How long must your flight be delayed before your travel insurance pays?

How long must your flight be delayed?

Between 3 and 6 hours, depending on the policy.

Sources for Table 1

Salama,¹ AIG,² Allianz Partners,³ Mastercard,⁴ GIG Gulf,⁵ Liva,⁶ Orient,⁷ Daman.⁸

The clock starts at different points. GIG Gulf and Liva count from the scheduled departure, and Mastercard from the time in your itinerary.⁵⁶⁴ Salama and Daman calculate the claim from the actual departure time of the booked flight or transport.¹⁸

Orient prints two thresholds in one document and does not say which applies. Daman’s hours and amounts are in its Schedule of Benefit. If you hold either policy, ask the insurer.

Which causes of delay count?

Most policies list them: strike, industrial action, bad weather and mechanical breakdown appear on most lists.

• Mastercard adds operational reasons at the departure airport due to air traffic restrictions or the airline’s control, and excludes a delay known before booking.⁴
• Allianz Partners lists a travel carrier delay as a reason in itself, among nine reasons that include a work strike, natural disaster and civil disorder.³
• AIG lists equipment failure, bad weather, industrial action, natural disaster and strike.²
• Orient lists fire, storm or flood at the departure point, industrial action, bad weather and mechanical grounding.⁷
• Daman lists strike, industrial action, adverse weather, mechanical breakdown or technical fault.⁸
• Salama names no list of causes. It excludes strikes by airline or airport staff and their subcontractors, and charter or non-regular flights.¹
• GIG Gulf names no list of causes in its wording. It excludes strike, industrial action or air traffic control delay that existed or was publicly announced by the date you bought the insurance.⁵

Does it matter which leg of your trip is delayed?

Four policies say which legs count. GIG Gulf covers any outbound or inbound journey.⁵ Liva covers an international departure from or to your country of residence, but its option to abandon the trip applies only on departure from that country.⁶ Daman’s Delayed Departure Abroad covers the outward journey at the start of the trip.⁸ AIG’s trip delay cover starts before you leave your country of residence on the outward trip.²

Can you cancel the trip after a long delay?

In three policies. GIG Gulf pays up to USD 500 of costs you cannot recover if you cancel after 6 hours, instead of the delay payment.⁵ Liva pays up to USD 500 if you abandon the trip after more than 24 hours.⁶ Daman offers the option to cancel after more than 24 hours.⁸

What proof do you need?

It depends on the policy. Salama, AIG and Allianz Partners reimburse expenses and ask for receipts or invoices.¹²³ AIG pays only for meals and lodging the carrier or anyone else did not provide free.² Allianz Partners does not pay expenses that are the airline’s or travel supplier’s responsibility.³ Salama and Daman ask for written confirmation from the carrier.¹⁸

Is a delay caused by an airspace closure covered?

The policies do not say. AIG, Orient, Liva and GIG Gulf exclude delays from the withdrawal of a carrier on the order or recommendation of a civil aviation authority or similar body.²⁷⁶⁵ None says how that applies to an airspace closure. The war and closure terms are in war, conflict and airspace closures.

What does the airline owe you?

Care, information and re-routing, under rules separate from your insurance. The GCAA’s passenger rules, CAR PWP, set airline duties and do not mention insurance.⁹

The small print

• Orient’s two thresholds. Orient’s summary tables show 3 hours and amounts per 3 hours. Its Section 7 text shows more than 6 hours, with payment for the first completed 12-hour delay and each full 6 hours after that. Section 7 excludes missed connections.⁷
• GIG Gulf’s product page. It names strike or adverse weather as causes. The wording’s Chapter M names no list.¹⁰⁵
• Mastercard sub-limits. Children, the cardholder’s parents and a domestic helper have lower limits than the cardholder.⁴
• GIG Gulf’s word. GIG Gulf’s exclusion says recommendation, where others say order or recommendation.⁵