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Trip Delay Travel Insurance

Learn how trip delay insurance may help protect Canadians if their trip is unexpectedly delayed

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At a glance

  • Coverage when your plans are put on hold: Trip delay insurance benefits may be included in the single trip and annual multi-trip plans offered by World Nomads Travel Insurance
  • Help with out-of-pocket delay costs: You may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses such as meals, hotel accommodations, taxi fares and essential phone calls if your trip is delayed because of an unforeseen, covered reason
  • Protection for common travel disruptions: World Nomads Travel Insurance may offer coverage for trip delays caused by natural disasters, sickness, strikes, delayed flights and more

Why should you consider travel insurance for delayed trips?

You’re counting down the days to your next epic getaway, and you’re doing all you possibly can to prepare. Even when you’ve done everything right, though, unexpected delays can happen. It’s frustrating to wait even longer to leave for your dream getaway, but it’s worse when you lose money. Unfortunately, there’s a chance you could be stuck with some unexpected costs if your trip is delayed. Most of us don’t factor these additional expenses into our travel budgets, but that’s where travel insurance for trip delays may come in handy.

If you incur additional, unplanned expenses for necessary transportation, accommodations, meals or essential phone calls due to a covered delay while you’re waiting to depart, you may be reimbursed for those expenses (up to the maximum benefits shown in your policy documents).

Types of Delays That May Be Covered 

  • Certain airline delays
  • Unexpected medical emergencies
  • Your travel companion, immediate family member or business partner has an emergency medical situation or dies
  • Unannounced airline strikes 
  • A travel advisory issued by the Canadian government
  • Natural disasters

Exclusions 

  • Delays for reasons not listed in your plan documents
  • Expenses above the per-day and maximum benefit
  • Expenses covered by another party (such as your airline)
  • Epidemics and pandemics
  • Delays not communicated to us by the next business day

Trip Delay Maximums

Standard PlanExplorer PlanEpic PlanAnnual Plan
Up to $250 CAD per day, up to a maximum of $1,000 CAD

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Up to $250 CAD per day, up to a maximum of $3,000 CAD

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Up to $500 CAD per day, up to a maximum of $5,000 CAD

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Up to $250 CAD per day, up to a maximum of $3,000 CAD

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What's the difference between trip delay and trip interruption? 

World Nomads Travel Insurance plans include coverage for both trip interruption and trip delay, but those apply to different situations. Trip delay coverage may help when your arrival at a destination is delayed. For example, the Canadian Government estimates that Canadians make about 32 million visits to countries that are potentially impacted by hurricane season, which increases the potential for weather situations that could impact your trip. If an unexpected, named storm delays the start of your trip, trip delay insurance may help. This coverage provides a subsistence allowance that may reimburse you for unplanned costs for things like commercial accommodations, meals, essential telephone calls, and taxi fares which you may incur in the event your trip is delayed due to a covered risk (up to the maximum limits shown in your policy documents).Remember, this expenses must be reasonable – you may want to contact us before you buy that fancy steak dinner or book that 5 star hotel. 

Trip interruption coverage may assist if the named storm happens while you’re travelling and you’re unable to continue your trip as planned. These benefits may provide reimbursement for your unused, prepaid, non-refundable, trip arrangements as well as additional transportation expenses you may incur if your trip is interrupted due to a covered reason.

How to file a claim if your trip is delayed  

Yes, it’s annoying, but trip delays are often out of your control and unfortunately are just a part of travelling. Hopefully your trip will be flawless and you’ll never have to deal with this part. If you do need to make a claim though, it’s important to know what to do. 

  • First and foremost, make sure you contact us by no later than the next business day when you become aware of a trip delay. 
  • You can then log in to your member account online and start a claim. If you didn’t create one previously, you can still create an account. 
  • Attempt to recoup expenses from your travel providers. For example, if your delay is caused by your airline, you’ll first want to check with them to see if they can provide hotel and meal vouchers.  Check the Canadian Transportation Agency’s Flight Delays and Transportation Guide to see what is covered by airlines.
  • Make sure you save all documentation that could be needed for your claim. If your flight is delayed, ask the airline for documentation that lists the original and revised departure times, as well as the cause of the delay. Also don’t forget to save all receipts for your unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.

FAQ

Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for trip delay. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.

  • What types of trip delays may be covered?

    World Nomads offers trip delay travel insurance that may cover a variety of reasons for delays, including:

    • Certain airline delays 
    • Unexpected medical emergencies
    • Your travel companion, immediate family member or business partner has an emergency medical situation or dies
    • Unannounced airline strikes 
    • A travel advisory issued by the Canadian government
    • Natural disasters
  • Which travel insurance plan is best for Canadians?

    World Nomads offers single trip and annual multi-trip travel insurance plans for Canadian residents, with some that offer additional benefits and higher limits of coverage. Only you can determine the best plan for your needs, but we encourage you to check out all of the plans side by side when you get a quote and compare the coverage. If you have any questions, contact our team and they will be happy to assist.

  • What happens if I’m delayed getting home to my pet?

    Additional benefits for pet kenneling may be included in the Explorer, Epic, and Annual Multi-Trip travel insurance plans for Canadian residents. If your return trip home is unexpectedly delayed, you may have to call your pet boarding facility and extend your pet’s stay. You may be reimbursed for expenses if your cat or dog has to stay at the licensed commercial kennel for longer than expected because of a covered delay (up to maximum limits as shown in your policy documents).

This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical, legal, insurance, or travel advice and provides only a general summary of certain features that may be available under applicable travel insurance policies. Coverage is subject to the specific terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and pre-existing condition provisions of the applicable insurance policy. In the event of any inconsistency between this article and the wording of any insurance policy, the policy wording shall govern and take precedence. It is important that you read and understand your policy before travelling. If you have questions about your coverage or are unsure how your policy applies to your circumstances, please contact us for clarification.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Insurance protection for your hard earned vacation in the event of unexpected cancellation.

  • Standard Plan: $2,500
  • Explorer Plan: $10,000
  • Epic Plan: $15,000
  • AMT Plan: $10,000
Trip Protection
  • Unexpectedly hospitalized?
  • Travel buddy unfit to travel?
  • Close relative suddenly dies?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Insurance

Help take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

  • Standard Plan: $1,500,000
  • Explorer Plan: $5,000,000
  • Epic Plan: $10,000,000
  • Annual Plan: $5,000,000
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.

  • Standard Plan: $250,000
  • Explorer Plan: $500,000
  • Epic Plan: $750,000
  • Annual Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • Medevac home?

Help starts here.

Gear & Baggage Protection

Coverage for the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.

  • Standard Plan: $1,000
  • Explorer Plan: $2,000
  • Epic Plan: $5,000
  • Annual Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
  • Passport or tech stolen?
  • Airline lost your gear?
  • Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

Protect your health

  • Emergency Medical & Dental Expenses
  • Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
  • Emergency Professional Services
  • Return of Remains
  • Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children

Protect your trip

  • Trip Cancellation
  • Trip Interruption
  • Trip Delay
  • Optional Cancel for Any Reason (Explorer or Epic)
  • Trip Exchange (Explorer, Epic or AMT)
  • Rental Vehicle Damage (Explorer, Epic or AMT)

Protect your stuff

  • 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

  • 24/7 Worldwide Emergency Medical Assistance
  • Worldwide Travel Assistance
  • Personal Security Assistance
  • Adventure Traveller’s Hotline
  • Bag Trak
This is a general summary for Canadian residents only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all provinces. Check the Travel Insurance Policy for full details.