Flight delayed or cancelled due to fog or other emergency; know how you can claim insurance

Flights or trains are supposed to cover long distances in short durations. But what if your flight is delayed or cancelled? 

What if weather plays a spoilsport, or some emergency arises, and your journey to a destination wedding or an exotic location hits a roadblock?

You are left in despair, scratching your head in frustration. Occasions can't be recreated; holidays are enjoyed with a happy mind, but a flight delay or cancellation can make you feel helpless.

But what do you do when you are at such an emotional loss? You feel you should be compensated.

But how? Moments that you have missed due to a flight delay or cancellation can't be revived.

The best possible way is monetary compensation.

It helps you recover your monetary losses, if not your emotional losses.

Amid such a backdrop comes the importance of travel insurance.

Though many people ignore it while booking their journey tickets, it comes handy in the event of an unforeseen emergency.

In this write-up, through expert views, you will learn about the coverage of travel insurance policies, the reasons why you should purchase them, the monetary losses that can be recovered through them, and how you can claim insurance in case of flight delays or cancelations.

First, take a look at how many flights have been delayed in the last two months and how many passengers have been affected because of that. 

Vivek Chaturvedi, CMO and Head of Direct Sales, Digit General Insurance, said, "Between January and December 2023, Indian domestic airlines saw 22.5 lakh passengers being affected due to flight delays and 2.84 lakh passengers due to flight cancellations. In fact, December 2023 alone saw 3.64 lakh passengers affected due to flight delays and over 35,000 due to flight cancellations. In the last two weeks, too, we have seen multiple flights getting cancelled and delayed substantially due to dense fog that has enveloped north India."

He added that claims due to flight delays are the third most common trip-related travel insurance claims he sees in his company. When a flight is delayed, travellers are typically not given any monetary refund from the airline. However, travel insurance provides benefits to the traveller in case a flight is delayed beyond a certain number of hours, as mentioned in the policy.

What is a flight delay?

The definition of a flight delay may vary from one travel insurer to another.

Their criteria may differ in terms of delay duration and the moment they start counting delay time.

So, when you are purchasing an insurance policy, it is better to read and know these conditions in advance.

"Various insurers may adopt different criteria. Some consider the moment the aircraft leaves the parking bay or releases its parking brakes as the starting point, while others use the time when the aircraft takes off and leaves the airport strip. Eligibility for a claim is established if this duration exceeds the specified delayed hours outlined in the policy," says Chaturvedi.

Manas Kapoor, Business Head-Travel Insurance, Policybazaar.com, said, "A travel insurance policy that provides coverage for flight delays offers a reliable safety net for travellers, protecting them against the incidental expenses that may arise in the event of a delayed flight exceeding the stipulated duration, which is usually around 120-150 minutes."

Is weather the only criteria for travel insurance claim?

Inclement weather is not the only criteria for filing a travel insurance claim.

As per Kapoor, the unavailability of key airline personnel or support staff, technical issues or equipment failure in the aircraft, air traffic congestion, operational challenges like crew scheduling issues, or delays resulting from the cancellation or rescheduling of other flights are some of the issues where the insurer steps in to compensate customers.

Susheel Tejuja, Founder and Managing Director, PolicyBoss.com, said, "Special covers like cancellation for any reason, trip delay, and baggage delay/loss are now offered for domestic travel, thereby offering greater peace of mind, especially when your trip is impacted by inclement weather."

Can you be compensated if you cancel your trip?

Cancellation doesn't mean that it has to be done from the airline's side.

There may be circumstances in your life where you have to cancel your trip for any reason.

Travel insurers cover cancellations from your side if there is a medical emergency, social disturbances, natural disasters, your requirement in a legal proceeding, a government travel advisory, etc.

"You are eligible for a claim if you cancel your trip due to hospitalisation arising from a medical emergency for yourself, your travel companion, or a family member. Claims are also applicable if the trip is cancelled due to unforeseen events like strikes, riots, or natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, etc., at your destination," says Chaurvedi.

He adds, "Additionally, claims can be made if you need to stay in your city due to a legal case or if there's a government-issued travel advisory, mandatory quarantine, or travel restrictions. Unable to travel due to the loss of a passport before international travel is also covered under this policy.".

Things covered under cancellations

In the event of a flight cancellation, the coverage extends to reimbursing the non-refundable amount not covered by the airline.

The broader scope of trip cancellation coverage includes covering expenses for travel, accommodation, excursions, or planned events up to the insured sum. 

"Your insurance policy may also cover the cost of accommodation if you have to stay overnight due to the delay. However, it's important to be aware of any deductibles associated with this benefit. For example, if there is a 6-hour deductible for flight delays, you will only be able to claim the benefits after this time has elapsed," says Kapoor.

How to file a travel insurance claim?

Over the years, many insurers have deployed automation and tech integration to ease the claim filing process.

To make a claim, you will need to contact the source from which you bought the travel insurance, and they will help with the remaining process.

"Submitting any reports or documents from the airline can help strengthen your claim," says Kapoor.

Documents required for claim process

Here are the documents that you will need to file a claim for a flight delay:

1. A completed and signed claim form.

2. A confirmation letter from the airline, which explicitly states the duration and reason for the flight delay.

3. A copy of the policyholder's Indian bank cancelled cheque or bank account statement that contains the account number, account holder's name, branch name, and IFSC code.

4. Lastly, you will need to provide a passport with exit and entry stamps or your boarding pass.

Flight delays or cancellations due to inclement weather, personal emergencies, unforeseen events, natural disasters, social disturbances, or government-issued advisories can't be predicted.

They may cause emotional and monetary losses.

Though not all types of losses can be covered, one can cover the monetary loss to a great extent through a travel insurance policy.

One has to shell out some extra money from their pocket to purchase a travel cover, but it can help them a long way when things go haywire.

Tejuja sums it up: "Rain or shine, travel insurance acts as the travellers' safety net, guaranteeing that every trip, irrespective of hiccups that come along the way, receives the resolute support required for a worry-free travel experience."