Bad weather can cause severe travel delays
Every holiday season is a very busy time for air travel, and winter storms can cause severe delays. The recent blizzards in Denver caused major delays and closed Denver airports for days. Thousands of travelers were stuck in the airport, and were forced to wait it out. Many connecting flight were missed in other locations due to the delays that ripple through the airline system.
Travel insurance can cover travel delay costs
Package plan travel insurance policies include coverage for travel delay and expenses caused by travel delay. Travel insurance can cover hotel costs or alternate transportation. The major variable is the length of delay before the policy kicks in, and the amount of coverage. The lower delay time, the sooner the delay benefits can be used. The amount of coverage usually states a daily amount and a maximum amount.
Here is a table showing the major travel insurance companies and their respective coverage for travel delay. Companies and policies are listed in order of length of delay. They range from 3 hours to 24 hours.
| Company Name | Product Name | Coverage |
| Specialty Risk International (SRI) | Round Trip | 3 hours $500 max |
| Travelex | TraveLiteTravel Plus | 5 hours $200/day $750 max$200/day $1000 max |
| Access America (now Allianz Travel Insurance) | ClassicDeluxe | 6 hours $150/day $500 max$150/day $1000 max |
| CSA Travel Protection | Freestyle & Freestyle Luxe |
6 hours $150/day $500 max |
| HTH Worldwide | Trip Protector & Trip Protector Preferred |
6 hours $150/day $1000 max |
| Travel Guard | Cruise, Tour, and Travel | 6 hours $200/day $1000 max |
| M.H.Ross | GlobalAlert! & GlobalAlert! Enhanced |
8 hours $200/day $1000 max |
| Travelsafe | Vacation Insurance | 8 hours $150/day $750 max |
| Travel Guard | Essential Essential Expanded My Travel GuardProtect Assist |
12 hours $100/day $500 max$150/day $1500 max |
| International Medical Group (IMG) | Patriot T.R.I.P.Patriot T.R.I.P. Elite | 24 hours $100/day $500 max$100/day $1000 max |
