When it comes to severe weather, here are some examples of how insurance may enable travelers to receive reimbursement of pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs if they must cancel a trip due to severe weather-related issues that are covered under the trip cancellation benefit.
Flights are grounded due to weather: Many plans may cover a traveler when common carriers such as airlines and cruise lines cease service due to weather. The cessation of services must be for a certain number of hours, usually 24-48.
Resort is in the path of severe weather: A few plans may cover when a traveler’s destination is under a NOAA-issued storm warning. But.. and there’s a big BUT here.. In order to receive reimbursement for a weather-related delay or cancellation, a travel insurance policy must have been purchased before a storm was known/named.
Weather damaged my hotel or resort: Many plans may cover a traveler when a hotel, resort, or vacation rental is devastated and made uninhabitable by a storm or weather event.
Storms and Airline Cancellation Policies
Flight cancellation policies vary by airline and circumstance. When an airline cancels a flight due to weather, most will try to rebook passengers on the next available flight.
Airlines are not required to reimburse travelers for losses incurred because of a canceled flight due to weather. Travelers concerned about protecting pre-paid, non-refundable trip expenses should buy travel insurance. Insurance policies will protect and reimburse travelers for expenses incurred due to a weather delay or cancellation.
