Missed connection travel insurance coverage

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• Comprehensive travel insurance policies usually cover missed connections. 
• Some credit cards offer missed connection coverage as a card member perk. 
• Read the fine print of your policy and understand the specifics of coverage.

If you miss a flight connection or fail to arrive for a cruise departure on time, it can add stress and extra costs to your trip. Missed connection travel insurance helps pay for the additional cost, including hotel stays and new flights. 

The best travel insurance usually includes coverage for missed connections, but that's not always the case. It's important to read the fine print of your policy to confirm, especially because there are different stipulations about total payment amounts and when the coverage begins.

Here's what you need to know about missed connections travel insurance before your next trip. 

What is missed connection coverage?

Travel insurance coverage helps pay for unplanned costs associated with a trip, including lost baggage, travel delays, and emergency medical expenses. Missed connection coverage is another type of travel insurance coverage. It usually refers to missing connections due to circumstances outside the policy holder's control. 

Missed connection coverage is often smart if you have a flight with multiple connections or if you have to take a flight to arrive at your cruise departure. It's unnecessary if you have a nonstop flight because there's no risk of missing a connection.

See Insider's picks for the best cruise insurance policies >>

What does missed connection travel insurance cover?

Coverage usually depends on why you missed the connection. The following reasons are generally covered.

• Bad weather
• Plane mechanical failure
• Accident or road conditions en route to the airport
• Worker strike 
• Natural disaster

But it's important to read the fine print of your policy and understand your coverage. For example, your policy can include other stipulations like specified amounts of time.

If you're traveling from Texas to Paris with a layover in New York, missed connection insurance covers your flight from New York to Paris. If a one-hour delay for your first flight causes you to miss your second flight, your policy might not help. Some missed connection policies specify that delays must be at least three hours. 

Coverage limitations

The following reasons for missing a connection are not usually covered.

• Oversleeping or any other reason that is the traveler's fault
• Pregnancy or childbirth
• War
• Riots

Coverage does not usually include return travel, either. So if you're traveling home after a trip and miss a connection, your policy might not help. 

Plus, some policies are only for certain types of travel. You can buy a "cruise only" or "cruise and tour only" policy that only pays for getting to your cruise after missing a connection. 

How to get missed connection coverage

There are different ways to set up coverage for missed connections. You can get it through a comprehensive travel insurance policy, include it as an add-on, or book your trip using one of the best credit cards with travel insurance as a ben eft.

Comprehensive travel insurance with missed connection coverage

Comprehensive travel insurance is a policy that includes coverage for some of the most common travel issues, including missed connections. The policies typically cover lost baggage, sickness cancellations, medical emergency care and flight delays. 

But policy details vary from provider to provider, so it's important to confirm that it includes missed connection coverage. Comparison sites like Squaremouth or TravelInsurance.com let you filter by coverage type, which can help ensure it's included.

Missed connection coverage as an add-on

If your travel insurance policy doesn't include missed connections, you can typically have it as an add-policy. To do so, connect with your insurance provider and request quotes. Make sure you understand the limitations, stipulations and any other requirements for how the coverage works. 

Credit card travel insurance coverage for missed connections

Some credit cards offer travel insurance as a benefit, and coverage might include missed connections. For example, the American Express Platinum credit card covers missed connections. 

Coverage depends on the terms of your credit card and the reason for missing the connection. Still, it's worth checking before paying for additional coverage. To qualify for coverage, you must pay for the travel expenses with your credit card. 

Missed connection coverage FAQs

What happens if an airline makes you miss your connection?

If your missed connection is the airline's fault, like overbooking or mechanical issues, the airline compensates you. But the flight usually needs to be at least one hour late. Typically, reimbursement is either double the ticket cost or $650, depending on which amount is lower. 

Can I file an insurance claim for a missed connection?

If you have travel insurance for missed connections, you can file a claim with your insurance provider. You can file a claim with your credit card company if it provides that coverage as a benefit. Airlines typically provide compensation if you miss a connection due to overbooking or mechanical issues. 

What's the difference between trip delay coverage and missed connection coverage?

Missed connection insurance protects you from costs associated with missing a connection for reasons outside your control. Trip delay insurance protects you from expenses related to airline and other travel delays.