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Travel cancellation insurance question

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  • Feb 29th, 2020 3:59 pm
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Feb 24th, 2020 12:06 am
jmichou [OP]
Sr. Member
Sep 26, 2007
680 posts
121 upvotes
Toronto

Feb 24th, 2020 12:06 am

Travel cancellation insurance question

Hi there,
I just booked a trip to Europe in the summer and I am thinking of purchasing a travel insurance for trip cancellation in case I decide not to go because of the virus situation in Italy.
Am I covered for the airfare? I haven't book any accomodation yet.

Thanks.
12 replies
Feb 24th, 2020 12:57 am
Shaidin
Sr. Member
Jan 7, 2013
837 posts
507 upvotes
Oshawa, Ontario

Feb 24th, 2020 12:57 am

I would inquire if cancelling due to fears of a virus would be covered. AFAIK it might cover you if you couldn't travel due to actually being sick, but not out of fear of becoming sick.
+3
Feb 24th, 2020 10:05 am
Kiraly
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Jan 9, 2011
15849 posts
21612 upvotes
Vancouver

Feb 24th, 2020 10:05 am

jmichou wrote: ↑ Hi there,
I just booked a trip to Europe in the summer and I am thinking of purchasing a travel insurance for trip cancellation in case I decide not to go because of the virus situation in Italy.
Am I covered for the airfare? I haven't book any accomodation yet.

Thanks.
Read the fine print of whatever policy you plan to buy to see if it covers that. Oh, and good luck; you are going to need it.
+1
Feb 24th, 2020 11:11 am
BrunetteGirl
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Jun 15, 2015
2727 posts
1989 upvotes
Mississauga, ON

Feb 24th, 2020 11:11 am

jmichou wrote: ↑ Hi there,
I just booked a trip to Europe in the summer and I am thinking of purchasing a travel insurance for trip cancellation in case I decide not to go because of the virus situation in Italy.
Am I covered for the airfare? I haven't book any accomodation yet.

Thanks.
Most insurances have a time limit when you can purchase insurance (with 72 hours of booking). In order to insure your hotel portion you would have to book it and give them the full cost of your trip you want to insure (and by “insure” I mean the amount you want refunded to you in the event you cancelled).

I have yet to hear any airlines / hotels that are offering free cancellation for flights further then March 2020 travel dates (and having said that the only airports affected are Venice - Milan and Verona).
Feb 24th, 2020 12:59 pm
WetCoastGuy
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Dec 24, 2007
1697 posts
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BC

Feb 24th, 2020 12:59 pm

Kiraly wrote: ↑ Read the fine print of whatever policy you plan to buy to see if it covers that. Oh, and good luck; you are going to need it.
Trip Cancellation Insurance is very specific as to what events (the list is only about 20 items) they will cover unless you are buying "Cancel for whatever reason" insurance, which is much more expensive. You need to read the Covered Events part of the policy you are buying. About the only ones that typically relates to events at a particular country are:

- A travel advisory or formal notice is issued by the Government of Canada after the purchase of your insurance, advising Canadians to avoid non-essential travel or to avoid all travel to a country, region or city originally ticketed for your trip
- A natural disaster at your place of destination

Everything else is either death, injury, or illness to you or your family member, or loss of job or called to duty.

At this time the travel advisory for Italy https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy is normal, whereas China has "avoid non-essential travel".
+4
Feb 28th, 2020 4:15 pm
samsvoc
Jr. Member
Mar 7, 2010
105 posts
72 upvotes
Milton

Feb 28th, 2020 4:15 pm

I would think, you might be able to cancel if you book before anyone heard of the coronavirus. Now that it's common knowledge, why would any insurance company take a losing bet?
Feb 28th, 2020 10:28 pm
antigua1999
Deal Fanatic
Jun 11, 2005
8615 posts
2380 upvotes
Mississauga

Feb 28th, 2020 10:28 pm

jmichou wrote: ↑ Hi there,
I just booked a trip to Europe in the summer and I am thinking of purchasing a travel insurance for trip cancellation in case I decide not to go because of the virus situation in Italy.
Am I covered for the airfare? I haven't book any accomodation yet.

Thanks.
I would just buy the cancel for any reason insurance. Not worth the risk.
Feb 29th, 2020 12:15 am
jmichou [OP]
Sr. Member
Sep 26, 2007
680 posts
121 upvotes
Toronto

Feb 29th, 2020 12:15 am

After reading all the comments, I don't think it's worth getting the trip cancellation insurance at this point.
Anyway, I checked with the airline and I'll be able to get a partial refund if I cancel early.
My trip will be at the end of July.
Thank you for all the comments.
Cheers.
Feb 29th, 2020 12:46 pm
WetCoastGuy
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Dec 24, 2007
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BC

Feb 29th, 2020 12:46 pm

Update to the situation in Italy: CDC has raised their threat level to 3 on Friday : CDC recommends avoiding non-essential travel to Italy. Canada hasn't updated their travel advisory yet but will probably do it by next week. If that is the case and you had trip cancellation insurance, it will kick in as the travel advisory will be "avoid non-essential travel", which is covered. Keep checking the Travel Canada website for updated notices.
+2
Feb 29th, 2020 1:45 pm
shopper_holic
Sr. Member
Feb 6, 2007
719 posts
225 upvotes

Feb 29th, 2020 1:45 pm

antigua1999 wrote: ↑ I would just buy the cancel for any reason insurance. Not worth the risk.
Cancel for any reason is only available if you purchase it within 72 hrs after booking, and I think only through the airline you booked with. I booked a flight with AC through a travel agency. They quoted me cancellation insurance with CFAR. I did quotes with other companies as well and none of them offered CFAR. Also, you only get back 50% of your insured value if you claim CFAR.
+2
Feb 29th, 2020 2:54 pm
Sunway
Sr. Member
Sep 18, 2019
990 posts
842 upvotes

Feb 29th, 2020 2:54 pm

WetCoastGuy wrote: ↑ Update to the situation in Italy: CDC has raised their threat level to 3 on Friday : CDC recommends avoiding non-essential travel to Italy. Canada hasn't updated their travel advisory yet but will probably do it by next week. If that is the case and you had trip cancellation insurance, it will kick in as the travel advisory will be "avoid non-essential travel", which is covered. Keep checking the Travel Canada website for updated notices.
What about regional non-essential travel advisory? Anyone know how it works differently compare to the full country instead?
Feb 29th, 2020 3:54 pm
WetCoastGuy
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Dec 24, 2007
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BC

Feb 29th, 2020 3:54 pm

Sunway wrote: ↑ What about regional non-essential travel advisory? Anyone know how it works differently compare to the full country instead?
Read your policy. If it is worded similar to most and says "advising Canadians to avoid non-essential travel or to avoid all travel to a country, region or city originally ticketed for your trip", it would apply to a regional advisory also. But that all depends upon your travel ticket as it only covers travel to that particular region. Flying into Rome and then travelling onto to an infected region probably wouldn't qualify for a flight to Rome as Rome isn't on the advisory. Check with your insurance company.
Feb 29th, 2020 3:59 pm
Sunway
Sr. Member
Sep 18, 2019
990 posts
842 upvotes

Feb 29th, 2020 3:59 pm

WetCoastGuy wrote: ↑ Read your policy. If it is worded similar to most and says "advising Canadians to avoid non-essential travel or to avoid all travel to a country, region or city originally ticketed for your trip", it would apply to a regional advisory also. But that all depends upon your travel ticket as it only covers travel to that particular region. Flying into Rome and then travelling onto to an infected region probably wouldn't qualify for a flight to Rome as Rome isn't on the advisory. Check with your insurance company.
Thanks, that's what I thought too. You are almost recap my whole situation except it will be Seoul and Daegu (infected region).

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