A recent report indicates that seismologists are nervously watching another Icelandic volcano, which is reported to be more powerful than the Eyjafjallajokul volcano which erupted in 2010 and caused severe travel delays while spewing ash all over Europe for several weeks. The Katla volcano is a much larger and more dangerous volcano and currently showing signs of imminent eruption.
If you were among the thousands of stranded travelers, you know that having travel delay coverage can provide at least a little financial relief. Travel delay benefits are paid for reasonable accommodations, meals, and local transportation if you are delayed a certain number of hours due to a reason covered by your travel insurance plan.
In the TravelSafe Vacation Classic plan, the coverage description looks like this:
Travel Delay: Benefits will be paid for reasonable accommodation,
meal, and local transportation expenses incurred by You, up to the
Maximum Benefit Amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits, if
You are delayed for 6 hours or more while en route to or from, or
during a Trip, due to: a) any delay of a Common Carrier (the delay
must be certified by the Common Carrier); b) a traffic accident in
which You or Your Traveling Companion are not directly involved
(must be substantiated by a police report); c) lost or stolen
passports, travel documents or money (must be substantiated by
a police report); d) quarantine, hijacking, Strike, natural disaster,
terrorism or riot; e) a documented weather condition preventing
You from getting to the point of departure.
If you are concerned your travel plans may be disrupted by this impending volcanic eruption, give your travel insurance provider a call to verify. Always carry your travel insurance documents with you so you can refer to them on your trip. Carefully review your travel plan documents to understand the coverage.
Travel delay coverage is limited by varying per-day and maximum limits and any refunds you receive from your travel suppliers as a result of the delay are deducted from the travel insurance benefit.
See how travel insurance covers volcano eruptions for more details.
