriers.