Tennessee – As millions of Americans prepare for late-summer vacations, AAA is encouraging travelers to review their travel insurance options before hurricanes, wildfires, flooding and other severe weather events disrupt their plans.
According to a recent AAA Consumer Pulse Survey, 51% of Tennesseans plan to travel between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but only 35% say they intend to purchase travel insurance.
With only a few weeks remaining in the summer travel season, AAA says many travelers may be underestimating the financial impact severe weather can have on flights, cruises, hotel reservations and other prepaid travel expenses.
It’s Often Not Too Late to Buy Coverage
AAA spokeswoman Megan Cooper said many travelers wait until just before departure to think about travel insurance.
“Many travelers don’t think about travel insurance until they see a storm in the forecast or hear about disruptions affecting their destination,” Cooper said.
While travelers can often purchase travel insurance up until the day they leave, Cooper said delaying the decision can reduce available coverage options.
“The closer you get to departure, the fewer choices you may have,” she said.
What Travel Insurance Can Cover
Depending on the policy, travel insurance may help reimburse eligible expenses when trips are canceled, interrupted or delayed due to covered events.
Coverage may include:
- Prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses
- Travel delays and interruptions
- Lost or delayed luggage
- Medical emergencies while traveling
- Hotel stays and meals caused by covered delays
- Additional transportation expenses
AAA notes that coverage varies by policy and travelers should carefully review details before purchasing.
Summer Weather Can Create Major Disruptions
Severe weather remains one of the biggest threats to summer travel across the United States.
According to AAA, hurricanes, flooding, wildfires and severe storms can:
- Delay or cancel flights
- Force cruise itinerary changes
- Close roads and transportation routes
- Cause hotel or resort closures
- Lead to missed connections
- Create unexpected travel expenses
Even weather events occurring far from a traveler’s destination can affect airline schedules and transportation systems nationwide.
Example: Missing a Cruise Due to a Flight Cancellation
AAA highlighted a common travel scenario involving cruise passengers.
If severe weather causes an airline to cancel a flight to a cruise departure city, the airline may offer a later flight or refund airfare. However, because weather-related disruptions are generally beyond the airline’s control, additional expenses may fall on the traveler.
Those costs can include:
- Overnight hotel accommodations
- Meals during delays
- Ground transportation
- Expenses related to catching up with a cruise
- Lost prepaid travel costs
Travel insurance may help reimburse certain covered expenses depending on the policy purchased.
Timing Is Critical
AAA emphasizes that travelers should not wait until a hurricane or other major event is already developing before considering insurance.
Some policy options designed to protect prepaid travel expenses may not be available once a known weather threat exists.
“If you still have travel plans on the calendar this summer, now is the time to review your options,” Cooper said. “Taking a few minutes to understand your coverage today could save a lot of stress and expense later.”
AAA says travelers should review policies carefully, understand coverage limitations and purchase protection early enough to maximize available benefits before heading out on their summer vacations.
