A bomb cyclone winter storm brought difficult and disruptive travel conditions from New England to Delaware on Feb. 23.
Airports, including those in New York City, Boston and Philadelphia, were heavily impacted: About 4,800 departures were cancelled as of Monday morning, equalling about 20% of total scheduled departures. Customers could continue to feel the impacts through at least Feb. 24.
However, some airlines are offering flexibility. Delta, American and United are allowing people traveling to or from affected cities to change their flights without a fee.
However, travel insurance can also kick in with some winter weather scenarios. Here's what you need to know about travel insurance policies and coverage.
What weather situations will travel insurance cover?
Cancellation because you can't make it to your destination
Most travel insurance will reimburse you if you can't get to your destination within 24 hours of your original scheduled arrival due to the airline cancelling your flight.
But, a cancelled flight itself isn't always enough qualify for coverage. Some insurers require you to have lost more than 50% of the planned length of your trip in order to be covered for a cancellation. You might even have to try another mode of transportation. If, for example, you can find another way to get to your destination, your travel insurance may only help reimburse the price of that different ticket.
Since travel insurance companies and plans from the same brand can have different coverage limits and requirements, read your policy to see exactly what's covered.
However, you won't be reimbursed if you cancel your flight due to inclement weather — being worried about a storm or poor weather at your destination aren't covered reasons.
If you're looking for insurance that would cover those scenarios, you'll need to get cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage, which will reimburse you for a portion — typically 50% to 80% — of your prepaid expenses. It also adds to your cost: You'll pay about 40% to 75% more for these policies than you would for the typical travel insurance. However, you won't be required to give a reason for your cancellation.
Allianz offers a cancel anytime upgrade on its OneTrip Prime plan with up to 80% reimbursement, a limit higher than many other brands.
Allianz Travel Insurance
Policy highlights
Single-trip and multi-trip/annual policies and a rental car plan. OneTrip Prime and Premier plans include coverage for one child 17 or younger when accompanying a covered adult.
Cancel For Any Reason coverage
Reimburses 80% of nonrefundable trip costs if you cancel at least 48 hours before departure.
Pre-existing condition waiver
Included if policy is purchased within 14 days of initial deposit
Read our review of Allianz Travel Insurance
However, you can't add this option as your trip approaches or meteorologists predict bad weather: Most brands require this to be purchased within 10 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit, depending on the brand you're using.
Delayed flights
If your flights are delayed because of weather, you might be able to file a claim with your insurance provider. Typically, your flight needs to be delayed by six or more hours to qualify for reimbursement from your travel insurance.
Not only could you be reimbursed for nonrefundable lost trip expenses, but you can also be reimbursed for eligible things like meals, accommodations and transportation, up to the limits of your plan.
Insurers like Faye make it very easy to get reimbursed for claims like this, adding funds to a digital wallet you can use to cover your expenses. Trip delay limits with this brand are up to $300 per day.
Faye Travel Insurance
Policy highlights
One single-trip plan with optional add-ons for pet care, adventure sports and damage to vacation rentals
Cancel For Any Reason coverage
Up to 75% reimbursement of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit.
Pre-existing condition waiver
Available if policy is purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit.
If you're heading to a port for a cruise, your travel insurance could also help you catch up to your ship if you miss the departure. Nationwide's Universal Cruise plan offers up to $2,500 in assistance to help you get to the ship's next port.
Nationwide Travel Insurance
Policy highlights
Single- and multi-trip plans and cruise insurance, plus add-ons like CFAR and rental car coverage.
Cancel For Any Reason coverage
Add-on to Prime plan that reimburses 75% of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 21 days of booking (Not available in New York or Washington state)
Pre-existing condition waiver
Available with single-trip plan purchased within 20 days of initial trip deposit (14 days for cruise insurance)
You bought your policy before the storm was known or named
While you can get reimbursed for flight delays and cancellations for the reasons above, there is one big caveat: you need to have purchased your policy before the storm was known to be an issue.
If you open your weather app and see a storm system heading for your airport, it's too late to buy travel insurance that will cover this situation. This is true also of named storms like hurricanes — once a storm is named, it's considered a "foreseeable event" and will be excluded from your policy.
This is one of the reasons for purchasing travel insurance as soon as you book your trip: it can help your policy cover more, like weather and pre-existing medical conditions.
Travel insurance and storms FAQs
Does travel insurance cover weather-related cancellations or interruptions?
In some cases, travel insurance can cover weather-related interruptions or cancellations. However, you need to have purchased your policy before the storm was known and meet the qualifications outlined in your policy for coverage.
Can you cancel a trip due to weather?
Cancelling a trip because you're worried about the weather or don't want to travel isn't typically a covered reason under travel insurance coverage. Check your policy to see what reasons are covered.
What weather isn't covered by travel insurance?
Travel insurance typically doesn't cover weather once it's known or a storm is named. By that point, it's seen as a foreseeable event. It also won't cover changes of plans for reasons not covered, like if you'd rather change your trip to wait for better weather or more favorable conditions later.
How much does trip cancellation insurance typically cost?
Travel insurance typically costs between 4% and 10% of your trip's non-refundable expenses.
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