It’s not just medical emergencies that can keep you from travelling. And, in light of additional rules now in effect under Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations, it’s the perfect time to outline how travel insurance for delays, cancellations, and interruptions can cover you, too.
Know your air passenger rights
Airlines are now required to compensate passengers for flight delays that are in their control and not related to safety. Compensation will be based on the airline type and the length of delay upon arrival at their final destination:
| 3-6 hour delay | 6 hour delay | 6-9 hour delay | 9+ hour delay | |
Small airlines |
– | $125 | $250 | $500 |
| Large airlines | $400 | – | $700 | $1,000 |
Read about 7 other Air Passenger Rights You Should Know About
How travel insurance covers cancellations, interruptions, and delays
While missed flights, connections, and delays are always frustrating, at least knowing that you could recoup some costs with travel insurance should help reduce the sting.
Here’s how it works when you buy Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance:
- Trip Cancellation Insurance applies before you leave
- Trip Interruption Insurance applies after you leave
Know which covered risks apply with travel insurance for delays, cancellations, and interruptions
Before your trip, the key is to understand which risks are covered under your non-medical travel insurance plan.
Not sure what a covered risk is? Read: How to understand your travel insurance policy.
Missed connection or departure
- Missed connection due to schedule change by the airline
- Delay of a connecting common carrier or a private automobile due to mechanical failure, weather conditions, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, a traffic accident or an emergency road closure
- Delay of private automobile enroute to departure point
- Accident enroute to departure point
Cancellation or delay of common carrier (boat, airplane, bus, taxi or a licensed vehicle for hire)
- Due to weather conditions, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions for over 30% of the trip when you choose not to continue with the trip
Cancellation or delay of travelling companion’s common carrier (boat, airplane, bus, taxi or a licensed vehicle for hire)
- Due to weather conditions, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions for over 30% of the trip when you choose not to continue with the trip without your travelling companion
TuGo Travel Insurance customers get additional flight delay service advantage
If you’re one of our travel insurance customers, you also get complimentary access to MyFlytTM! When your flight’s delayed 2 or more hours, you’ll get instant access to an airport lounge pass or cash payout at no extra charge.
Always read the policy Terms and Conditions
As a Canadian traveller, you also have rights and responsibilities when it comes to travel insurance. One of those obligations is to read the Terms and Conditions of your policy.
Here’s a perfect example of why it’s important: with TuGo’s Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance, at least two conditions need to be met to ensure you’re taken care of under the covered risks listed above:
- Enough time was left before departure to comply with the travel provider’s recommended check-in time
- Trip meets the minimum connection times approved by the travel provider
Not to scare you, but if conditions like these aren’t met when it comes time to make a claim, the claim will likely be denied. Don’t let that happen to you! Be informed on your policy—before you leave on your trip—so you can travel with peace of mind.
Happy and safe travels,
Melissa
