Can You Claim for a Missed Flight?

What is a Missed Flight?

Missed flight, also referred to as a missed departure in travel insurance terms, is when you are forced to miss a scheduled flight due to unavoidable reasons.

This can happen anytime, during the inbound or outbound journeys. It can happen due to many reasons ranging from public strikes which lead you to get delayed to bad weather conditions. But only a few of them are considered valid for reimbursements under travel insurance plans.

For example, the following are some reasons that let you claim missed flight benefits in India:

• Missing your flight due to a strike
• An accident on the way to the airport
• Disruption of public transport
• Mechanical breakdown of your car
• Death of an immediate relative
• Delay of the initial flight if boarding a connecting flight

These are just a few reasons that most insurers consider valid. Similarly, missing your flight because you overslept or read the time wrong is not a valid reason.

What to Do if You Miss Your Flight

Missing a flight is a frustrating situation. It can feel unreal, so the first step is acceptance. It's hard to keep your cool in such situations, but if you do miss a flight, then you must try your best to take quick action.

You first need to contact your airline and check for alternatives. Ask them when the next flight departs for your scheduled airport and whether you can book onto that flight. If that airline is unavailable, then you must look at alternative airlines.

If you missed your flight because your airline was responsible, then it can cover you for your losses or shoulder the alternative ticket to your destination as well. However, if you missed your flight under special circumstances like medical emergencies, severe weather, road accidents then your travel insurance policy can cover several costs. Even if you missed a connecting flight, you can be eligible for missed connection travel insurance coverage. In such cases, you must inform your insurer as soon as possible and follow the instructions to raise a claim later.

Do I Get a Refund if I Miss My Flight?

Getting a refund for your missed flight depends on whose fault it is. It also depends on whether or not you bought a comprehensive travel insurance plan which offers missed flight insurance.

If you had to miss your flight due to technical issues or breakdowns in the carrier, then your airline is more likely to compensate you for your missed flight. However, they may or may not compensate you for other non-refundable bookings. In such a case, your international travel insurance will help you recover that loss.

If you miss your flight under the covered reasons, then you will get a refund for your loss. However, for this, you need to be really well-versed with your trip insurance plan, especially the parts related to flight cancellation or missed flights.

Does Travel Insurance Cover if You Miss a Connecting Flight?

For most travellers, a missed flight is an absolute nightmare. However, missing a connecting flight, which takes you to your planned destination is even worse as there are limited options. Especially when it is for a well-deserved vacation, missing a connecting flight means losing the time and money you gave for the flight, as well as for many bookings including hotel or tour companies etc., that you paid for in advance.

Missed flights are often confused with missed connections, where a person misses a connecting flight. While many insurers offer coverage for missing a connecting flight, it is not the same as missing a departure. Also, make sure that your insurer offers coverage for both if you have a connecting flight in your itinerary.

How does Travel Insurance for Flights Work?

Many travel insurance companies in India offer certain benefits when it comes to cancelling or rescheduling flights. However, these benefits depend largely on the intensity of your situation.

If your trip has been cancelled before the date of departure, then you will get compensation benefits, given that it was an unavoidable reason such as falling too sick for the trip or a death in the family.

Other cases that are usually covered by missed flight travel insurance include natural disasters, sudden and extreme weather changes, terrorist attacks or sudden critical issues faced by the insured traveller. However, you should always remember the level of coverage offered by different policies as some of them may or may not offer this benefit.

When Can You Claim for a Missed Flight?

Other than airline issues, most trip insurance plans provide coverage for a missed flight. These are the few reasons your travel insurance will cover missed flights:

• If you missed a flight because of an accident (rail, bus, etc.) while reaching the airport
• If you were late for a connecting flight due to a natural disaster, bad weather, hijacking, civil unrest, etc.
• If you or an immediate family member falls critically ill

On the other hand, you won't be covered for missing your flight due to your own fault or something avoidable. Traffic, not leaving for the airport on time, oversleeping, forgetting your passport at home, or other careless mistakes won't be considered valid reasons.

Another thing to remember, if you missed your flight due to the airline's fault, you may claim a refund from them. Many travel insurance companies in India don't provide coverage for such cases; however, they may compensate you for hotel bookings that went to waste because of the missed flight.

Wrapping it Up,

Missing a flight is one of the most common flight-related issues faced by people. Domestic or international, flights are costly, and most people won't like to see all that money go down the drain. It only gets worse if you have an urgent meeting or a reason to travel somewhere but couldn't board the flight. To make sure you never have to suffer from a missed flight, buy travel insurance for missed flight and missed connection benefits. This way, you won't have to suffer the pain of losing all that money as well as cancelling your vacation plans.