"Trip Protection"
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1999
Location: CVG
Programs: DL DM 4MM, Lifetime Marriott Plat Elite, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,429
"Trip Protection"
Given the current global situation, any thoughts on paying for the "highly recommended" optional trip insurance? Heading to the caribbean and wondering if out of an abundance of caution, it is prudent to purchase. That said, I worry that, as with any insurance, they will find a way to not cover anything. I, typically, never go for the optional travel insurance as my credit card has offered at least "some" protections. Delta Amex Reserve has some, but not medical.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Posts: 100,326
You might want to consider a "cancel for any reason" policy for your trip, but it will be expensive. Read any policy carefully.
BTW, doesn't the policy that DL pushes just cover plane tickets and perhaps associated costs, not nonrefundable hotel rates, etc.?
BTW, doesn't the policy that DL pushes just cover plane tickets and perhaps associated costs, not nonrefundable hotel rates, etc.?
#4
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Location: IND
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#5
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
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Posts: 4,417
I'm no agent, but from my reading the insurance they sell is not very different than the ones afforded by Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire cards. If you want insurance, you are better off buying it independently even if from Allianz, because you can include other trip expenses to be covered. If the airline cancels your flight due to the virus, then an independent policy would be more likely to cover nonrefundable hotel costs. If you change your mind due to the virus, that's "cancel for any reason" which, as said, is expensive.
#6
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,864
Can't stress "read any policy carefully" enough! About 5-10 years ago, if you read the fine print, policies that DL sold were not available to WA residents. I was a WA resident. You could still buy a policy from DL if you were a WA resident, but you couldn't make a claim on that policy. What a great scam that was! After reading the fine print, I would never trust any travel insurance policy. I self-insure and if something does go wrong, I would make a claim with my VISA card which comes with travel insurance, but at the same time I am not counting on that insurance.
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Before you purchase insurance, think about what you have invested in the trip and what is important. Prepaid hotels, cruises, ground packages and so on. Then start looking for the product which best suits your needs and covers the specific things you care about.
#8
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: SPG, DL
Posts: 307
Given the current global situation, any thoughts on paying for the "highly recommended" optional trip insurance? Heading to the caribbean and wondering if out of an abundance of caution, it is prudent to purchase. That said, I worry that, as with any insurance, they will find a way to not cover anything. I, typically, never go for the optional travel insurance as my credit card has offered at least "some" protections. Delta Amex Reserve has some, but not medical.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
#10
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: PNW
Programs: FreeAgent; DL Silver; IHG Diamond/ Ambassador
Posts: 653
Given the current global situation, any thoughts on paying for the "highly recommended" optional trip insurance? Heading to the caribbean and wondering if out of an abundance of caution, it is prudent to purchase. That said, I worry that, as with any insurance, they will find a way to not cover anything. I, typically, never go for the optional travel insurance as my credit card has offered at least "some" protections. Delta Amex Reserve has some, but not medical.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Case in point, for a D1 ticket, the price upon checkout at DL would be thereabouts of 275+. If you buy retroactively, it would cost about 386+. Either of those would only protect you for one trip. If you buy direct from Allianz, 275+ would already get you an ANNUAL plan!!!
So I ended up buying an annual plan from Allianz. They did clarify that “epidemics” is not a covered reason. I bought insurance anyway for reasons other than coved. (I’ve lost items or had damaged baggage in the past during some trips and Allianz seems pretty hassle-free so far in terms of claims). Some of the benefits of their plans reset after each trip, even after a claim. I’ve been doing a lot of travel by land lately, so I figured I’d just go ahead and buy the annual plan.
Maybe someone here could recommend an insurance provider that covers cancelation “for any reason”?
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,203
I contacted Covermore insurance about their cancel at any cost insurance as not on their website . They could not give me any information. Said I had to deal with Flight Centre or one or two orher agencies for info. I said I don't fly with them and dont want to deal with them. Tough luck. I couldn't find out anything. Sounds so dodgy.
#13
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta TDK(or care)WIA, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,869
Dont fall into that trap! I used to buy this insurance, (and Ive asked about this on several threads here in the past). Upon checkout at DL.com, the premium for the trip is cheaper that if you protect retroactively. However, if you buy direct from Allianz, it would end up being cheaper and more cost effective.
Case in point, for a D1 ticket, the price upon checkout at DL would be thereabouts of 275+. If you buy retroactively, it would cost about 386+. Either of those would only protect you for one trip. If you buy direct from Allianz, 275+ would already get you an ANNUAL plan!!!
So I ended up buying an annual plan from Allianz. They did clarify that epidemics is not a covered reason. I bought insurance anyway for reasons other than coved. (Ive lost items or had damaged baggage in the past during some trips and Allianz seems pretty hassle-free so far in terms of claims). Some of the benefits of their plans reset after each trip, even after a claim. Ive been doing a lot of travel by land lately, so I figured Id just go ahead and buy the annual plan.
Maybe someone here could recommend an insurance provider that covers cancelation for any reason?
Case in point, for a D1 ticket, the price upon checkout at DL would be thereabouts of 275+. If you buy retroactively, it would cost about 386+. Either of those would only protect you for one trip. If you buy direct from Allianz, 275+ would already get you an ANNUAL plan!!!
So I ended up buying an annual plan from Allianz. They did clarify that epidemics is not a covered reason. I bought insurance anyway for reasons other than coved. (Ive lost items or had damaged baggage in the past during some trips and Allianz seems pretty hassle-free so far in terms of claims). Some of the benefits of their plans reset after each trip, even after a claim. Ive been doing a lot of travel by land lately, so I figured Id just go ahead and buy the annual plan.
Maybe someone here could recommend an insurance provider that covers cancelation for any reason?
#14
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: PNS
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA
Posts: 700
Dont fall into that trap! I used to buy this insurance, (and Ive asked about this on several threads here in the past). Upon checkout at DL.com, the premium for the trip is cheaper that if you protect retroactively. However, if you buy direct from Allianz, it would end up being cheaper and more cost effective.
Case in point, for a D1 ticket, the price upon checkout at DL would be thereabouts of 275+. If you buy retroactively, it would cost about 386+. Either of those would only protect you for one trip. If you buy direct from Allianz, 275+ would already get you an ANNUAL plan!!!
So I ended up buying an annual plan from Allianz. They did clarify that epidemics is not a covered reason. I bought insurance anyway for reasons other than coved. (Ive lost items or had damaged baggage in the past during some trips and Allianz seems pretty hassle-free so far in terms of claims). Some of the benefits of their plans reset after each trip, even after a claim. Ive been doing a lot of travel by land lately, so I figured Id just go ahead and buy the annual plan.
Maybe someone here could recommend an insurance provider that covers cancelation for any reason?
Case in point, for a D1 ticket, the price upon checkout at DL would be thereabouts of 275+. If you buy retroactively, it would cost about 386+. Either of those would only protect you for one trip. If you buy direct from Allianz, 275+ would already get you an ANNUAL plan!!!
So I ended up buying an annual plan from Allianz. They did clarify that epidemics is not a covered reason. I bought insurance anyway for reasons other than coved. (Ive lost items or had damaged baggage in the past during some trips and Allianz seems pretty hassle-free so far in terms of claims). Some of the benefits of their plans reset after each trip, even after a claim. Ive been doing a lot of travel by land lately, so I figured Id just go ahead and buy the annual plan.
Maybe someone here could recommend an insurance provider that covers cancelation for any reason?
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 26,948
Then no buy what DL offers. Bear in mind that DL isn't offering anything, it simply sold the right to an insurer to sell its product on DL's website and to link all of the information.
Before you purchase insurance, think about what you have invested in the trip and what is important. Prepaid hotels, cruises, ground packages and so on. Then start looking for the product which best suits your needs and covers the specific things you care about.
Before you purchase insurance, think about what you have invested in the trip and what is important. Prepaid hotels, cruises, ground packages and so on. Then start looking for the product which best suits your needs and covers the specific things you care about.