Cancellation fees vs Travel insurance costs

[Patience]

Hi, I'm trying to decide if we should purchase travel insurance since we are traveling in September during hurricane season. As I understand it, if we cancel our trip within 30 days of our check in date at the resort, we will lose our $200 deposit but the rest will be refunded. Is that correct?

Now, regarding our flights. We are flying Southwest Airlines on "wanna get away" tickets. My understanding is that if we cancel at the last minute, say due to a possible hurricane, we do not lose any money but will not be refunded any money, we will be issued a credit to use on other flights. That credit has to be used within 12 months. Is that correct also?

Thanks!

 

[Luvchefmic]

Hi, I'm trying to decide if we should purchase travel insurance since we are traveling in September during hurricane season. As I understand it, if we cancel our trip within 30 days of our check in date at the resort, we will lose our $200 deposit but the rest will be refunded. Is that correct?

Now, regarding our flights. We are flying Southwest Airlines on "wanna get away" tickets. My understanding is that if we cancel at the last minute, say due to a possible hurricane, we do not lose any money but will not be refunded any money, we will be issued a credit to use on other flights. That credit has to be used within 12 months. Is that correct also?

Thanks!

Wouldn't there be something on the SWA website that would answer your concerns? I would always get travel insurance in case anything personally happens (not weather related) like an illness or family emergency etc As far as the resort deposit I have no idea as I haven't stayed on-site in a while surely the website or calling will have answers for that too I hope you do come Sept is a great time of year to be here IMHO

 

[larryz]

Travel insurance covers so much more than just cancellation fees.

Imagine the expense involved in a sudden emergency, like appendicitis, that would take the victim and at least one family member completely out of the vacation equation! Travel insurance will make sure you're made whole on the extra expenses you incurred and the vacation expenses you've already committed.

Of course, you should read all the terms and conditions before entering into any travel insurance contract, but far and away, the amount you pay for the insurance will likely be repaid many times over IF you need it.

If you don't need it, consider it a good value for your peace of mind.

Airlines (and Disney) routinely waive any change or cancellation fees when air traffic is disrupted by major storms. I believe Southwest will keep your ticket price on file as a credit against future flights; the rub is in finding flights at the same or similar airfares you originally booked. And I think the one-year limit is correct.

 

[pmaurer74]

We get it if we fly but if we drive we do not figuring that we would only be out the $200 of something happened and Disney is very good at rescheduling you if events come up. We had to reschedule our trip last year when my uncle died. Disney care more about you coming back and spending money than making you mad. However, My FIL had insurance and needed to go to the hospital. His insurance would not pay so the travel insurance did. If he did not have travel insurance it would have cost him 10k in hospital bills.

 

[scard192]

We are traveling (flying) the end of October and I am trying to decide if I want to purchase the insurance too because of hurricanes. I know the airlines usually waive the change fee in the event of a hurricane but what if we couldn't get another flight for 2-3 days? We would lose out on that many days of Disney and room costs, park tickets. I am still on the fence about buying it.

 

[Patience]

Wouldn't there be something on the SWA website that would answer your concerns? I would always get travel insurance in case anything personally happens (not weather related) like an illness or family emergency etc As far as the resort deposit I have no idea as I haven't stayed on-site in a while surely the website or calling will have answers for that too I hope you do come Sept is a great time of year to be here IMHO

Yes, I have checked the SWA website and it appears that you do received a full credit that is good for 12 months if you need to cancel. However, we have never flown Southwest before and, quite honestly, that seems almost too good to be true based upon my experiences with other airlines. So I guess I am wondering if anyone with real life experience with this can chime in. Regarding Disney, I have read different things. I found one place stating that Disney will cancel your package and refund your full amount if a hurricane warning is issued for Orlando or your home area within 7 days of your check in. I read somewhere else that you lose your $200 deposit but not the rest. I'm just trying to figure it out and I thought someone here might know.

 

[Patience]

Travel insurance covers so much more than just cancellation fees.

Imagine the expense involved in a sudden emergency, like appendicitis, that would take the victim and at least one family member completely out of the vacation equation! Travel insurance will make sure you're made whole on the extra expenses you incurred and the vacation expenses you've already committed.

Of course, you should read all the terms and conditions before entering into any travel insurance contract, but far and away, the amount you pay for the insurance will likely be repaid many times over IF you need it.

If you don't need it, consider it a good value for your peace of mind.

Airlines (and Disney) routinely waive any change or cancellation fees when air traffic is disrupted by major storms. I believe Southwest will keep your ticket price on file as a credit against future flights; the rub is in finding flights at the same or similar airfares you originally booked. And I think the one-year limit is correct.

Right, I never travel out of the country without travel insurance. We have traveled to Asia, to Europe, to South America and to the Carribean. I would never travel internationally without it. However, I am trying to calculate the benefit of travel insurance to Disney World. Our health insurance would cover us if we became sick or injured in Florida. We are flying nonstop so that lowers the risk of our luggage being lost. Using your example of appendicitis, as I am understanding things, if I became sick with appendicitis the day before we were to leave on our trip, my husband could cancel our WDW package and we would lose our $200 deposit (right?). Our SW flights could be canceled and we would receive a credit for the full amount of our flights that could be used within 12 months. Now, if one of us became sick or injured while actually on our vacation, we would lose the rest of our trip package but since we are only going to be there 5 nights and 6 days, that might be a risk I am willing to take. I am just wondering what everyone thinks or has experienced.

Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

Yes, I have checked the SWA website and it appears that you do received a full credit that is good for 12 months if you need to cancel. However, we have never flown Southwest before and, quite honestly, that seems almost too good to be true based upon my experiences with other airlines. So I guess I am wondering if anyone with real life experience with this can chime in. Regarding Disney, I have read different things. I found one place stating that Disney will cancel your package and refund your full amount if a hurricane warning is issued for Orlando or your home area within 7 days of your check in. I read somewhere else that you lose your $200 deposit but not the rest. I'm just trying to figure it out and I thought someone here might know.

Yes, SW is more liberal than other airlines with no change fee. The credit is good for 12 months from the original purchase date. It must be used by the same person as ticketed. You will have to pay any increase in fare.

 

[Patience]

Yes, SW is more liberal than other airlines with no change fee. The credit is good for 12 months from the original purchase date. It must be used by the same person as ticketed. You will have to pay any increase in fare.

Awesome! Southwest just became my favorite airline! They are new to my city but I am happy they are here! Our roundtrip, nonstop airfare to Orlando was only $138 per person including taxes, etc. so they were substantially less expensive than everyone else too.

 

[BeerMe]

It's a gamble like any other insurance - but I wonder how many people actually make a claim on it. Not very many I bet.

 

[mjohnson96]

We pretty much fly only Southwest and have never had an issue, this trip I have had to not only change our dates but where we are flying into and the times. The only extra I paid was if the fare was higher or lower

Also, we have had to cancel flights with southwest and you have one year from the date you bought the tickets. That is the key thing....the day you bought them. So if you buy in January for a June flight you have to fly by the next January to not lose the fare. Also, only the original name on the ticket can use that ticket. Use to be they would allow you to use the fare for anyone but they changed that a couple years ago.

I love southwest and have only had good experiences with them and we fly with them as a family 2-3 times a year roundtrip and then I fly for work 10-15 times each year.


On the trip insurance, some other good things are that if you are someone gets hurt or sick then you are covered as well. Those late night ear infections, or maybe a fall that results in a broken bone can add up when you are not in your own insurance network.

 

[girlb4amirror]

We always buy travel insurance for a trip as big as Disney. For our family of four, I think it was only about $130. Compared to the price of the trip, it was small! And it covers you if your trip is interrupted too. What if there is a major problem on Day 2 of your trip? You have to use your flights, so that money is gone. You've started using your Disney tickets and would have to pay the expensive charge to add the no expiration option. For me, it's worth the peace of mind to have the insurance.

 

[wdw&sonny]

we never buy travel insurance.

Because we don't pre-pay. Packages are more expensive than getting airfare, lodging, tickets and food separately. Airfare can be trickey depending on the airline, but most will give at least a voucher good for one year. Cancellation on lodging (when you don't buy the package) is usually 24 hr notice and no charge. Tickets--why buy them ahead of time?...just buy them when you get there at the resort. Food...another reason to pay out of pocket.

Basically, I don't invest much ahead of time to make buying special trip insurance a consideration.

 

[mickeynut1]

if I became sick with appendicitis the day before we were to leave on our trip, my husband could cancel our WDW package and we would lose our $200 deposit (right?). Our SW flights could be canceled and we would receive a credit for the full amount of our flights that could be used within 12 months.

If you cancel, yes, you would get a refund of what you paid, minus the $200 cancellation fee. However, if there is a chance you could reschedule for a later time, I think you could modify your reservation to reflect the new dates and not be charged the $200 cancellation fee as you wouldn't actually be cancelling, but rather just changing dates. If your package price was to decrease, you would be charged a $50 change fee; however, if it were to stay the same or increase, there shouldn't be a change fee. With that said, I think you would be charged a $15 fee as any changes made 14 days or less prior to arrival incurs this fee (regardless of whether or not the total cost goes up or down).

Cancellation on lodging (when you don't buy the package) is usually 24 hr notice and no charge.

Disney requires at least 5 days prior to arrival for cancellation of a room only reservation to avoid a cancellation fee. Any cancellations made less than 5 day prior to arrival incurs a penalty of 1 night's room rate + tax.

 

[fla4fun]

Basically, you have to sit down and calculate exactly what you stand to lose as far as pre-paid expenses if you have a worst case scenario. Worst case with a hurricane may not be a storm that prevents you from going in the first place. Worst case may be a storm that hits just as you are ready to leave - with no room left at a Disney resort to stay extra nights (especially if people have evacuated and booked the available space - that happens), or perhaps you've checked out and headed to the airport only to find that they have started cancelling flights and the airport will now be closed until the storm passes - and they won't let you just ride it out in the terminal so now you have to look for a place to stay and a way to get there. Insurance will help with expenses you incur if you have to book a few nights at the airport hotel or one nearby, it may provide money for food and other incidentals as well.

I generally don't buy travel insurance unless I'm traveling outside the US, and then it's as much for the medical coverage as anything else. But it really does depend on how much money you have invested in the trip, and how much you could lose if the worst happens.

 

[momofkids]

We don't buy trip insurance for US trips. Our Visa card covers us for a lot of travel issues as long as the trip was charged to the Visa. This might be something for you to look into. It is free travel insurance that is already there as a perk.

 

[Ofinn]

Hi, I'm trying to decide if we should purchase travel insurance since we are traveling in September during hurricane season. As I understand it, if we cancel our trip within 30 days of our check in date at the resort, we will lose our $200 deposit but the rest will be refunded. Is that correct?

Now, regarding our flights. We are flying Southwest Airlines on "wanna get away" tickets. My understanding is that if we cancel at the last minute, say due to a possible hurricane, we do not lose any money but will not be refunded any money, we will be issued a credit to use on other flights. That credit has to be used within 12 months. Is that correct also?

Thanks!

That is all correct. I wouldn't waste your money on trip insurance They will refund your money if you want to cancel minus 200.00. I'm not sure if they have a hurricane policy, but I would think if a major hurricane were to strike Florida they might wave the deposit. Disney is pretty easy to deal with as far as cancellations and changes. They will definitely let you move it to a different date without penalty.