Missed Connection Insurance Coverage

What is Missed Connection Insurance?

Missed Connection is a travel insurance benefit that reimburses you if you miss a connecting flight, cruise departure, or tour departure due to a significant delay of a common carrier. This coverage is especially useful if you’ve booked indirect flights or a trip with multiple legs to reach your final destination.

Missed Connections is one of the few ways in which travel insurance policies can financially protect you against trip delays. The majority of travel insurance companies include this benefit as part of their standard protection at no additional cost.

Coverage limits, exclusions, and eligibility requirements for this benefit may differ by policy.

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FAQs: Missed Connection Insurance

What Does Missed Connection Travel Insurance Cover?

Missed Connections is one of the few ways in which travel insurance policies can financially protect you against flight or cruise departure due to a covered delay or cancellation.

Coverage limits typically range between $250 and $1,000 per traveler. Some plans may also include daily limits, which outline the maximum dollar amount you can be reimbursed per day following the missed connection until you reach your destination.

Plans that include Missed Connection coverage may cover the following costs:

• Necessary transportation expenses for you to catch up to your trip, such as making new travel arrangements
• Reasonable accommodations and meal expenses while you wait for your new departure time
• Prepaid, non-refundable trip costs you miss out on as a result of missing your connection, such as hotel stays, excursions, and planned transportation

If you do miss a flight for a reason you believe is covered by your travel insurance policy, we recommend keeping all receipts, communication, credit card statements, and other relevant documentation readily available. This will help when it comes time to file a claim.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements for Missed Connection Coverage?

To qualify for reimbursement through your travel insurance plan’s Missed Connection benefit, you must first experience a covered common carrier delay.

Commonly covered reasons for a delay include mechanical issues of a common carrier, inclement weather, natural disaster, or other documented severe weather conditions that prevent you from reaching your destination.

Next, you must meet your travel insurance plan’s minimum delay period. Most travel insurance providers that offer this coverage will only provide coverage if you are delayed at least three hours.

Be sure to review the policy wording for specific details about your travel insurance coverage. This can be found within a policy’s Certificate of Insurance.

What Isn’t Covered by Missed Connection Travel Insurance?

Missed Connection coverage is designed to protect against unforeseen events out of your control, such as unexpected flight delays and cancellations. Missing a connecting flight for a reason not listed in your policy will likely not be covered.

While limitations vary by plan, most plans will not reimburse you if you miss a connecting flight or cruise departure for the following reasons:

• Insufficient layover time between flights
• Personal negligence, such as falling asleep or going to the wrong gate
• Known events or delays announced before your policy was purchased
• Travel changes made voluntarily, including switching flights or choosing an alternate route

Does Travel Insurance Cover Missed Cruise Departures?

Yes, the Missed Connection can provide coverage for additional expenses incurred if you miss your cruise departure because of an unexpected delay in your travel schedule.

In the event this situation arises, your Missed Connection benefit may reimburse transportation expenses, such as flights, ferries, or trains, to catch up with your cruise at its next port.

Some plans may also reimburse you for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses you lose because of a missed cruise departure. This can include excursions, onboard activities, cruise packages, and more.

What Does “Cruise and Tour Only” Mean?

When comparing Missed Connection coverage across multiple policies, you may encounter plans that offer reimbursement for “Cruise and tour only.” This means the benefit applies exclusively to missed cruise or guided tour departures, rather than covering missed connections for flights or other types of transportation.

For example, if a flight delay causes you to miss your cruise departure, this coverage could reimburse you for the extra costs of catching up to the ship at the next port. However, if the same delay were to cause you to miss a flight connection, you wouldn’t be eligible for reimbursement under this type of plan.

If you’re concerned about missing a connecting flight, it’s important to choose a plan that does not limit Missed Connection coverage to “cruise and tour only.”

Do All Travel Insurance Polices Cover Missed Flights?

Yes, travel insurance can provide reimbursement for missed flights, but coverage can vary widely by policy.

If you miss your initial flight, your plan’s Travel Delay coverage may reimburse you for additional expenses, like food and accommodation, while you await your new departure time. To qualify for coverage, you must miss your flight due to a covered reason, such as:

• A traffic accident en route to departure
• Lost travel documents, such as a passport or driver’s license
• Road closures that prevent you from reaching your point of departure

If you miss a connecting flight, your Missed Connection coverage may be able to reimburse you for additional expenses to catch up to your trip. To be eligible for reimbursement, your reason for missing your connection must be covered, such as:

• Inclement weather
• Mechanical breakdown
• Natural disaster
• Airline strike

Is Missed Connection Insurance Worth It?

Yes, purchasing travel insurance can provide you with peace of mind and financial protection when your travel schedule takes an unexpected turn. Missed Connection is a popular benefit that is typically included in standard travel insurance coverage, so having this coverage typically does not add to your premium.

If you’re planning a trip that involves multiple legs en route to your destination, we recommend finding a travel insurance policy that includes strong Missed Connection coverage.

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Please be aware that coverage and eligibility requirements for this benefit differ by policy.

Looking for a policy with Missed Connection coverage?

Enter your trip information on our custom quote form. Once you receive your results, select the Missed Connection filter to find the best policy for your trip with the coverage that you need.