Flight cancellation insurance reimburses your tickets and travel costs if you are forced to cancel your trip due to an unexpected, justifiable event. It kicks in before you travel, as soon as an unforeseen event makes departure impossible. This is a separate guarantee from repatriation or medical assistance cover, which apply during the trip itself.
What events are covered by cancellation insurance?
Flight cancellation insurance policies typically recognise the following situations:
- Serious illness, accident or hospitalisation of the policyholder or a close family member (medical certificate required)
- Death of a family member or close relative
- Pregnancy complication
- Redundancy or involuntary job loss, and on some policies, taking up a new job whose start date conflicts with the trip
- Water damage, fire or other major incident at your home
- Theft of identity documents before departure
- Visa refusal (depending on the level of cover chosen)
- Official summons (judicial or administrative)
- Natural disaster at your destination
As a general rule, any unforeseeable event beyond your control that makes the trip impossible may give rise to a payout, provided it is listed in your policy’s terms and conditions.
Always check your policy’s general terms and conditions to find out exactly which reasons are accepted and what excess, if any, applies to your contract.
Get my flight cancellation insurance quoteWhat flight cancellation insurance does not cover
Certain situations are commonly excluded, regardless of the insurer:
- Change of mind without a justified reason
- Pre-existing conditions not declared at the time of taking out the policy
- Events already known before booking (an ongoing armed conflict, a declared epidemic…)
- Flight delays: only covered if a specific delay guarantee has been added to your policy
- Any reason not listed in your policy
To avoid unpleasant surprises, choosing the right travel insurance is just as important as taking it out in the first place. An under-powered policy can leave whole categories of risk completely uncovered.
When should you take out flight cancellation insurance?
The golden rule: take out your policy at the moment of booking, or at the very latest within 48 hours of making your reservation. If an event capable of triggering a cancellation occurs before you take out cover, it will be treated as a known event and excluded from any claim.
The longer the gap between booking and departure, the greater the chance that something unexpected will crop up: trips booked months in advance, expensive itineraries, complex multi-leg journeys - these are precisely the situations where cancellation cover comes into its own. The unexpected events that can derail a trip are often more numerous than travellers anticipate.
How much does flight cancellation insurance cost?
The premium depends primarily on the total cost of the trip being insured. It typically works out at between 3% and 8% of the trip value. For a trip costing €1,000, that translates to roughly €30 to €80 depending on the level of cover selected.
The price also varies according to the reasons covered, the maximum payout limits and the excess set out in the policy. If you want to maximise your protection without overspending, take a look at our advice on affordable online travel insurance.
How to make a claim and get reimbursed
Act quickly after the event
As soon as you know you cannot travel, contact your insurer without delay. Claims must generally be submitted within 5 to 10 days of the event or the service being cancelled. A late notification can slow down the assessment process, or even lead to a rejection if your policy sets a strict deadline.
Put together a complete file from the outset
A well-prepared claims file is the key to a swift reimbursement. Gather the following:
- Proof of the reason for cancellation: medical certificate, death certificate, redundancy letter, official summons…
- Proof of purchase for your trip: flight tickets, accommodation confirmations, activity bookings (keep the originals)
- Cancellation fees charged by your providers (airline, hotel…)
- Bank statements confirming payment
Once your insurer receives a complete file, reimbursement is generally processed within 15 to 30 days.
Cancel your bookings and collect penalty receipts
Before making your claim, cancel your reservations with each provider and collect the cancellation fee invoices they issue. These are the costs your insurance covers, up to the limits set out in your policy.
Is the cancellation protection offered by airlines enough?
Airlines often offer cancellation protection when you purchase a ticket. These guarantees are generally more limited in scope and only apply to the flight itself, not to the full trip (accommodation, transfers, activities).
There is also an important distinction to bear in mind: if the airline cancels your flight, European Regulation EC 261/2004 entitles you to a full refund or a free rebooking. Cancellation insurance is not needed in that scenario. It only comes into play when you choose to cancel for an unexpected, justifiable reason.
To understand what each type of cover actually includes, the article on the differences between travel insurance and health insurance offers a useful overview of each guarantee’s scope.
FAQ
Is flight cancellation insurance compulsory?
No, it is entirely optional. However, without it, cancelling a non-refundable trip can mean a significant financial loss, particularly for expensive trips or bookings made well in advance.
Does my bank card protect me against flight cancellation?
Premium bank cards (Visa Premier, Mastercard Gold and similar) sometimes include a cancellation guarantee, but the payout limits and conditions are often quite restrictive. Check your card’s general terms and conditions carefully. For trips with a high financial value at stake, a dedicated insurance policy generally offers more comprehensive and reliable cover.
Can you take out cancellation insurance after booking a flight?
Yes, it is possible, but it is strongly recommended to do so within 48 hours of making your reservation. Any event that occurs before you take out the policy will be treated as a known event and excluded from any claim.
What happens if the airline cancels my flight?
In this case, European Regulation EC 261/2004 protects you: you are entitled to a full refund of your ticket or a free rebooking at no extra cost. Cancellation insurance is not applicable here; it only covers cancellations made at your own initiative for an unexpected, justifiable reason.
Does cancellation insurance cover a visa refusal?
Some policies include visa refusal as a recognised cancellation reason; others do not. Check this point carefully in the general terms and conditions before taking out cover, especially if your destination requires a visa.
