Delta Travel Insurance Cheap?
Jan 19, 2015, 2:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: FLL - DL DM MM - HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,093
Delta Travel Insurance Cheap?
Just booked a couple of BE awards to the Philippines this October for 2 1/2 weeks. (FLL-JFK-ICN-MNL-ICN-DTW-FLL)
Was offered travel insurance including emergency medical and repatriation for only $27 each person. Seems awfully cheap for what they cover. Anyone taken advantage of this.
P.S. Booking was relatively easy as long as I'd accept travel on partners (KE), and even got DL back from ICN to DTW - all at low (140K total).
Was offered travel insurance including emergency medical and repatriation for only $27 each person. Seems awfully cheap for what they cover. Anyone taken advantage of this.
P.S. Booking was relatively easy as long as I'd accept travel on partners (KE), and even got DL back from ICN to DTW - all at low (140K total).
Jan 19, 2015, 2:19 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, AMEX Business Platinum, AMEX Delta Reserve, DL SkyClub Member, Choice PM
Posts: 2,218
If one travels a lot the would suggest that purchasing an annual travel insurance makes sense.
Otherwise, yes $27 seems inexpensive for a 1-off trip.
Otherwise, yes $27 seems inexpensive for a 1-off trip.
Jan 19, 2015, 2:57 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
Read the T&C very carefully. I've never purchased DL's travel insurance, but many travel insurance policies do not cover the FF miles you used to purchase the ticket. You will also want to determine the coverage areas and levels, exclusions, and other key details.
$27 does seem inexpensive for a single trip policy.
$27 does seem inexpensive for a single trip policy.
Jan 19, 2015, 3:07 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Just relocated to Phoenix, so I guess that does it for Delta for me
Programs: DL "Annual" GM 2MM, AA lifetime Gold 1MM, Hilton Gold, Hertz President's Club
Posts: 337
There are many different companies and levels of coverage so it pays to shop. Also keep in mind that some packages may reimburse you for a cancellation for a death in the family, but not a birth. And some may not cover you if a relative is hospitalized. Read all the fine print.
Jan 19, 2015, 4:16 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: DL GM, Marriot Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 102
I think most of these type of policies are 'you get what you pay for'.
I had cause several years ago to claim on a similar type of policy.
Although I was covered, the insurance company made it so expensive for me to claim that I just did not finish pursuing it. They wanted all kinds of specialist doctors letters and other affidavits that would have run into the hundreds of dollars just to try to satisfy the claim.
My opinion on these kind of policies - is leave them well alone.
Maybe check the conditions on the credit card you paid for the tickets - there are a good amount still that cover you for baggage loss etc. and then decide what is left that you may determine to be a risk, then maybe decide if you do require additional coverage.
But for most travelers the cost of buying insurance for each trip far outweighs the benefits you would get in the event of a claim.
I had cause several years ago to claim on a similar type of policy.
Although I was covered, the insurance company made it so expensive for me to claim that I just did not finish pursuing it. They wanted all kinds of specialist doctors letters and other affidavits that would have run into the hundreds of dollars just to try to satisfy the claim.
My opinion on these kind of policies - is leave them well alone.
Maybe check the conditions on the credit card you paid for the tickets - there are a good amount still that cover you for baggage loss etc. and then decide what is left that you may determine to be a risk, then maybe decide if you do require additional coverage.
But for most travelers the cost of buying insurance for each trip far outweighs the benefits you would get in the event of a claim.
Jan 19, 2015, 5:57 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Minutes from ATL
Programs: DL
Posts: 436
The $27/pax is not worth it if you read the T&C it really does not cover very much on an award ticket (no benefit on the miles you paid).
If you get the Chase United Visa and pay the $95 annual fee (and use it to book, it covers all travelling companions), you'd get $10k trip cancellation/interruption coverage, including severe weather. It would pay out $0.01 per mile you used on DL plus the fees (not a good value but $1400 > $0 on BE award). There's also $3k bag insurance and equal $500 delay insurance along with an additional $100/day bag delay insurance.
W/ $27 insurance you'd get back the $85 in fees if you had to cancel for an approved reason versus $1485 on an insurance that reimburses something for miles.
You may also want to check your domestic health insurance policy to see what it covers. Some plans include evacuation and other arrangements, but may not be as elective as other travel insurance terms (e.g. evacuation may be free when optional versus free only when required to treat your condition).
Coverage for airline tickets purchased using frequent flyer or awards points. The maximum amount of Trip Cancellation coverage is $300. The maximum amount of Tip interruption coverage is $1,500.
W/ $27 insurance you'd get back the $85 in fees if you had to cancel for an approved reason versus $1485 on an insurance that reimburses something for miles.
You may also want to check your domestic health insurance policy to see what it covers. Some plans include evacuation and other arrangements, but may not be as elective as other travel insurance terms (e.g. evacuation may be free when optional versus free only when required to treat your condition).
Jan 20, 2015, 7:51 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: FLL - DL DM MM - HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,093
Thanks for the comments guys.
As a DM I can cancel and redeposit the miles up to T-72 hours and probably even up to the time of departure for a really good reason. So its not the miles I'm concerned about.
My company subscribes to an International SOS assistance company, but that does not apply when we're on vacation.
My Health insurance covers me everywhere, but out of network deductibles could be huge, so $27 per person seems cheap for the extra coverage.
As a DM I can cancel and redeposit the miles up to T-72 hours and probably even up to the time of departure for a really good reason. So its not the miles I'm concerned about.
My company subscribes to an International SOS assistance company, but that does not apply when we're on vacation.
My Health insurance covers me everywhere, but out of network deductibles could be huge, so $27 per person seems cheap for the extra coverage.