Flight insurance protects only the cost of your flight. It doesn’t cover all of your prepaid and nonrefundable trip expenses. Generally, if a problem covered by your flight insurance policy derails your travel plans, you can get reimbursement for only nonrefundable flight costs. Policies can range from offering simple refunds to covering lost or damaged baggage.

Some common problems that are typically covered by flight insurance include:

• Flight cancellations caused by bad weather conditions, like storms and blizzards.
• Unexpected flight delays that cause you to miss a connection, like equipment failure.
• A mid-flight diversion that forces you to arrive at a different airport.
• An unexpected injury or illness before your departure.
• A terrorist event within proximity to the city you are traveling to.

Flight insurance offers several benefits that can provide peace of mind and financial protection during your travels. Here are some of the key benefits of flight insurance:

1. Trip cancellation coverage: Flight insurance can reimburse you for non-refundable expenses if you need to cancel your trip before it starts due to covered reasons such as illness, injury, or the death of a family member. This benefit can help you recoup the costs of flights, accommodations, and other prepaid expenses.

2. Trip interruption coverage: If your trip is interrupted or cut short due to covered reasons such as a medical emergency, flight insurance can reimburse you for the unused portion of your trip and any additional expenses incurred to return home. This can help you avoid financial losses when unexpected situations force you to alter your travel plans.

3. Flight delay coverage: If your flight is significantly delayed, flight insurance can provide coverage for additional expenses such as meals, accommodations, and transportation during the delay. This benefit can help ease the financial burden and make your unexpected stay more comfortable.

4. Missed connection coverage: If you miss a connecting flight due to a delay or cancellation of your initial flight, flight insurance can help cover the costs of rebooking flights, accommodations, meals, and other necessary arrangements. This can be especially valuable when dealing with tight itineraries or time-sensitive travel plans.

5. Emergency assistance: Many flight insurance policies offer access to 24/7 emergency assistance services. This means you can contact a helpline for help and support in case of emergencies during your trip, such as medical emergencies, lost documents, or travel-related information.

It's important to review the specific terms and conditions of the flight insurance policy you are considering to understand the coverage limits, exclusions, and any additional benefits that may be included. Keep in mind that coverage may vary among insurance providers, so it's advisable to compare different policies to find the one that best suits your needs and travel plans.

Travel insurance generally doesn’t cover losses due to reasons and circumstances that are within your control. It’s designed to safeguard your trip investment if unexpected circumstances derail your plans.

For instance, trip cancellation benefits only apply if you cancel due to reasons listed in your policy, which are unforeseen events beyond your control. That means you won’t be eligible to file a standard trip cancellation insurance claim if you simply change your mind about going on your trip. For that, you would need CFAR coverage.

You should review the fine print of your travel insurance policy and familiarize yourself with what your policy doesn’t cover because all travel insurance plans have exclusions.