Following deadly crashes, international flight groundings and aircraft bans have many travelers concerned about flight safety. Squaremouth answers the 3 most asked questions about travel insurance coverage relating to Boeing 737 Max 8 flights.

 

1. What if I'm too scared to fly?

While airplane safety concerns may leave travelers fearful of flying, being too scared to travel is never a covered reason to cancel a trip under standard travel insurance policies.

There are still some options available for travelers who want to change or cancel due to fear, such as the Cancel For Any Reason upgrade, but they come at a price.

The Cancel For Any Reason benefit typically adds 40% to a policy premium and can refund travelers up to 75% of their trip costs if they cancel at least 2-3 days before their departure. To be eligible for this benefit, a traveler must buy their policy within 21 days of their initial trip payment and insure their entire trip cost.

 

2. What if I want to change aircraft?

Choosing to change a scheduled flight due to aircraft safety concerns is not covered by travel insurance. Squaremouth recommends travelers check with their airline, as many are offering to cover change fees and fare increases specifically for those scheduled to fly on Boeing 737 Max 8 aircrafts.

 

3. What if my flight is canceled or delayed?

Travel insurance policies likely will not provide coverage for flight cancellations due to the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max 8 planes. In order for a grounded flight to be covered by travel insurance, it must be due to a mechanical failure of the aircraft or inclement weather.

There are some cases where the Travel Delay benefit could provide coverage for additional meals and accommodations incurred during a common carrier delay. This varies by policy, and typically requires a delay of 6 hours or more.

 

Squaremouth launched the Boeing Airplane Crash Travel Insurance Information Center. This online resource is updated with official provider position statements, answers to frequently asked questions, and current government travel alerts and notices related to the crash.