What Is Missed Connection Insurance?

Travel is fun and exciting. But it is also complex and can leave you sweating the details, especially when your flights are timed closely with your other travel plans. A small weather delay, changes in staffing, issues with the aircraft, etc., can be costly if they disrupt your travel plans. It might leave you questioning, what is missed connection insurance and do I need it? Learn all about this travel insurance option and good use cases for when to purchase it. 

What Is Missed Connection Travel Insurance?

Missed connection insurance helps you recoup costs when you miss a transportation connection due to a covered event. Transportation connections can be flights, cruises or other forms of transportation. Generally, this insurance is part of a larger travel policy, often purchased as an add-on to your travel insurance. 

What Does Missed Connection Insurance Cover? 

Before you purchase this add-on coverage for your travel insurance, consider the coverage and whether it applies to your trip. Here’s a look at events that missed connection insurance often covers, though you’ll want to reference your specific insurance plan for details.

• Missing a flight due to delays from a connecting flight
• Unforeseen road events that prevent you from making your flight
• Delays from carriers, such as airlines, that disrupt your travel plans
• Weather events that prohibit you from departing your location
• Hijackings
• Employee strikes
• Natural disasters
• Terrorist attacks

The most common scenario that causes travelers to call upon their missed connection insurance includes weather delays. For example, your plane might board and sit at the terminal waiting for clearance to take off. That means you miss your connecting flight and must rebook the flight, miss your cruise or need to change overnight accommodations due to not checking in on time.

In those scenarios, the insurance will pay to cover transportation costs to your scheduled trip or repay your nonrefundable trip expenses if your travel is pre-booked.

How Much Coverage Is Provided For Missed Connections?

The coverage for missed connections will be how much you spent on the ticket and the cost of additional transportation to get back on schedule with your itinerary. 

Your insurance coverage might include per-person maximums. Some plans max out at $500 in coverage, and others at $2,000. Review your travel insurance limits for specifics. 

What Is Not Covered?

Know the limitations of your missed connection coverage before deciding whether the add-on is worth the cost. Here’s what it won’t cover:

• Missing a flight due to oversleeping
• Spending too long sightseeing and missing a flight
• Delays during your return journey home (though this varies based on insurance plans)
• Childbirth or pregnancy-related delays
• Riots or other forms of insurrection
• Attempts to commit crimes
• Delays due to intoxication or drug influences

If you’re purchasing travel insurance for a cruise, your insurance might also outline specifics about what is covered. For example, you might only have coverage to catch up with your cruise. And if you experience delays on your way home, you likely will have no coverage because the delay won’t shorten your trip or disrupt the plans you’ve made.

Is Missed Connection Insurance Worth It? 

If your trip is complex with multiple flights and a strict itinerary, missed connection insurance is wise. Delays are out of your control and depending on where you are traveling, a tight itinerary might be your only option or the most affordable option. Purchasing the insurance can help you save hundreds on your flights by giving you peace of mind that you have coverage to book your transportation close together.

Simple trips with a straight flight or a flight that leaves you plenty of time to get to your activities probably don’t require missed connection insurance. Cruises are the most common vacation type that travelers find missed connection insurance beneficial for since missing the boat can mean you miss your entire vacation.

Other Types of Travel Insurance

When buying travel insurance, consider all aspects of your travel needs. Evaluate various types of travel insurance to build a policy that protects your specific travel plans.

• Trip delay insurance: Cover your travels in case of covered delays interrupting your travel plans. Most policies outline that delays must be six or 12 hours to qualify for coverage. But if a covered event happens, you can receive reimbursement for transportation, meals and accommodations. This insurance can make delays far more comfortable because you don’t have to sit in the airport and wait around.
• Trip interruption insurance: When you’re on your trip and something happens that prevents you from enjoying the full duration of your experience, trip interruption insurance can help reimburse costs. For example, if you become ill while traveling and need to cut the trip short, your insurance policy can reimburse nonrefundable fees, such as those you pay to move up your air travel to get home. 
• Trip cancellation insurance: When you must cancel your travel plans due to a medical emergency, family death, natural disaster, jury duty summons, or other covered event, trip cancellation insurance can reimburse prepaid expenses.
• Lost or damaged baggage insurance: Not having the items you packed for your trip can be costly. Lost or damaged baggage insurance covers a small amount per day to help you get by until your luggage is delivered to you or can help cover the replacement cost of the goods inside once it is deemed lost.
• Emergency medical insurance: Medical care while traveling can be costly. Get coverage for medical care while on your trip with travel insurance that includes emergency medical insurance. This is especially beneficial if you’ll be traveling outside the U.S. where your health insurance plan might not apply.
• Emergency evacuation insurance: Get coverage for ambulance expenses, medical escorts, or the cost of hiring a family member to help make medical decisions or care for children traveling with you. 
• Cancel for any reason insurance: When you purchase cancel insurance (CFAR), you can get reimbursed for prepaid travel up to 75% of all costs. While travel insurance covers specific circumstances, this insurance can cover you if you decide you don’t want to go on the trip or if a family commitment, like your grandchild’s birthday party, is more important to you.

Compare the Best Travel Insurance Companies

Review the best travel insurance options with Benzinga’s list of leading insurance carriers.

Don’t Let Delays Derail Your Travel

Delays are often completely outside of your control. But you don’t have to let them derail your travel plans. Instead, call upon your missed connections travel insurance to reimburse prepaid expenses or to rebook travel that helps you catch up with your itinerary. 

Frequently Asked Questions