Sometimes you have to cancel your flight, whether voluntarily or not. In such cases, flight cancellation insurance ensures that you don't lose all your expenses. With good reason, many insurance companies offer this type of coverage to their customers. However, the conditions for reimbursement are not the same. How does flight cancellation insurance work? Here's how!
Flight cancellation insurance: how it works
Flight cancellation insurance is an optional service offered by airlines to their customers. This insurance is very useful when you are obliged to cancel your flight ticket. In general, the refund is only valid if the insured has a good reason.
Cancellation insurance guarantees full or partial reimbursement of cancellation fees set by service providers. To receive compensation, the reason for the insured's cancellation must be specified in the insurance contract. Each insurer offers different conditions. The best thing to do is to read the insurance conditions to find out more about your insurer's coverage conditions.
What reasons for cancellation are covered?
When you cancel your trip, flight cancellation insurance covers the costs you incur. However, this insurance only comes into play in certain situations:
- an illness affecting the insured or a close relative;
- death of the insured or his family;
- a serious accident that has happened to the insured or to a close relative;
- for professional reasons ;
- loss of identity documents.
There are other valid reasons for cancelling your flight. These include burglary of your accommodation and visa refusal. You will receive a refund if the reasons for cancellation are valid. Your flight ticket will be refunded after 6 weeks. Occasionally, you may not be eligible for a full refund. However, you may still receive a percentage later if you request it.
Not all flight cancellation insurances cover a missed flight. This cover is usually a paying option. If you have purchased your ticket and taken out group cancellation insurance with a company, you are covered in the event of a missed flight. The insurer will then cover the cost of a new flight if it is made 24 hours later.
What proof of payment do I need?
You need to take a number of steps to ensure that your claim is validated by the insurer. Notify your insurance company as soon as it becomes impossible for you to take the flight. You won't receive much compensation if you contact your insurer late. Following the cancellation of your flight, you have 5 days to submit a cancellation declaration to your insurer. Remember to send a complete file to your insurer right from the start, to benefit from shorter reimbursement times. To validate your reason for cancellation, the insurer needs supporting documents such as :
- death or medical certificates: such as prescriptions or hospitalization notes;
- bank statements ;
- Invoices for airline tickets or vacation rental reservations;
- cancellation fees charged by the service provider ;
- The reason for the cancellation.
You can use any document to justify your cancellation. Once the file has been validated, your insurer will reimburse you according to the conditions set out in the contract.
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