Canadian travellers facing flight disruptions to and from the United States are discovering a harsh reality: their travel insurance policies might not provide the protection they expected. Recent widespread cancellations affecting major U.S. airlines have left many passengers stranded and facing unexpected expenses.
The Fine Print Matters
Travel insurance policies typically contain numerous exclusions that can leave passengers without coverage during widespread flight disruptions. Many standard policies exclude weather-related cancellations, air traffic control decisions, and airline operational issues from their coverage terms.
Most travel insurance providers consider airline operational decisions as foreseeable business risks, which means they fall outside standard coverage parameters. This includes crew shortages, maintenance problems, and other airline-specific issues that frequently cause cancellations.
What Travel Insurance Typically Covers
While coverage varies by provider, most comprehensive travel insurance policies do offer protection for specific scenarios. These typically include trip cancellation due to documented medical emergencies, severe weather warnings that make travel impossible, or terrorist incidents at your destination.
Some premium policies may also cover mechanical breakdowns of the specific aircraft you're scheduled to fly on, but this is often subject to strict conditions and documentation requirements.
Protecting Your Next Trip
Experts recommend that Canadian travellers carefully review their insurance policies before booking flights, particularly during peak travel seasons. Consider purchasing cancel-for-any-reason coverage if you're concerned about potential disruptions, though this typically comes with higher premiums and must be purchased soon after making your initial trip deposit.
Additionally, booking flights with credit cards that offer built-in travel protection can provide an extra layer of security. Many premium travel credit cards include trip cancellation and interruption insurance as part of their benefits package.
With air travel volatility expected to continue, understanding your insurance coverage before you travel could save you significant stress and financial loss when disruptions occur.
