Trip insurance using frequent flier miles - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums

Kazy · June 17, 2009, 01:29 PM

My husband and I are planning a trip to London and Scotland using FF miles and Marriott hotel points in the fall so we have no prepaid expenditures except for some activities. My parents are elderly and are in their 80's. I am concerned that if something would happen and we would need to make an emergency flight home that the cost would be exorbitant. Has anyone had this situation and were you able to purchase insurance to cover this scenario?

DeniseM · June 17, 2009, 01:57 PM

There is some helpful info. in the Travel Insurance sticky at the top of this board.

If you have to interrupt your trip and go home because of illness (or your parents do) the insurance will usually pay up to a certain about of money, for the flight home. Each company has their policy posted on line so you can check them out. If you find one you like, I'd call them and find out exactly what would happen in your scenario.

As I'm sure you are aware, your personal health insurance probably has no coverage in the UK, so that's another reason to have travel insurance.

Kazy · June 17, 2009, 02:32 PM

Sorry for not being clearer. My parents will be at home in the US and since my father is 87 and my mother is 84, I am worried that something could happen to them at anytime (although currently in good health). I was concerned about arrangements for myself and husband to fly home if my parents had an emergency here. I wondered if I can get insurance for emergency return flight only as I have not paid anything for the trip.

DeniseM · June 17, 2009, 02:55 PM

I don't know if travel insurance will cover you in a case like that. I think it only covers you if something happens to someone who is traveling in your party.

Talent312 · June 17, 2009, 02:56 PM

I dunno about the trip insurance; however, you might also check with the airline to see what their policy would be on changing your FF flight for such a scenario, redepositing your points, or applying them against your new fare. It may be that, if they could accomodate you, they'd just levy a change fee.

Elli · June 17, 2009, 03:31 PM

When I book a reward trip on points, then just before departure I purchase trip interruption insurance, to cover the one way airfare back home in case of an emergency, as the OP mentioned, as I might be unable to rebook the return flight on points. Here in Canada I use the same insurance company where I purchase other travel insurance.

lily28 · June 17, 2009, 11:28 PM

If you use FF miles for the trip and need to return to the U.S. earlier, the date of return flight can be changed generally without a fee as long as there are FF seats available. If all else fail, you can go on standby at the airport for the return flight as long as seats are available. In the past, both UA and AA have allowed me to change the date of the outbound and inbound flights when free seats are available. You should check with your airline regard this issue.

June 17, 2009, 01:29 PM	#1
Kazy TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Mar 2, 08 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 20	Trip insurance using frequent flier miles My husband and I are planning a trip to London and Scotland using FF miles and Marriott hotel points in the fall so we have no prepaid expenditures except for some activities. My parents are elderly and are in their 80's. I am concerned that if something would happen and we would need to make an emergency flight home that the cost would be exorbitant. Has anyone had this situation and were you able to purchase insurance to cover this scenario?

June 17, 2009, 01:57 PM	#2
DeniseM Moderator TUG Lifetime Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Northern, CA Posts: 14,068 Resorts: Starwood-WKORV, SDO, & SVR, Branson-Roark Vacation Club, Tahoe-Kingsbury Crossing, Kauai Beach Villas - 2 weeks	There is some helpful info. in the Travel Insurance sticky at the top of this board. If you have to interrupt your trip and go home because of illness (or your parents do) the insurance will usually pay up to a certain about of money, for the flight home. Each company has their policy posted on line so you can check them out. If you find one you like, I'd call them and find out exactly what would happen in your scenario. As I'm sure you are aware, your personal health insurance probably has no coverage in the UK, so that's another reason to have travel insurance. __________________ DeniseM "Starwood is hired to administer reservations, clean the toilets, and take out the trash. They are not paid to interfere with owners' usage. They're acting as if they own the place." - Pit

June 17, 2009, 02:55 PM	#4
DeniseM Moderator TUG Lifetime Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Northern, CA Posts: 14,068 Resorts: Starwood-WKORV, SDO, & SVR, Branson-Roark Vacation Club, Tahoe-Kingsbury Crossing, Kauai Beach Villas - 2 weeks	I don't know if travel insurance will cover you in a case like that. I think it only covers you if something happens to someone who is traveling in your party. __________________ DeniseM "Starwood is hired to administer reservations, clean the toilets, and take out the trash. They are not paid to interfere with owners' usage. They're acting as if they own the place." - Pit

June 17, 2009, 02:56 PM	#5
Talent312 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jul 4, 07 Location: North Florida Posts: 2,042	I dunno about the trip insurance; however, you might also check with the airline to see what their policy would be on changing your FF flight for such a scenario, redepositing your points, or applying them against your new fare. It may be that, if they could accomodate you, they'd just levy a change fee. __________________ ... Member, Gator Nation ("Go Gators")

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June 17, 2009, 02:32 PM	#3
Kazy TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Mar 2, 08 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 20	Sorry for not being clearer. My parents will be at home in the US and since my father is 87 and my mother is 84, I am worried that something could happen to them at anytime (although currently in good health). I was concerned about arrangements for myself and husband to fly home if my parents had an emergency here. I wondered if I can get insurance for emergency return flight only as I have not paid anything for the trip.

June 17, 2009, 03:31 PM	#6
Elli TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 8, 05 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 354	When I book a reward trip on points, then just before departure I purchase trip interruption insurance, to cover the one way airfare back home in case of an emergency, as the OP mentioned, as I might be unable to rebook the return flight on points. Here in Canada I use the same insurance company where I purchase other travel insurance.

June 17, 2009, 11:28 PM	#7
lily28 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jan 13, 09 Location: chicago Posts: 229 Resorts: SVR Cascade, Westin Kierland, SDO and SBP	If you use FF miles for the trip and need to return to the U.S. earlier, the date of return flight can be changed generally without a fee as long as there are FF seats available. If all else fail, you can go on standby at the airport for the return flight as long as seats are available. In the past, both UA and AA have allowed me to change the date of the outbound and inbound flights when free seats are available. You should check with your airline regard this issue.