Q. I’m planning a 10-day trip to Vietnam with my wife around Christmas. With all the recent flight delays and cancellations, I’m a bit concerned. How does travel insurance actually help during international trips if flights get disrupted due to bad weather or issues like the recent IndiGo fiasco? Also, are there any specific travel insurance add-ons or riders I should consider for such situations? Aditya Singh,30
A. I understand your concern, Aditya. The recent spike in flight cancellations alongside the disruptions caused by IndiGo last week have created much uncertainty for travellers. With the holiday rush ahead and the substantial possibility of fog delays in North India during late December, planning your trip with the right safeguards becomes essential. Travel insurance will give you peace of mind, but it is equally important to understand how it actually protects you so that you do not face surprises at the time of a claim.
The first point to clarify is how flight cancellations are treated. When a cancellation happens due to the airline’s own fault, such as crew rostering issues or technical problems, the airline is responsible for refunding your ticket or rebooking you. Insurance will not pay for a new ticket if the airline has already issued a refund or an alternative flight. Where insurance becomes indispensable is in covering the consequential losses that airlines do not compensate. For example, if a cancellation causes you to miss a pre-paid hotel booking in Da Nang or a Halong Bay cruise, your policy will reimburse those non-refundable expenses. If the disruption is due to weather or fog, which are outside the airline’s control, a comprehensive policy will also cover your additional accommodation and meals while you are stranded.
To ensure a smooth and stress-free trip, you should look for a few specific protections in your policy. Missed Connection cover is important because it reimburses the cost of rebooking flights and hotels if a delay in your first leg causes you to miss a connecting flight. I suggest choosing a plan where this benefit activates after a delay of 3 to 6 hours instead of the usual 12 hours. You should also make sure your policy has Trip Interruption cover, which is typically part of a comprehensive plan. This protects your pre-paid costs if you need to cut your trip short due to a medical emergency. Medical Evacuation is usually included by default, but you should check that the limit is high enough to cover air ambulance transport back to India if required.
The one add-on I would strongly advise you to include is the Adventure Sports cover. Standard policies often exclude injuries from recreational activities. Vietnam offers activities like scuba diving, kayaking and trekking, and you should be protected if you plan to participate in any of these. Given the rising cost of medical care and the unpredictability of international travel, I recommend selecting a sum insured of at least $250,000 to ensure full protection for both you and your wife.
The writer is Joint Group CEO, PB Fintech
Published on December 13, 2025
