More than 30% of flight delays during the June 1 – November 30 hurricane season in 2012 were due to weather, according to the US Bureau of Transportation.
Severe weather, such as seasonal storms and hurricanes, can play havoc with travel plans, causing trip delays, cancellations, and interruptions. The US Travel Insurance Association advises that, in addition to inconvenience, hurricanes and storms can cost travelers unforeseen expenses.
Among unexpected expenses are hotel, meal and local transportation, accommodations when airports are closed and travelers stranded, lost vacation payments because travelers can’t get to their destination or cruise port, missed days of vacation due to mandatory evacuations, and added incidentals such as clothing and toiletries when baggage is delayed or lost.
It’s common today for airlines to waive change fees for cancelled flights due to severe storms or hurricanes. However, there may be a time limit for rebooking. Travel insurance, on the other hand, can reimburse the unused portion of the airline, cruise ticket or other pre-paid vacation costs in case the traveler has to cancel or interrupt a trip due to a covered weather reason.
As with Hurricane Sandy and other storms, the following situations can occur:
- A client misses a pre-paid cruise, tour or hotel stay because air travel or other transportation has come to a standstill.
- A client must cancel, reroute or reschedule a trip because their destination is affected and hotels are non-operational.
- Your client’s return home is delayed by hours or days and they must pay for additional hotel accommodations at their destination until the storm or flooding abates and their flight can be rescheduled.
- A client is stranded at a destination in the path of a hurricane and needs to be evacuated or to have alternate travel arrangements made.
- Your client misses all or part of their vacation due to a hurricane-related mandatory evacuation at their destination.
In each of these real-life hurricane and storm situations travel insurance can make a positive difference. Comprehensive policies can help travelers in the following ways:
Financial: Travel insurance can reimburse for nonrefundable payments if a client has to cancel or interrupt their trip due to a hurricane or other weather-related event. Most comprehensive travel insurance policies will also reimburse up to a set amount for hotel accommodations, meals and incidentals if travel is delayed beyond a certain period of time (usually 6 hours or more), and for incidentals if baggage is delayed past a specified number of hours.
Assistance: Most travel insurance providers include a 24-hour hotline for travel and travel medical assistance services. These services can include emergency travel arrangements to help evacuate clients from an area that is in the path of a hurricane or other natural disaster, help make alternative plans such as finding and booking a hotel, rescheduling flights, and accessing other needed assistance.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
