10 thoughts on “Why Cheap New “Refundable” Hawaii Airfare Options Are Brilliant”
John H
Medicare may be one reason to buy trip insurance outside of trip cancellation benefits. While Medicare Supplement plans may cover international medical expenses, the lifetime limit is relatively low $50,000. Travel insurance can provide more coverage, but is still generally limited based on the policy. In general, insurance is best used for catastrophic coverage, as it’s cheaper to only pay for what one can’t reasonably self-insure.
I’m searching now for flights and the prices are more than 15 percent for refundable, so still watching. But I will not buy a flight unless some from of returnable.
Aloha BOH – it’s good to know about refundable options and travel insurance. Is travel insurance purchased per trip contain coverage much different that than provided by most credit cards? I agree that SWA’s travel credits and lack of fees make changing travel plans quite flexible verses other carriers.
Thanks! Yes it is very different, and the one you buy has many more options, but of course there’s a cost. Suggest trying a site like insuremytrip.com just as a starting point where you can shop a myriad of clauses and prices. Please let us know what you find out.
Alaska Airlines also offers a refundable option on most “main cabin” fares. My experience for a Seattle/Anchorage round trip is a $10 up charge makes the ticket refundable for any reason. And then – of course it happened two weeks ago: I was down with Covid and cancelled——-fare and taxes were immediately refunded to my Alaska/BofA credit card and a quick call to BofA and the check was in the mail. Jim E
Aloha Rob+Jeff. I think it’s great and about time to implement this. Hope you are doing well after your food poisoning. Keep up the great work and I sure appreciate all your information on current events. Mahalo and warm regards.
I have 10 employees in Europe now, and as always I purchase travel insurance. However, I don’t buy it from the airlines, I buy from InsureMyTrip.com. But, there are dozens of comapnies. These companies offer cancel for any reason or specific reasons. And, they offer other does travel cancellation and luggage. The offer things like expatriation, death, medical etc etc
We’d concur with you about trip insurance from an independent source, rather than from an airline. Keep in mind that cancel for any reason coverage is an option that in addition to other restrictions, never returns more than 75% of the amount of the claim.
I had to cancel a trip to Hawaii a few months ago when my husband was hospitalized with a heart issue. I booked with miles, so those were redeposited without any fee. I did lose out on the seat fees, which were refunded as vouchers that can be used for airfare and not for seat fees (which makes no sense). We did lose about $3000 on a non-refundable condo rental. I had thought my Chase Sapphire Reserve would cover the cost, but the paperwork was so daunting when dealing with a health crisis and I read so many stories online about Chase ruling that things were pre-existing conditions that I didn’t bother to file a claim. From now on we will only be booking lodging that can be canceled within 3 days of travel.
Medicare may be one reason to buy trip insurance outside of trip cancellation benefits. While Medicare Supplement plans may cover international medical expenses, the lifetime limit is relatively low $50,000. Travel insurance can provide more coverage, but is still generally limited based on the policy. In general, insurance is best used for catastrophic coverage, as it’s cheaper to only pay for what one can’t reasonably self-insure.
I’m searching now for flights and the prices are more than 15 percent for refundable, so still watching. But I will not buy a flight unless some from of returnable.
Aloha BOH – it’s good to know about refundable options and travel insurance. Is travel insurance purchased per trip contain coverage much different that than provided by most credit cards? I agree that SWA’s travel credits and lack of fees make changing travel plans quite flexible verses other carriers.
Mahalo for great reporting.
Hi Peter.
Thanks! Yes it is very different, and the one you buy has many more options, but of course there’s a cost. Suggest trying a site like insuremytrip.com just as a starting point where you can shop a myriad of clauses and prices. Please let us know what you find out.
Aloha.
Alaska Airlines also offers a refundable option on most “main cabin” fares. My experience for a Seattle/Anchorage round trip is a $10 up charge makes the ticket refundable for any reason. And then – of course it happened two weeks ago: I was down with Covid and cancelled——-fare and taxes were immediately refunded to my Alaska/BofA credit card and a quick call to BofA and the check was in the mail. Jim E
Aloha Rob+Jeff. I think it’s great and about time to implement this. Hope you are doing well after your food poisoning. Keep up the great work and I sure appreciate all your information on current events. Mahalo and warm regards.
Hi Debra.
Thanks so much!
Aloha.
I have 10 employees in Europe now, and as always I purchase travel insurance. However, I don’t buy it from the airlines, I buy from InsureMyTrip.com. But, there are dozens of comapnies. These companies offer cancel for any reason or specific reasons. And, they offer other does travel cancellation and luggage. The offer things like expatriation, death, medical etc etc
Hi Rod.
We’d concur with you about trip insurance from an independent source, rather than from an airline. Keep in mind that cancel for any reason coverage is an option that in addition to other restrictions, never returns more than 75% of the amount of the claim.
Aloha.
I had to cancel a trip to Hawaii a few months ago when my husband was hospitalized with a heart issue. I booked with miles, so those were redeposited without any fee. I did lose out on the seat fees, which were refunded as vouchers that can be used for airfare and not for seat fees (which makes no sense). We did lose about $3000 on a non-refundable condo rental. I had thought my Chase Sapphire Reserve would cover the cost, but the paperwork was so daunting when dealing with a health crisis and I read so many stories online about Chase ruling that things were pre-existing conditions that I didn’t bother to file a claim. From now on we will only be booking lodging that can be canceled within 3 days of travel.