Missing your connecting flight or not getting to your cruise departure on time can be very annoying. Whether the missed connection was due to airline technical issues or weather, the inconvenience may also be very expensive. If you own a travel insurance policy, missed connection coverage can reimburse you for the expenses associated with your trip.
What is Missed Connection Travel Insurance?
Missed connection travel insurance pays you for costs incurred because you miss a cruise, flight, or other transportation due to an unfortunate event not covered by the policy. This coverage is typically sold as a part of a travel insurance policy, or it can be purchased separately as an add-on coverage.
How Missed Connection Travel Insurance Work
Missed connection coverage is usually included in travel insurance but might not be part of a basic policy. To get this coverage in your policy, you might need to upgrade your plan or add it separately.
For instance, the Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection ExactCare Value plan doesn’t contain missed connection coverage, but upgrading to the ExactCare or AdrenalineCare plans does. Meanwhile, the Travelsafe Insurance Classic plan offers up to $2,500 in missed connection coverage.
Since different insurers have various terms and limits for missed connection reimbursement, it’s smart to compare and read the details of several policies before you choose one.
What Does Missed Connection Travel Insurance Cover?
Just like I have mentioned above, this coverage helps to join your trip due to a reason that is covered by the policy. The policy rules vary, and the reasons covered might include:
- Being hijacked
- A strike, terrorist attack, or natural disaster
- A certified delay by a common carrier, such as an airline
- documented weather issues that prevent you from getting to the departing location.
For instance, if you were stuck on the tarmac for about 5 hours because of an airline or weather delay and missed your connecting flight, missed connection insurance can help cover some of the costs to get you back on track. This insurance coverage typically covers extra transportation expenses to catch up with your trip or nonrefundable payments you could not use because of the unfortunate delay.
Missed connection coverage is usually part of a comprehensive travel insurance plan. The travel insurance policy also includes things like trip cancellations and travel medical insurance. If a basic travel insurance plan doesn’t contain this coverage, you may be able to add it as an optional extra.
What is Not Covered by Missed Connection Travel Insurance?
There are many events that are not covered by missed connection insurance. They include;
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Insurrection or riot
- War, civil war, or invasion
- Attempt or commission to commit an illegal act
- Being under the influence of alcohol, intoxicants, or drugs
Some policies might just cover certain types of travel. For instance, “cruise and tour only” or cruise only. This means the policy will only reimburse for this travel. Keep in mind that this coverage does not apply where you are returning.
Other Types of Travel Insurance coverage
Missed connection coverage is just one part of the travel insurance plan. Depending on your trip, you can consider other types to fit your needs, such as
- Cancel for any reason coverage: This covers a portion of your prepaid, forfeited, and nonrefundable trip payment if you have to cancel your trip. You need to purchase this coverage within the first 2 or 3 weeks of your trip payment.
- Trip interruption or cancellation coverage: This reimburses you for prepaid, forfeited, and nonrefundable trip payments if you have to cut your trip short or cancel because of a reason that is covered by the policy.
- Travel delay coverage: Mostly confused with missed connection coverage, travel delay coverage covers the cost of accommodations, meals, and other miscellaneous bills if your trip gets delayed for a reason covered by the policy.
- Emergency medical coverage: It covers medical expenses if you suffer an injury or illness during the trip.
- Lost or damaged baggage coverage: It covers your baggage. If it gets stolen, lost, or damaged up to the coverage limit.
- Emergency transportation coverage: This helps to cover the cost of transporting someone to a hospital or other medical facility for treatment of a medical emergency if there is no local facility that can offer enough care.
Is Missed Connection Travel Insurance coverage worth it?
The value of this coverage is based on your trip itinerary. For instance, if you are going to San Francisco for the weekend on a non-stop flight, you may not need this coverage.
However, if you are going on a Mediterranean cruise and your flight lands about 8 hours after your cruise departs, missed connection coverage may be a good purchase.
