![]() ![]() The biggest selling point on airline offered protection policies is the flexibility to cancel a trip if a major life event happens, and you can no longer go on your travels. Related: What Does Credit Card Insurance Actually Cover? Travel Cancellation or Interruption Coverage ![]() While at first glance this perk seems helpful, the likelihood of a delay lasting over 6-hours is exceptionally slim for the extra out-of-pocket protection. That’s virtually the same coverage that these policies offer, only you don't need to file for it. If an extended delay requires an overnight, most international carriers will offer free accommodation, which I've listed here. So, to get the full value of the coverage, you'll have to be delayed 2-days or more, which is relatively unheard of without the airline just canceling the flight altogether. With receipts, this benefit tops out at $150 per 24-hours. But for the coverage to kick in, the delay has to be six or sometimes 12 hours or more before you can expense items like accommodation and meals. If your trip is delayed by the airline, plans will offer you generally around $250-300 to cover select eligible expenses. Therefore, the coverage these plans provide is basically null, as better provisions are already in place. Much more than touted international protection plans sold by Delta's partner Allianz only covering $300. Internationally, guidelines set during the Montreal Convention put airlines on the hook for $1,780 per piece. That turns out to be a lowball amount compared to DOT regulations holding airlines responsible for up to $3,500 paid per passenger who has a lost, damaged, or delayed bag on domestic trips. Most plans offer reimbursement if your bag ends up lost, damaged, delayed, or stolen while traveling on a domestic itinerary of up to around $500. I’ll break down some of the listed protections these plans provide and scenarios where you’re probably already covered. If a medical emergency occurs when traveling domestically, most plans do not include coverage, and on international itineraries, it’s barebones and insufficient. While assistance in the event of medical emergency may be listed, it’s more than likely not included once you dive deeper into the fine print. It protects the flight and corollary aspects such as bag damage, and delays. Trip protection generally does what it says. In actuality what they’re offering is trip protection, not travel insurance. Would you like to protect this trip for $XX.XX dollars?" Usually, it's not much, but is it even worth the extra money? Likely, no. When clicking to purchase your ticket, up pops the prompt, “Peace of mind is a click away. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York.We've all seen it. The Biden Administration and the Department of Transportation have been trying to crack down on airline fees, but so far there has been no formal change to restrict bag charges. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines continue to offer free first checked bags on transpacific flights for basic economy ticketholders, but like American, charge $75 on transatlantic flights. It means that on the longest flights, a ticket will cost nearly $100 more than the published price if you wind up needing to check a bag.ĭesigning for more legroom How engineering lets economy airplane seats offer more knee space in the same close quarters With this change, our Basic Economy product will include all of the same features whether a customer is purchasing it for a domestic or international flight,” Andrea Koos, an American Airlines spokesperson said in a statement.īut for consumers, this is obviously a frustrating move. “We are simplifying our product offerings to make it easier for customers when they are shopping for travel. The airline announced it would introduce a $75 fee for the first checked bags on its cheapest fares on transoceanic flights, saying the change is meant to make the terms of basic economy more consistent across its network. American Airlines will now charge for checked bags on all basic economy tickets. ![]()
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