Flight delays, cancellations, and missed connections can quickly derail your travel plans and your budget. Flight insurance provides reimbursement if these disruptions impact your travel plans, offering some much-needed financial protection and peace of mind.
We analyzed 100+ flight travel insurance policies from the nation’s top insurance companies to find the best flight insurance coverage for your journey.
See a full breakdown of our picks for the best flight insurance plans.
Flight insurance is a specialized type of coverage that protects your financial investment in airfare. It typically covers a range of scenarios, including flight cancellations, delays, and interruptions.
For example, if your flight gets canceled due to inclement weather, or you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason, flight insurance may help you recover the cost of the tickets. Many policies also offer protection for missed connections, delayed luggage, and medical emergencies, ensuring you're covered if your trip takes a turn for the worse.
When purchasing flight insurance, you can choose between plans offered:
Oftentimes, you can find better value by taking time to compare policies side-by-side.
Many travelers purchase flight protection from reputable, independent insurance companies. This approach can often lead to superior coverage for less.
Major airlines often partner with large travel insurance companies to offer basic trip protection to their customers. This coverage is often specific to your flight and is not intended to cover the entirety of your trip.
See our full review of flight insurance policies from major airlines.
Flight insurance, like other types of travel insurance, provides reimbursement for covered financial losses caused by unexpected events such as flight cancellations, lengthy delays, medical emergencies, and mishandled luggage. These plans are not designed to cover costs if you choose to cancel your flight on a whim.
To receive compensation, you must file a claim with your insurance company and provide any available supporting documentation. The claims process typically takes 4-6 weeks.
Unlike policies purchased directly through airlines, flight travel insurance plans from independent providers protect you for the entirety of your trip, beyond just your time in the sky. Flight insurance coverage varies by provider, but most offer the coverage listed below.
Flight cancellation insurance can reimburse up to 100% of your non-refundable trip costs if you cancel for a covered reason, such as an illness, injury, or a family emergency. Without this coverage, airlines refuse refunds or charge sizable rebooking fees.
Flight insurance can reimburse you for significant delays (typically 3+ hours). Covered expenses typically include food, overnight accommodations, and transportation while you await your new departure time.
If an unexpected travel delay results in a missed connection, flight insurance can reimburse additional expenses incurred to make new travel arrangements in order to catch up to your trip.
Flight insurance plans can cover you for unexpected medical emergencies while traveling, including hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription medication. Most plans also include coverage for emergency evacuations.
Trip Interruption coverage can reimburse your unused travel expenses if you are forced to end your trip early due to an unforeseen event, such as a natural disaster or family emergency.
Airlines mishandle millions of bags each year. Most flight travel insurance plans include reimbursement for lost, stolen, or delayed baggage, ensuring you’re not stuck without your belongings.
Common flight travel insurance exclusions include:
As coverage varies based on the individual plan you choose, it’s important to review the fine print to understand its exact limitations and exclusions.
Comprehensive coverage that includes flight cancellation insurance, medical coverage, and other popular benefits costs $30 per day on average.
This figure is based on data from all Squaremouth sales for flight insurance over the past 12 months. The average flight insurance cost was $415, with an average trip length of 14 days.
Several factors determine your flight insurance cost, including trip length, coverage limits, and traveler age, and insured travel expenses. Flight insurance premiums typically range from 4-10% of your prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses.
Before purchasing a flight insurance policy, consider the following tips from Squaremouth:
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Flight insurance isn’t always necessary, but it can save you time and money when travel headaches strike.
For many, flight insurance coverage may be worth the cost if:
That said, whether flight insurance is worth it for you depends on your unique travel situation, the cost and complexity of your trip, and your personal risk tolerance. For some travelers, insurance might be a wise investment. For others, it could be an unnecessary added expense.
Finding the best flight insurance plan comes down to comparing your options and choosing coverage that matches your needs. Instead of settling for limited airline-offered plans, take a moment to shop around and get better protection at a better price.
When searching for the best coverage, you should:
Squaremouth shares their tips and recommendations based on the most frequently asked questions from passengers.
Yes, you can purchase travel insurance anytime after booking your flight up until your departure date. With that said, it’s best to buy coverage as soon as possible.
The earlier you purchase, the more coverage options you’ll have. Buying travel insurance early also allows you to qualify for time-sensitive benefits like pre-existing condition waivers and Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage.
Travel insurance covers flight cancellations and delays that result from covered events, such as inclement weather or a mechanical breakdown. In the event your travel plans are impacted, your policy may cover the cost to book new travel arrangements.
Travel insurance does not cover voluntary changes to your plans, like wanting a new departure time or no longer wanting to travel. For the most cancellation flexibility, purchase a policy that includes the CFAR upgrade.
Flight cancellation insurance can reimburse you for non-refundable travel expenses, including airline tickets, if you cancel your trip for a covered reason. Most plans cover cancellations relating to an unexpected illness, injury, family emergency, or severe weather events.
To file a flight insurance claim, start by checking your coverage and collecting the right documents. These quick steps can help speed up your reimbursement.
Airline travel insurance is typically offered during the booking process and provides basic protection focused on flight-related issues, like cancellations or delays. It’s fast and convenient—just a few extra clicks—but it usually comes from a single provider with limited customization.
Third-party flight travel insurance, on the other hand, gives you access to a broader selection of policies from multiple insurers. You can shop directly or use a comparison site like Squaremouth to get multiple flight insurance quotes and find a plan that better fits your trip.
Here’s how they compare: