Trip Protection - worth the extra $$?

[sudwel]

I'm getting ready to book our flights through AirTran and have come to the "Trip Protection" decision!!

We're leaving October 4, returning October 11 - and I'm not certain!! You never know what COULD happen - but, I don't forsee any issues... that make it worth adding $15 to each ticket...

Advice?

Darlene

 

[ParrotBill]

I have not read the fine print on Airtran's trip protection but it likely only covers the tickets.

If you want to have trip insurance that covers a lot more (but still with exceptions) consider booking a generalized trip insurance package.

Here's a site that compares benefits and terms for you

http://www.insuremytrip.com/

 

[jlewisinsyr]

IMO, its not worth it for domestic travel unless you have a pre-existing condition that has the near-term potential of creating a problem. Otherwise, no.

The risk is too low in terms of cash loss on a domestic trip in most cases, even more so to Disney.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

I believe the only reason to buy insurance is to protect yourself from something you can't afford. Otherwise, you are just gambling.

If you do feel the need to buy trip insurance, be sure to get actual trip insurance. "Trip protection" is often a way to turn something with bad odds (trip insurance) into something worse.

 

[sudwel]

Thanks everyone - really - it *IS* a good chunk of coin to be out if something happens and we can't go - but - we aren't paying for accommodations so our flights would be the only thing we're out if we can't go for some reason - and I think in the "big picture" - we'd be okay!

Thanks again!
VERY happy I found this board - I'm new at booking these kind of travel arrangements!!

Now.. off to book our flights (without the insurance!) and a rental car (without their insurance either - my insurer will cover rentals for only $25 extra a year - i think we can handle that!!)

Darlene

 

[NJBILL]

You can get a general policy to cover ALL of your trip, not just tickets for under $80 for a family of 5..We have used trip insurance twice in the last five years due to weather related conditions and saved almost $1,000 in extra costs if we did not have it.. If you are spending $3,000-$5,000 for a family vacation, it's worth $78 IMO...
We always use this company with 100% satisfaction
http://tripinsurancestore.com/

 

[kevgraub]

One thing to keep in mind if you decide to buy trip insurance is that you are only buying protection for the prepaid, non-refundable portions of the trip.

For example, our total package cost for our trip to WDW is just over $2,000. However, we can cancel at the last minute and only be hit with a $200 penalty, and Disney will refund the rest. So when adding that into the "cost of trip" portion of the insurance, be sure to only use $200 and not $2,000, it may make a difference in your premiums.

We used insuremytrip.com and went with a Travel Guard policy (had used them in the past for some international trips as well). The total cost was $60 for our entire family.

 

[TheWog]

I get it when taking a cruise in the winter, but not for land based vacations. Not worth it to us.