Flight delay insurance: when it's worth getting

When the compensation is triggered

The most common policies pay a fixed flat-rate amount when the delay exceeds a threshold stated in the contract, generally between 4 and 12 hours: the amount is unrelated to the actual damage and can be spent freely, for example on lounge access or a meal. It is additional compensation over what the airline may owe under the EC Regulation 261/2004, not an alternative.

Missed connections and non-reimbursable expenses

The most useful coverage concerns missed connections: if your first flight is delayed and you miss a ferry, bus, or non-refundable booking, the policy compensates for the financial damage suffered, something the airline is not obligated to cover in any case.

Documents to obtain the refund

To activate the compensation, you almost always need an official certificate of delay issued by the airline, with the cause and actual departure time: it is best to request it immediately at the counter, before leaving the airport, because getting it weeks later is more complicated.

Coverage often already included

Many premium credit cards include automatic protection for delays, activated simply by paying for the ticket with that card: it is worth checking your contract's conditions before subscribing to a separate policy, to avoid paying twice for the same coverage.

Before buying a new policy, check if your credit card already offers equivalent delay coverage and always keep the official certificate issued by the airline: without that document, no compensation will be paid out.