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Trip Insurance on a free ticket?

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Trip Insurance on a free ticket?

Q. I have very carefully accrued frequent flier credits in order to earn a free flight and I also recently received two free round-trip vouchers for giving up my seat on an overbooked flight. I'm excited about these opportunities for free travel, but, since I'll be putting time and money into planning all the other details of these trips, I'd like to insure these tickets as I would a regular ticket, including in the event that the airline folds. I know that I shouldn't buy a policy from the airline but straight from the insurance carrier, but is it even possible to buy insurance for a flight I technically didn't pay for? Can I pay for a policy that would cover the amount of the ticket price at the time I booked? That way, even if the airline folds, I can get a ticket on another airline without paying a lot more for a last-minute fare.

A. As far as we know, insurance companies will not insure your voucher tickets or frequent flyer awards tickets (pre-9/11 there were some policies that could be purchased to cover these kinds of trips)... however, trip interruption insurance is still available for that type of travel.


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My husband and daughter were in Hawaii last spring when ATA went down and they had free tickets for their return (with frequent flier miles on Southwest, ATA was their travel partner). In all the confusion at the time they did have to stay in Hawaii a few extra days, but Southwest took care of them well and they flew back on Northwest in first class! I don't know what other airlines might do, but Southwest is the best!
by just me on Saturday, November 22, 2008
Travel Insurance Lady -- what policy reimburses "up to $1,000 for a return air ticket if you should have to interrupt your trip and be unable to find a frequent flyer seat home."

I often use InsureMyTrip.com but have never used it (yet) when planning a really expensive tour. Thanks.

by NurseCat on Saturday, November 22, 2008
Don't know if this is relevant to the thread, but, boy, imagine HAVING to stay in Hawaii a few extra days! Southwest might shine in covering frequent fliers, but as long as they still employ all those "safety" managers who ignored mandatory FAA directives and let their passengers fly in documented unsafe planes, you won't be seeing me flying with them.
by inadaze on Sunday, November 23, 2008
If your airfare is refundable in the form of mileage, points, or cash, then there is nothing to insure. (Should you have to cancel your flight before the trip, your mileage or points would go back into your account; your cash would go back into your wallet. ) However, some airlines will give you a credit to be used in 3 - 12 months or forfeited, and you can buy trip protection insurance for this. Also, some policies will reimburse you up to $1,000 for a return air ticket if you should have to interrupt your trip and be unable to find a frequent flyer seat home.
by Travel Insurance Lady on Friday, November 21, 2008
I'm not sure your answer was clear to the questioner since she or he asked about covering his ticket for prices at the time he booked. I insured a recent trip to Alaska, on which I used USAirways frequent flyer miles for the air portion. I purchased insurance from InsureMyTrip.com, and what their trip interruption policy would've covered if I'd had a problem was air fare home at what would've been a lot higher price than whatever was available at the time I booked my ticket using miles, and if I'd had to cancel the trip before I started out for a covered reason, charges for redepositing my miles would've been covered by the policy.
by inadaze on Friday, November 21, 2008
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