Travel Insurance: The way there have been threats of bombing flights in the recent days, awareness about travel insurance has once again increased among passengers.
Flight Travel Insurance: India’s aviation sector has been going through a difficult phase for the last one month. Many domestic and international flights have been disrupted due to the constant bomb threat calls being received on the flights.
However, all the threat calls eventually turned out to be a hoax. But these threats caused delays in flights. In such a situation, awareness about travel insurance has once again increased among the passengers.
What options do passengers have during delays?
When a flight is delayed, as per the rules of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the airlines are supposed to provide refreshments and accommodation if needed. According to the DGCA, in case of delays, the airlines should offer meals, alternatives or a full ticket refund. Hotel accommodation and transfers can also be arranged if the delay is severe.
However, these facilities are not available when the delay is due to extraordinary events, such as a bomb scare, as these are beyond the airlines’ control.
Is travel insurance useful in case of bomb threats?
Passengers who have taken travel insurance, especially international travellers, can seek compensation for delays or cancellations caused by security incidents such as bomb threats.
Priya Deshmukh, head of health products at ICICI Lombard, said, “Whether passengers can claim a refund for delays or flight diversions due to bomb threats depends on their terms and conditions.” Deshmukh said many policies cover travel interruptions caused by unforeseen events, including security threats, although it varies according to the policy.
Many companies offer the option of extension of insurance. In this insurance, if the travel is delayed due to an emergency, the policy is extended while maintaining security for the policy holders.
