Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

As I've mentioned elsewhere my eldest son is getting married next year (June). He is currently with his TA regiment training for deployment to Afghanistan, back in time for his wedding. (God willing)

Watching the air fares last year US Airways had a good deal on business fares, and if they repeat the offer this year I think I'll indulge ourselves. The other plan is to get two free business tickets using my United airmiles, which I guess can't be insured.

Now not wishing to sound as cold as his mother, but I wonder if anyone can recommend good travel insurance. If something happens causing our plans to be changed or cancelled, I would like to be able to recover some of the cost.

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Interesting (albeit old) article here:

http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/blog/...hats-it-worth/

It might be worth checking with your credit card company. I think Amex has a good one.

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

I used to buy Amex travel insurance when I lived in the UK and whilst I never had cause to make a claim the coverage seemed pretty good for the price.

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Not sure if its true for US Airways - but I think with BA miles if you need to cancel reward flights you get the miles back and the tax back as you haven't flown.............perhaps check on the US Airways website

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

I used Delta miles a couple of years ago, and was still able to get travel insurance for that trip.

Rene

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Depending on the airline mile scheme, no idea there....you might have some form of travel insurance cover for cancellations via your credit card.

If not, a local insurance broker should be able to offer something cheap, though perhaps they tend to be found more in touristy seasonal areas. I know where the in-laws are, there are a few that offer this at least - folks not able to get to sugarloaf because of the snow, there not being enough snow etc, that it covers refunds or change of tickets etc.

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Thanks interesting article. I thought of Amex but only have a $2k limit on the card, and I think their insurance is on trips purchased with the card. Also I assumed that the card type insurance wouldn't cover the eventuality I need covered. There again not sure any company would.

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

But did it cover refund of the miles if the trip was cancelled? As it will take 200,000 to get the tickets I don't really want to be that number out of pocket if I have to cancel.

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Mine did, at that time, yes. It refunded the miles back to your account. I think the only thing we couldn't get back were taxes paid.

Rene

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Rene who did you get the insurance from? I'll look see if they still offer that cover. Thanks

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Let me see if I still have that information....

Yep! It was in January 2011, used miles for me and hubby to go to Hawaii. The cost for the two of us was $30. The insurance carrier is Access America. Their number is 1-800-284-8300.

Rene

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Are you sure you can't simply cancel the mileage ticket and get everything refunded (maybe minus a small fee)?

Maybe no insurance needed at all - you might be over-complicating things here.

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Cancellation Coverage covers certain specific eventualities, which ones did you have in mind?

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Properly what they wouldn't cover. Son coming back from Afganistan injured and wedding not going ahead as planned. Needing to cancel ticket for May next year to go back to the UK earlier.

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

I can't find anything on the United web site about canceling an award ticket. So until I can confirm otherwise I am assuming they are not transferable or refundable.

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Thanks Rene

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Thanks tonrob I went back and found the link in the small print at the bottom of the Mileageplus page. $150 each to cancel and get miles refunded, I don't mind risking that or $75 to change the ticket.

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Good stuff. While I didn't know United's policies specifically, in general all the airlines that I have looked into have allowed cancellations of mileage tickets for a fee. $150 seems a bit steep compared to others (e.g. I think AA is $75), but some airlines make it so in order to give their 'elite' flyers a benefit by charging them less (Edit: And I've just looked and seen this is the case here).

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Excellent news! :)

Rene

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

Having been through this...United simply allows you to cancel the ticket and remand the miles back to your account. But there is a fee. The first time I had to do that was free, but I was an elite card holder. Now I'm not, so the second time I had to do it (last year) it cost me that $150.

To avoid the fee, you can change the dates instead. Changes are free under some rules..I think if the date is 21 days in advance. Otherwise it is some fees but under $75 if I remember.

I know you have this info at the moment but wanted to let you know I tend to book airmiles award tickets often with United.

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/Cont...ticketing.aspx

I am off to Calgary on a United award ticket today!

ps: Americans rarely use the trip cover or cancellation insurance...we just pay tons of fees to cancel and change the tickets. We just don't have a good product as such.

Re: Travel Insurance - Cancellation cover
 

The best trip insurance I ever did was many years ago, when my mom and I booked a TWA (no longer in business) Mediterranian package tour/cruise. We flew coach to Athens and then my mom got really sick and couldn't continue on with the cruise (doctor's orders). We spent 2 days in Athens getting her well enough to travel again. I bought 2 business-class seats for the return trip (out of my own pocket, so mom would travel more comfortably). When we got back to the USA, we filed with the trip insurance folks. We got both of our business class ticket price refunded, plus the coach return portion we didn't use, plus the remaining days of the tour we didn't take! I was forever grateful that we had the foresight to get trip insurance on that one!

Rene