Travel insurance for flights: do you really need it? A guide

2 April 2026

Travel insurance for flights: do you really need it? A guide

“Would you like to add travel insurance?” It’s the question that pops up every time you book a flight. Most people click “no” without thinking. Some click “yes” out of anxiety. Few stop to consider whether it actually makes sense.

The truth is that travel insurance is neither useless nor indispensable: it depends on the type of trip, the ticket cost and your risk level. Let’s look at when it’s worthwhile, what it actually covers and how to choose without wasting money.

When travel insurance makes sense

Not all trips have the same risk profile. Here are the situations where insurance is a reasonable investment:

Expensive or non-refundable flights

If you’ve booked an intercontinental flight for 800 euros on a non-refundable fare, a 30-50 euro insurance policy covering cancellation can make sense. The cost-to-protection ratio is favourable.

For a 40-euro low-cost flight? Probably not. The insurance cost could be a significant percentage of the ticket itself.

Long or complex trips

A three-week trip with multiple flights, hotels and booked activities has many more “breaking points” than a weekend with a direct flight. If one flight falls through, the domino effect on subsequent bookings can be costly.

Tight connections

If your itinerary involves connections on separate tickets (not on the same booking), a delay on the first flight could cause you to miss the second with no right to rebooking. Insurance can cover the lost ticket.

Travel to countries without health coverage

For non-EU destinations, medical insurance is often more important than cancellation cover. Hospital treatment in the United States can cost tens of thousands of euros. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) only covers EU/EEA countries.

Passengers with medical conditions

If you have a medical condition that could prevent you from travelling, insurance with cancellation coverage for illness is particularly important.

What travel insurance covers (usually)

Coverage varies enormously from policy to policy, but these are the most common:

Trip cancellation

Refund of travel costs if you need to cancel for:

• Illness or injury (yours or a close family member’s)
• Family bereavement
• Jury or witness summons
• Serious property damage (fire, flood at your home)

Note: covered reasons are exhaustively listed in the policy. “I changed my mind” or “I found a better price” are never covered.

Flight delay

Many policies provide reimbursement for delays exceeding a certain threshold (typically 4-6 hours):

• Reimbursement of extra expenses incurred (meals, hotel)
• Sometimes a lump-sum payment (50-200 euros)

Lost or damaged baggage

• Reimbursement for essential purchases if your baggage arrives late (typically after 6-12 hours)
• Compensation for permanently lost baggage (often with a limited cap)

Medical expenses abroad

• Coverage for hospitalisation and medical treatment
• Medical repatriation
• Generally with limits ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 euros depending on the policy

Civil liability

• Coverage for accidental damage caused to third parties during the trip

What travel insurance does NOT cover

Here’s where many travellers are disappointed, because exclusions are often hidden in the fine print:

• Change of mind: you no longer want to go? Not covered
• Fear of flying or anxiety: not a valid reason for cancellation
• Pre-existing medical conditions: many policies exclude them unless “stabilised” for a certain period
• Pandemics and epidemics: after COVID, many policies introduced specific exclusions. Read carefully
• War and terrorism: limited or absent coverage in most basic policies
• Foreseeable circumstances: if you book a flight knowing there’s an announced strike, the policy may not cover it
• Risky activities: extreme sports, diving beyond certain depths, high-altitude trekking may be excluded

Insurance and EU261 rights: they’re cumulative

This is information many don’t know: travel insurance and EU261 compensation don’t exclude each other.

If your flight is cancelled and you’re entitled to 250 euros in EU261 compensation and your insurance covers the extra expenses incurred, you can get both. EU261 compensation is a legal right independent of the insurance contract.

However, if the insurance reimburses you for the ticket cost and you then also get a refund from the airline, you may have to return one (you can’t be reimbursed twice for the same expense). EU261 lump-sum compensation, however, is additional.

How to choose the right policy

1. Define what you need

Don’t buy an “all-inclusive” package if you only need medical coverage. Many companies offer modular policies: choose the coverage that makes sense for your trip.

2. Compare the limits

Don’t just look at the policy price. Compare:

• The cancellation limit (should cover at least the trip cost)
• The medical expense limit (minimum 50,000 euros for Europe, 100,000+ for the US)
• The excess (the amount you pay in every claim)
• The baggage limit (often very low: 300-500 euros)

3. Read the exclusions

It’s the least fun part, but the most important. Exclusions are where the unpleasant surprises hide. Look specifically for:

• Exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions
• Exclusions for pandemics/epidemics
• Definition of “close family member” (varies by policy)
• Time limits for reporting a claim

4. Check if you already have coverage

Before buying, check if you’re already covered:

• Credit card: many Gold/Platinum cards include travel insurance. Check coverage and limits
• Supplementary health insurance: some cover medical expenses abroad
• Airline insurance: some airlines offer included or low-cost insurance (but coverage is often limited)

5. Watch the timing

Most policies must be taken out within a certain number of days of booking (typically 7-15 days) for cancellation coverage. If you wait too long, you might lose this benefit.

Insurance vs prevention

Insurance is a safety net, but it’s not the only tool at your disposal. In many cases, preventing a problem is more effective than insuring against it.

For example: if you know in advance that your flight has a high risk of cancellation (due to announced strikes, adverse weather or airline problems), you can change flight before the cancellation — often at zero or reduced cost — instead of waiting and then filing an insurance claim.

FlightGuard lets you monitor the risk of your flight and receive alerts if the situation changes. It’s a tool complementary to insurance: insurance protects you financially, prevention protects you from the hassle.

In summary

The rule: if the insurance cost is less than 5% of the trip and the potential loss would create a real financial problem, it’s worth it. If the trip is cheap and you’re flexible, probably not.

Sources

• IVASS

Want to know if your next flight is at risk? Check the risk of your flight on FlightGuard.