Should you buy flight insurance?
Is that additional fee protection or pointless?
Last summer, Triest and I were on the couch, finalizing plans for her trip to Puerto Rico.
It was a carefully planned getaway — a girls trip, sunshine, the beach, a break from the daily grind.
As we moved through the booking, a familiar pop-up appeared.
“Yes, insure my trip for only $28.06?”
I instinctively skip those offers. But Triest had other ideas.
Without missing a beat, she asked me to add it.
I didn’t argue, but I did pause.
Was that $28 buying real protection, or just a little peace of mind?
It raised a question that probably crossed your mind too: When it comes to flight insurance, is it actually worth it?
Most basic flight insurance covers things like trip cancellations, delays, lost baggage and sometimes emergency medical expenses, although the specifics can vary widely depending on the provider.
I’ve never purchased flight insurance, even though I’ve probably taken more than 3,000 flights over the past 30 years. But I’m lucky.
Most of those were work trips, covered by my employers. And most were domestic flights, where a delay or cancellation was usually no big deal. I could rebook, reschedule or just roll with it. I also never check luggage unless I absolutely have to, so lost bags have rarely been a concern.
But an expensive international trip? That’s a different story.
I can see the need for insurance when flying internationally.
The stakes are higher. Longer flights. Tighter connections. Nonrefundable hotels. Prepaid tours. The unpredictability of unfamiliar systems.
If something goes wrong, the cost of rebooking or canceling can quickly outpace the price of insurance.
That’s where a little protection can make a lot more sense.
In these cases, $30-$50 is a relatively small investment for financial protection and peace of mind.
It’s also wise to look into perks you might already have. Because you might already be covered.
Travel credit cards often include trip protection, cancellation coverage or baggage insurance. Health insurance might offer limited emergency coverage abroad.
Some airlines offer free rebooking or trip credits, making separate insurance less necessary.
In Triest’s case, her trip went perfectly. No cancellations. No hiccups.
She never used the insurance but slept better in the days leading up to her flight, and for her, that was the point.
With the exception of a few quick work trips to Toronto, it’s been too long since I’ve traveled out of the country.
My plan is to change that next summer.
I’ll let you know if I say yes to that pesky little pop-up.
What’s your approach to flight insurance? Do you purchase it or pass?
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Never purchased it. I have all credit card protections, however, I would consider it for a major overseas trip. But I would not buy from the airline. Insuremytrip.com.
I saw a woman get stuck at O’Hare and miss her own wedding due to weather and flight cancellations. Her lack of insurance didn’t help at all and I remember the rep saying. “Well if you had insurance..” and it just stuck with me. So yes, it’s my lil security blanket 😂