What to do if your flight is delayed or cancelled
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So you’re stuck at the airport … we’ve all been there. If your flight has been delayed or cancelled, or you’ve missed your connection, your airline should always be your first port of call. But travel insurance may be able to help in certain circumstances, so you can get on with your trip.
World Nomads travel insurance plans include trip interruption and trip delay coverage if your trip is interrupted or delayed due to one of the covered risks under the policy.
What to do if your flight has been cancelled or you’ve missed a connection
In many cases, if your flight has been cancelled or you miss a connection, your airline will automatically rebook you. Before you leave home, download your airline’s app, and refresh the app as soon as you realize you have flight issues.
If your airline has not automatically rebooked you, head to the service desk or call their customer care line. But don’t rush to buy a new flight, as neither the airline nor travel insurance are likely to reimburse you for a new flight.
Talk to your airline about rebooking, compensation or a full refund
Your airline is obligated to rebook you if your flight has been cancelled or you’ve been bumped from an oversold flight. Travel insurance won’t reimburse you if you’ve been bumped, so seek compensation directly from your airline. If they can’t get you on a new flight until tomorrow, ask to be rebooked on another carrier, or request meal and hotel vouchers. You must accept any reasonable alternative options offered by the airline. If you do end up making a travel insurance claim, you’ll need proof that you first sought reimbursement from your airline.
Get the essential details in writing from your airline
If the airline is unable to provide meal or hotel vouchers, you may be able to claim for reimbursement of out-of-pocket meal and lodging expenses under your trip delay benefit. You’ll need written confirmation from your airline that includes:
- The reason for the delay
- Scheduled departure and return times
- Actual departure and return times.
Head straight to the airline desk to get this critical information or ask a telephone agent to email you these details on the spot.
Keep your receipts for reasonable expenses
Remember to keep receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses you incur during your delay – you’ll need these to make a claim. Your trip delay benefit may cover taxi fares, lodging and meals while you’re delayed. And if your bags are delayed too, by more than 12 hours, keep receipts for the essential toiletries and a change of clothes that you’ll need until your trip resumes and you’re reunited with your bag.
If you do need to make a claim, check out our how to make a claim article for step-by-step guidance.
How might travel insurance help if your flight is delayed or cancelled?
Travel insurance may be able to step in where your airline falls short. Here are some situations where travel insurance may be able to provide some relief.
- If your trip is interrupted due to a covered risk under your plan, such as a strike halting all travel services at your departure point or destination, you may be able to claim for reimbursement of unused, prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs and for additional transportation expenses to your next destination.
- If you miss a connection due to a schedule change of the airline that is providing transportation for a portion of your trip due to inclement weather , you may be eligible for reimbursement of the change fee charged by the airline carrier or up to $2,000 for the extra cost of airfare to continue to your next destination Once you reach your destination, if your checked baggage is delayed by your airline or ground carrier for more than 12 hours, you may be eligible to claim for reimbursement of necessary personal effects such as essential toiletries and a change of clothes under your baggage delay benefits.
Before you leave home, you’ll want to be sure to choose the right travel insurance plan for your needs. Each of our four plans – Standard, Explorer, Epic and Annual – offers different coverages and benefit maximums.
What’s excluded if your flight is delayed or cancelled
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything. Exclusions include, but are not limited to:
- Running late, getting stuck in traffic or standing in the security line so long that you miss your flight.
- Purchase of a new flight because you didn’t want to wait to be rebooked by your airline.
- Luxury hotel suites and ordering the most expensive thing on the menu. Travel insurance is meant to cover reasonable out-of-pocket expenses if you’re delayed. Opting for expensive delay accommodation may push you past the daily limits of your delay benefits.
- Baggage delays of less than 12 hours.
- Expenses that have been reimbursed by your airline.
- Transportation expenses to return you to your home province if, prior to your effective date, you did not purchase a return air ticket to return to your home province as part of your trip.
Handy tips for flight delays and cancellations
We know delays and cancellations are frustrating, whether you’re leaving Canada to set off on your trip, are mid-way through your adventure, or trying to get home. Follow these tips to help smooth the journey.
- Prepare in advance. Download your airline’s app. Print or save a copy of your travel insurance plan documents. Check-in online if you can.
- Allow plenty of time to get to the airport and through the security line (usually a minimum of two hours for domestic and three hours for international flights, but check with your airline for guidance).
- Get to the airport earlier during peak travel periods like school holidays and long weekends, or at busy airports or major hubs. If you’re flying to the US, additional screening may apply so you may want to plan some time in that circumstance too.
- Be ready for delays and cancellations. Wear comfortable clothes; bring snacks; have reading, watching or listening material handy or downloaded for when you need it; bring a charger for your devices.
- Carry-on if you can. Having everything with you will minimize the chances of baggage loss if you miss a connection or your flight is cancelled. If you need to check your bag, carry the essentials, including medications and a change of clothes, with you.
- Know what your plan does and doesn’t cover, and when.
- Be patient and kind. Delays and cancellations are frustrating. Be kind to the customer service agents who are dealing with the demands of dozens, if not hundreds, of other passengers.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: $5,000
- Standard Plan: $2,500
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalized?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Insurance
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
- Explorer Plan: $10 million
- Standard Plan: $5 million
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.
- Explorer Plan: $500,000
- Standard Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medevac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Covers the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.
- Explorer Plan: $3,000
- Standard Plan: $1,000
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Medical Expenses
- Emergency Dental for Injury or Sickness
- Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
- Emergency Professional Services
- Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
- Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children
- Return to Your Trip Destination
- Return of Remains
- Travel Accident
- Flight Accident
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Trip Delay
- Baggage and Personal Effects Theft or Damage
- Baggage and Sporting Equipment Delay
- Travel Documents Theft or Damage
- Sporting Equipment Theft or Loss by a Common Carrier
- Covered Adventure Sports listed in Policy
Assistance Services Included
- LiveTravelTM Emergency Assistance
- Worldwide Travel Assistance
- Adventure Travel Hotline
- 24/7 Security
- Travel Medical Assistance
- Bag Trak
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.