Does travel insurance cover flight delays?

Travel insurance may reimburse expenses like meals or accommodation if your delay exceeds a specified timeframe and is caused by a covered event. Check your policy wording for the exact threshold.

What should I do if the airline loses my luggage?

Report the loss to the airline immediately and get a written report. Keep receipts for any essentials you buy while you wait, they may be claimable under your delayed baggage insurance.

Does travel insurance cover missed connections?

It may, if the missed connection was caused by an event covered by the policy. The Missed Connection benefit is only available under our Explorer Plan.

Do airlines or insurers pay for canceled flights?

In most cases airlines will handle refunds and rebooking first. Travel insurance for canceled flights may help cover any additional out-of-pocket costs your airline doesn't reimburse, and the reason for cancellation was due to an insured event.

Can travel insurance cover injuries during a flight?

Our policies may provide emergency medical cover if you're injured during turbulence or another in-flight incident. If your airline doesn't assist with medical costs, your policy may help.

What is airline mishap?

An airline mishap is an unexpected travel disruption, like a flight cancellation, delay, missed connection, lost or damaged baggage, or an injury during a flight.

Does travel insurance cover flight cancellations?

Travel insurance may reimburse non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is canceled due to a covered reason, depending on the policy terms and conditions, limitations and exclusions.

What should I do if my flight is canceled overseas?

Head to the airline desk straight away, ask about rebooking, get written confirmation of the cancellation, and contact World Nomads as soon as possible to make a claim.

Photo © VeeStudio89/Getty Images

Travel Insurance for Airline Mishaps

Here’s how travel insurance may help in the case of cancellation, delays, delayed luggage and more.

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At a Glance: Travel Insurance for Airline Mishaps

Travel insurance may help cover flight cancellations, long delays, missed connections, delayed baggage, and some in-flight injuries.
If your baggage is delayed for more than 24 hours, you may be able to claim for essential replacement items, subject to policy limits.
Flight delay and missed connection cover may help with unexpected accommodation, meals, and additional travel expenses caused by insured events.
Keep all receipts, airline correspondence, and written confirmation of delays or cancellations to support your claim.
Travel insurance generally won't cover missed flights due to arriving late, oversleeping, alcohol-related incidents, or known events before purchasing your policy.
Get a quote before you travel and protect your trip against unexpected airline disruptions that could impact your plans and budget.

Airline mishaps: what travellers need to know
What we don’t cover
What to do if your flight is delayed or cancelled
How travel insurance may help with airline mishaps
Travel tips for airline mishaps
FAQs

Flight canceled. Connection missed. Luggage lost by the carrier somewhere between here and there. If you've traveled enough, chances are you've lived at least one of these.

Airline mishaps are one of the most common, and most frustrating, travel disruptions out there. And costs that come with them? Unexpected accommodation. Tours paid for but never taken. Last-minute purchases.

World Nomads travel insurance for airline mishaps may help when things don’t go according to plan at 30,000 ft. Or on the ground waiting to get there.

Airline mishaps: what travelers need to know

Airlines will sometimes offer rebooking or compensation, but it’s not always guaranteed. When they can’t help, travel insurance for airline mishaps may cover:

Flight cancellations
Long delays
Missed connections
If the carrier has lost, delayed, or damaged your baggage
In-flight injuries

What we don’t cover

Hate the middle seat you were assigned to and want an upgrade? We don’t cover that, or things like:

Missing your flight because you overslept or arrived late
Costs already reimbursed by your airline
Traveling against medical advice
Losses arising from alcohol misuse
Bags left unattended and stolen
Cancellations as a result of a known issue that could result in a claim that occurred prior to buying your policy

What to do if your flight is delayed or canceled

Stay calm and take it step by step:

Go to the airline desk and ask about rebooking and refund options
Get written confirmation of the delay or cancellation and the reason
Keep every receipt for purchases made because of the disruption
Contact World Nomads as soon as you can to start a claim
Review your policy, including what’s covered, limits, and any exclusions

Flights don't always go to plan. Get a quote and see how World Nomads travel insurance may help protect you against airline mishaps.

How travel insurance may help with airline mishaps

Flight cancellations

If you’re grounded due to an insured event, travel insurance for canceled flights may reimburse nonrefundable costs like pre-paid accommodation or tours.

Flight delays

Every hour you’re delayed is money you didn’t plan to spend. Flight delay travel insurance may help cover unexpected costs, like accommodation, and meals.

Missed connections

A delay on one flight can unravel an entire travel itinerary. Missed connection travel insurance may help cover the additional costs of getting your trip back on track. Available on the Explorer Plan only.

If the carrier has lost, delayed, or damaged your baggage

Your bags taking a detour is more common than airlines care to admit. If your carrier loses, damages, or delays your bag, delayed baggage insurance may help cover the essentials while you wait. Baggage must be delayed for more than 24 hours for cover to apply.

In-flight injuries

Turbulence, fallen carry-ons, or a hot drink spilled at the wrong moment. If an in-flight injury leaves you needing medical care at your destination, emergency medical cover may help when your airline won’t.

Extended layovers

If you’re unexpectedly and unavoidably delayed returning home following an event covered under the policy, your policy may automatically extend. See "Delayed returning home?" in the Policy Wording for details.

Always read your policy wording for full terms, conditions, limitations, and any exclusions.

What is covered by travel insurance?

Travel insurance is designed to help in times when certain unexpected and unforeseen events occur. Depending on your Country of Residence and the plan you choose, World Nomads plans may offer cover (up to the benefit limits) for:

Cover for more than 150 activities, sports and experiences
Emergency Overseas Medical Cover
Emergency Evacuation and repatriation when necessary and approved by us
If the carrier has lost, delayed, or damaged your baggage
And more.

Travel tips for airline mishaps

Pack essentials, like medications and valuables, in your carry-on in case checked bags are delayed
Store contact details for your airline and World Nomads before your departure
Take photos of your luggage at check-in, especially for long, multi-leg trips
Keep receipts, even for small purchases
Download your Certificate of Insurance (COI) before you fly so they’re easily accessible, even offline.

FAQ

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

Does travel insurance cover flight delays?
Travel insurance may reimburse expenses like meals or accommodation if your delay exceeds a specified timeframe and is caused by a covered event. Check your policy wording for the exact threshold.

What should I do if the airline loses my luggage?
Report the loss to the airline immediately and get a written report. Keep receipts for any essentials you buy while you wait, they may be claimable under your delayed baggage insurance.

Does travel insurance cover missed connections?
It may, if the missed connection was caused by an event covered by the policy. The Missed Connection benefit is only available under our Explorer Plan.

Do airlines or insurers pay for canceled flights?
In most cases airlines will handle refunds and rebooking first. Travel insurance for canceled flights may help cover any additional out-of-pocket costs your airline doesn't reimburse, and the reason for cancellation was due to an insured event.

Can travel insurance cover injuries during a flight?
Our policies may provide emergency medical cover if you're injured during turbulence or another in-flight incident. If your airline doesn't assist with medical costs, your policy may help.

What is airline mishap?
An airline mishap is an unexpected travel disruption, like a flight cancellation, delay, missed connection, lost or damaged baggage, or an injury during a flight.

Does travel insurance cover flight cancellations?
Travel insurance may reimburse non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is canceled due to a covered reason, depending on the policy terms and conditions, limitations and exclusions.

What should I do if my flight is canceled overseas?
Head to the airline desk straight away, ask about rebooking, get written confirmation of the cancellation, and contact World Nomads as soon as possible to make a claim.

This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Wording in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Protection

Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation before you leave home.

Explorer Plan: USD $10,000
Standard Plan: USD $5,000

Trip Protection

Unexpectedly hospitalized?
Travel buddy unfit to travel?
Close relative suddenly dies?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Overseas Medical Insurance

Take the pain out of medical costs while traveling overseas.

Explorer Plan: Unlimited, up to 12 months
Standard Plan: USD $5,000,000

Emergency Medical Insurance

Need meds quick?
Accidentally injured?
Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transportation

We'll get you to hospital quickly.

Explorer Plan: USD $500,000
Standard Plan: USD $500,000

Evacuation and Repatriation

Banged up abroad?
Need a hospital urgently?
Medevac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.

Explorer Plan: USD $3,500
Standard Plan: USD $2,500

Protect your gear

Passport or tech stolen?
Airline lost your gear?
Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
24 hour Emergency Assistance
Emergency Medical Transport
Repatriation & Travel Expenses

Pre-Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Resumption of Trip
Travel Delay
Missed connection (Explorer)
Hijacking (Explorer)

Baggage & Personal Items
Passport & Travel Documents
Personal Liability
Rental vehicle insurance excess (Explorer)
Personal accident (Explorer)

*This is a general summary for all residents except from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Brazil, China and Philippines. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Coverage may not be available for all countries, states or provinces. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Get a quote for full details.

This information does not apply to residents of Australia, Canada, EEA, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, Brazil or USA. You should carefully read the Terms of Business and the Policy Wording, which contains all cover terms, conditions, limits and exclusions, to make sure this insurance is right for you.

WorldNomads.com Pty Limited (ABN 62 127 485 198) at Governor Macquarie Tower, Level 18, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia markets and promotes travel insurance products of nib Travel Services Limited at PO Box 1051, Grand Cayman KY1-1102, Cayman Islands, a Class B (iii) Insurer regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority and licensed to carry on business within the Cayman Islands under License Number 1446874 under The Insurance Law, 2010.