Before my recent trip to Dubai, I would always decline every check box asking me to sign up for flight insurance when booking a flight. As a frequent traveler, I always took the “I’ll take my chances” attitude, giving little to no thought to purchasing travel insurance. After all, I had traveled on dozens of flights without any problems more severe than a short delay (which most travelers expect these days). However, one crazy travel experience completely shifted my entire perspective on flight insurance.
Today, if asked, “Is flight insurance worth it? My answer is much different from what it would have been just a year ago. If you’re on the fence or have always been against purchasing flight insurance, this story could change your mind.
The flight that changed my mind
After an amazing week in Dubai, my husband and I boarded the massive Emirates A380 to head back to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The flight departed on time, and we were about halfway through the flight when the flight crew asked if there were any doctors, nurses, or other medical professionals on board.
Due to the mere size of this double-decker plane, it was tough to see if anyone stood up. Within the next hour, the pilot announced that the aircraft would be making an emergency landing in Reykjavík, Iceland, as a passenger needed prompt medical attention.
Though the initial plan was to land in Iceland, get the passenger to medical help quickly, and get on our way, plans rapidly changed. January is the coldest month in Iceland, with snowfall taking place over half of the month. After sitting on the tarmac for about two hours waiting to get back on our way to JFK, the flight crew shared that the airport staff were having trouble deicing the plane. The snow kept coming down, and every time the staff would deice the plane, snow would accumulate again too quickly. The size of the A380 isn’t meant to land at a small city like Reykjavík, but snow made matters worse. Due to the snowstorm, the airport also could not get staff to the airport fast enough to assist, making the process even longer.
The flight crew kept everyone on the plane instead of deboarding, as they had every intention of getting us back on our way to JFK that day. Despite their best efforts, the process took so long that the regulations required the crew to time out. We were also informed that we would not be retrieving our checked bags, as Reykjavík’s baggage carousel can’t accommodate the massive number of bags onboard the plane.
To make a long story short, this is how I ended up in Iceland for the next 48 hours, without any clothes, hygiene products, or necessities. Let this story serve as a reminder of why you should always pack a carry-on bag. At least I got a laugh out of watching people stare at my husband walking through Iceland in January in shorts.
Understanding flight insurance
When we finally made it back to New York two days later, I overheard various passengers discussing how everyone deserved compensation for the inconveniences caused by the entire process. Boarding the plane, a man told me that we should each request $5,000 from Emirates due to the inconvenience. I laughed, knowing this was a far stretch.
Although hotel accommodations and food were provided to the stranded passengers, several expenses were still incurred during the 48-hour detour. Not to mention, Iceland is one of the most expensive countries in the world to visit, so purchasing simple basics like a toothbrush and toothpaste can quickly add up. My husband and I incurred nearly $800 of charges between buying food, clothing, and hygiene products to get by. In addition, we incurred extra expenses, including parking at JFK, a Verizon TravelPass to access service in Iceland, and taxi rides to stores to purchase necessities. Not to mention the two-day loss of work. But would travel insurance have reimbursed me for these expenses?
The medical event that occurred on board falls under what is known as “extraordinary circumstances” in airline terminology. This means that the entire event was not within Emirates’ control, which could not have foreseen a passenger getting ill. Those on board who did not purchase travel insurance, like me, were not offered any reimbursement due to the situation. However, had I bought flight insurance, several expenses could have been reimbursed. Travel and flight insurance protection plans can vary in terms of what they cover, but at a bare minimum, I would have had coverage for the unexpected expenses incurred due to these delays. Some plans may even have covered the loss of work during this time, too.
Is flight insurance worth it?
Any insurance, by nature, is a gamble. You ultimately don’t know if you’ll need it or not. Yet, my crazy experience shows that anything can happen when you’re miles away from home. While this happened when I was flying Emirates, a similar situation could have happened flying any major airline.
The answer to “Is flight insurance worth it?” depends on the risks you’re willing to take, as well as your situation. While I might not purchase flight insurance for inexpensive or short trips, such as a two-hour flight to Florida, I’ll surely be rethinking flight insurance the next time I travel internationally. All it takes is one life experience to increase your awareness of something you once gave little to no thought to.
