Here's When Your Memorial Day Travel Delays Will Be Covered by Insurance

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 4:40 PM ET, Fri May 10, 2024

Memorial Day is just around the corner, which means barbecues, parties and of course, millions of people traveling.

Each year, according to the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), about 20 percent of travelers experience delays as part of their Memorial Day getaways.

And as any seasoned traveler can attest, airline delays and cancellations are not fun.

While purchasing travel insurance can’t help you avoid delays, it can help make them less costly and frustrating.

With that in mind, TravelPulse recently chatted with the experts at the insurance comparison site, Squaremouth, about the benefits of purchasing travel insurance for your Memorial Day getaway — including when delays to your holiday getaway are covered by insurance, and when, sadly, they’re not.

Here’s what you need to know.

What Delays Are Covered

Most travel insurance policies include travel delay coverage. And that coverage will pay for your meals and hotel accommodations if a trip is unexpectedly delayed for at least 3 -12 hours.

However, not every type of delay brings the same level of coverage.

Delays Caused by the Airline

An insurance policy’s travel delay benefit is most commonly triggered by the delay of a travel supplier. And that coverage will kick-in even when the delay is caused by inclement weather or a mechanical breakdown, according to Squaremouth.

In other words, the standard refrain that travelers often hear from airlines about them not being responsible for your expenses in cases of weather delays (because weather is beyond the airline’s control) does not apply in the case of your travel insurance policy.

“That’s just for airlines,” Squaremouth’s Jenna Hummer told TravelPulse, regarding the weather caveat. “Weather is one of the biggest things we see claims for. We have a ton of claims around hurricane season.”

While travel insurance won't cover you if your purchase it after a hurricane has already been named and announced on the news, it will cover your expenses for weather-related incidents if purchased before any weather incidents arise.

Delays Caused by a Flight Disturbance

It’s also worth noting that some policies with travel delay benefits will cover nearly any travel supplier-related delay, including a flight being held up to remove a passenger due to a disturbance or overbooking, according to Squaremouth.

“While all policies cover weather delays, we always recommend that you look for broader coverage because that can include a lot of the other types of things we see now,” says Hummer.

“It’s kind of a buffet when you’re picking out travel insurance coverage and it doesn’t necessarily cost you more,” to include flight disturbance coverage, Hummer adds.

Missed Flight Due to Traffic

Memorial Day is a notoriously busy time when it comes to traffic on the roads around the country. Last year, more than 42 million Americans traveled during Memorial Day weekend, the highest total in over 20 years, according to AAA.

However, not all delays can be covered by travel insurance, according to Squaremouth. And that includes you missing a flight because traffic en route to the airport made you late. Sadly, your insurance policy will not cover expenses related to this kind of snafu.

With even more people expected on the roads and in airports this Memorial Day weekend, even insured travelers should plan ahead for traffic and long security lines, suggest the experts at Squaremouth.

Missed Flight Due to Long Airport Security Lines

Let’s all say it together, shall we? Airports will be busier than usual during Memorial Day weekend. That much is a given.

So just make sure you allow yourself enough time to navigate through the airport, because travel insurance will not cover expenses if you miss a flight due to long lines checking in or at the security checkpoint.

“The Department of Transportation recommends getting to the airport at least two hours in advance,” says Hummer. “But from a personal level, it really depends on the airport. If you’re not familiar with the airport, look online to find out more about the wait times."

Bottom Line

The average cost for travel insurance during the Memorial Day time-frame for an international trip is about $149. The insurance premium for a domestic trip during the Memorial Day travel season meanwhile is about $86.

Hummer says it’s money well spent, giving you peace of mind should delays occur.

“The travel delay benefit can really help. That’s one of the things we would recommend,” says Hummer.

“Having this insurance in place can really make your long weekend a lot more palatable,” Hummer adds. "Just make sure when you buy a policy, that you choose a company that has good customer service ratings and that your’e able to get in touch with them 24/7 in case anything goes wrong.”