Travel Insurance Opinions and suggestions

[sk!mom]

After two years of canceling and postponing, DH and I booked 10 days in Ireland for this summer. All of our lodging can be canceled up to a few days before so no worries there. Our rental car can also be canceled.

Airfare is the concern. Pricey tickets that we would hate to eat if the worst happened. Does anyone know of a good policy that would cover a Covid cancelation?

 

[JLemaire7]

You probably need cancel for any reason insurance. Aren’t the airlines giving flight credits? If possible maybe choose an airline that you know you would fly with in the next year or so incase you have to cancel and get a credit.

 

[dvcgirl67]

You'd have to get "CFAR" insurance..."cancel for any reason". It can be pricey you'd get 75% of your money back. We had flights from last year on American that we cancelled due to the Delta variant taking off in Puerto Rico (where we were headed), and had until the end of this year to use it. So we used that credit for an upcoming trip to Cabo. We booked another trip for later in the year to Costa Rica on United. I'm not even sure of the cancellation policy on that flight, but both hotels are full refund within seven days. We're okay with planning another trip with a flight credit. There are no change fees, so that's a positive thing.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Do you not have trip cancellation on your credit card? We also charge trips to the credit card with trip insurance.

 

[sk!mom]

Do you not have trip cancellation on your credit card? We also charge trips to the credit card with trip insurance.

I need to check that. Thank you

 

[dvcgirl67]

I need to check that. Thank you

We booked all travel on our AMEX card for a big trip in May of 2020. The airline (South African Airways) was totally unresponsive to our calls, emails...etc. We disputed the charge for the flights and they refunded my flights for the trip, but not my husband's flights. We had to file a complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Transportation...and we finally got our money back....well over a year later. If it's an U.S. carrier you will likely have to follow whatever rules they have in place with respect to rebooking. I don't think it's likely for any countries in the West to shut down due to Covid going forward. All to say that I wouldn't count on the credit card to refund flights that you might cancel on your own...or if you're uncomfortable taking the trip.