Buying Travel Insurance
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: SPG, Chase, Citi, Alaska, Southwest
Posts: 4
Buying Travel Insurance
I booked a non-award trip to the Cook Islands from Los Angeles because I scooped $500 RT tickets. Non-refundable
Then my work dropped a nuke on me. I may not be able to go. I have a couple days left to purchase travel insurance and I am curious about others that have used travel insurance and what companies you thought were good, fair, great etc.
Then my work dropped a nuke on me. I may not be able to go. I have a couple days left to purchase travel insurance and I am curious about others that have used travel insurance and what companies you thought were good, fair, great etc.
#3
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,334
Reportedly...when we had some really nasty bushfires (wildfires) here in Canberra some years ago... folks in threatened areas were calling up insurance companies seeking cover....
You can imagine the response. I can't see that THIS is any different.
You can imagine the response. I can't see that THIS is any different.
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Indeed. It will look highly suspicious to the provider that you purchased tickets a some time ago, are now buying insurance, and presumably invoking it straight away. I suspect many providers will have an exclusion clause for trips booked prior to taking out the insurance.
Your better course of action is to speak to your employer and explain that you have booked a trip (presumably you had booked holiday time, you don't say how that works in your company). Often an employer will refund the cost of the tickets or pay for a change of date etc.
Your better course of action is to speak to your employer and explain that you have booked a trip (presumably you had booked holiday time, you don't say how that works in your company). Often an employer will refund the cost of the tickets or pay for a change of date etc.
#5
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 343
I just renewed mine and I'm pretty sure there was a clause that said only trips booked while the insurance was active would be covered.
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I have never heard of a policy which covers anything which ocurred prior to purchase. That would be true for medical, job-related, and so on. It is always possible that such a policy exists, but it is hard to imagine how such a company could make any money as nobody in their right mind would purchase until they had an event occur !
This one is easy to spot as the insurer would see the date of purchase of the tickets and the date of purchase of the policy and simply deny coverage.
The better course here is to have your employer pick up the cost of the tickets and other arrangements.
This one is easy to spot as the insurer would see the date of purchase of the tickets and the date of purchase of the policy and simply deny coverage.
The better course here is to have your employer pick up the cost of the tickets and other arrangements.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,813
I don't know much about travel insurance, and nothing about the plan the OP is looking at, but do plans include coverage for 'work got busy and my boss won't let me go'? Seems like a big loophole that would allow people to make claims on dubious grounds.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,220
You are right. Properly, if the OP has cleared the time off, it's down to the employer to act as insurer. Most policies I have seen, and certainly those I buy, have a specific set of circumstances to cover when you can't fly - illness, death of immediate family etc. I've never seen one including an inconsiderate boss, or just a change of mind.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,367
(eg you are part of management, no one else can do your work, major financial decision within company like M&A, need explicit documentation from your company)
http://www.travelinsurancereview.net...r-work-reason/
you'll need to read each policy and figure out what is covered
anyways, as other people above me say, doing this is insurance fraud (buying insurance to cover event that is 100% going to happen.... that's not insurance)
(from the link above)
In each situation, you must not have known you would be required to work when you purchase your travel insurance plan.
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Again, I quote from Amex:
There is a further clear reference to exclusions including "business reasons".
1.2 CANCELLING, POSTPONING AND ABANDONING YOUR TRIP
For the benefits under this section to apply transport and/or accommodation must have been Purchased in full using:
I. the Card;
II. American Express Membership Rewards® points; or
III. Any travel rewards programmes provided the taxes and/or surcharges have been Purchased using the Card.
YOUR BENEFITS
You will be covered for the following:
Up to Ł7,500 for Your unused travel, accommodation, excursions and leisure activities that have been Purchased on the Card Account, which are non-refundable or any fee You are charged to change them if You cancel, postpone, change or abandon Your Trip, due to:
a) You, or a person travelling with You, or a person You are visiting for the main purpose of Your Trip, having an accident, suffering an unforeseen illness or dying before or during Your Trip;
b) Your Close Relative, or a Close Relative of a person travelling with You, or a Close Relative of a person You are visiting for the main purpose of Your Trip, having an accident, suffering an unforeseen illness or dying before or during Your Trip;
c) Your redundancy which qualifies for redundancy payments under current legislation;
d) You being called for jury service or being subpoenaed as a witness other than in a professional or advisory capacity;
e) Unforeseen severe damage to Your home or Your business premises if the damage caused is likely to be more than Ł25,000;
f) Theft at Your home or Your business premises that requires Your presence by the police;
g) A delay of more than 12 hours on the outward leg of Your Trip as a result of industrial action, adverse weather, mechanical breakdown of public transport, or a transportation accident which means You no longer want to go on Your Trip. The period of delay is reduced to 6 hours for Trips of less than 5 days.
EXCLUSIONS
General Exclusions to Card Travel Insurance listed in Section 1.9 apply to all travel insurance benefits. The following exclusions apply only to this Cancelling, Postponing and Abandoning Your Trip Section 1.2.
You will not be covered in respect of the following:
1) Cancellation claims arising directly or indirectly from circumstances known to You prior to booking Your Trip.
2) Cancellation claims arising directly or indirectly from circumstances known to You when You apply for Your Card and any Cards on Your Account.
3) Additional costs incurred if You fail to notify the providers of Your travel, accommodation, excursions and leisure activities immediately that it is necessary for You to cancel Your Trip.
4) Claims where You are unable to supply a medical certificate from the appropriate Medical Practitioner, confirming the Medical Condition which made it necessary to cancel Your Trip.
5) The first Ł50 of any claim.
6) Travel and/or accommodation costs not Purchased on the Card Account.
For the benefits under this section to apply transport and/or accommodation must have been Purchased in full using:
I. the Card;
II. American Express Membership Rewards® points; or
III. Any travel rewards programmes provided the taxes and/or surcharges have been Purchased using the Card.
YOUR BENEFITS
You will be covered for the following:
Up to Ł7,500 for Your unused travel, accommodation, excursions and leisure activities that have been Purchased on the Card Account, which are non-refundable or any fee You are charged to change them if You cancel, postpone, change or abandon Your Trip, due to:
a) You, or a person travelling with You, or a person You are visiting for the main purpose of Your Trip, having an accident, suffering an unforeseen illness or dying before or during Your Trip;
b) Your Close Relative, or a Close Relative of a person travelling with You, or a Close Relative of a person You are visiting for the main purpose of Your Trip, having an accident, suffering an unforeseen illness or dying before or during Your Trip;
c) Your redundancy which qualifies for redundancy payments under current legislation;
d) You being called for jury service or being subpoenaed as a witness other than in a professional or advisory capacity;
e) Unforeseen severe damage to Your home or Your business premises if the damage caused is likely to be more than Ł25,000;
f) Theft at Your home or Your business premises that requires Your presence by the police;
g) A delay of more than 12 hours on the outward leg of Your Trip as a result of industrial action, adverse weather, mechanical breakdown of public transport, or a transportation accident which means You no longer want to go on Your Trip. The period of delay is reduced to 6 hours for Trips of less than 5 days.
EXCLUSIONS
General Exclusions to Card Travel Insurance listed in Section 1.9 apply to all travel insurance benefits. The following exclusions apply only to this Cancelling, Postponing and Abandoning Your Trip Section 1.2.
You will not be covered in respect of the following:
1) Cancellation claims arising directly or indirectly from circumstances known to You prior to booking Your Trip.
2) Cancellation claims arising directly or indirectly from circumstances known to You when You apply for Your Card and any Cards on Your Account.
3) Additional costs incurred if You fail to notify the providers of Your travel, accommodation, excursions and leisure activities immediately that it is necessary for You to cancel Your Trip.
4) Claims where You are unable to supply a medical certificate from the appropriate Medical Practitioner, confirming the Medical Condition which made it necessary to cancel Your Trip.
5) The first Ł50 of any claim.
6) Travel and/or accommodation costs not Purchased on the Card Account.
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
There are policies which cover virtually any reason. But, they are expensive. There are others which cover certain work-related cancellations, but they typically require the sort of documentation which few businesses use any longer.
But, as with all insurance, generalities are foolish. Nothing short of reading the specific terms of the specific policy in question will suffice.
But, as with all insurance, generalities are foolish. Nothing short of reading the specific terms of the specific policy in question will suffice.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,367
eg: this (sample) insurance policy covers business (with strict requirements/conditions)
https://www2.worldnomads.com/files/D...NJ-03-16-A.pdf (link might change... page 6/8)
You or a Traveling Companion being required to work during the Trip.
Proof of requirement to work, such as a notarized statement signed by an officer of Your or a Traveling Companion’s employer must be presented and said employer must comprise of at least twenty-five (25) full time employees.
Your or a Traveling Companion’s company being made unsuitable for
business by fire, flood, burglary, vandalism or other natural disaster and You or a Traveling Companion is responsible for policy and decision making with the company and is directly involved as a member of the disaster recovery team.
Your or a Traveling Companion’s company being directly involved in a merger, acquisition, government required product recall or Bankruptcy proceedings. You or a Traveling Companion must be an active employee of the company and must be directly involved in said event.
Proof of requirement to work, such as a notarized statement signed by an officer of Your or a Traveling Companion’s employer must be presented and said employer must comprise of at least twenty-five (25) full time employees.
Your or a Traveling Companion’s company being made unsuitable for
business by fire, flood, burglary, vandalism or other natural disaster and You or a Traveling Companion is responsible for policy and decision making with the company and is directly involved as a member of the disaster recovery team.
Your or a Traveling Companion’s company being directly involved in a merger, acquisition, government required product recall or Bankruptcy proceedings. You or a Traveling Companion must be an active employee of the company and must be directly involved in said event.
Last edited by paperwastage; Aug 3, 2016 at 9:03 pm
#13