A local travel agent says that people need to be aware of what insurance companies call “known events” as they prepare for any summer vacations they may have in mind.
Brian Kendrick, a Pembroke-based agent with national travel firm TravelOnly, says that travel insurance is paid for with the hope that you’ll never need to end up using it.
One key example of a “known event” that people need to be aware of is the fuel shortage affecting airlines right now.
ManuLife Insurance has deemed the fuel shortage a “known event” as of last week. According to Kendrick, for anyone who purchased their travel insurance coverage before May 5th, that doesn’t change anything.
For any travel insurance purchased after that date, however, the fuel shortage isn’t an insured risk, meaning you can’t make a claim if your flight gets cancelled because of it. Kendrick says that’s not the end of the world, though:
Airlines, he says, may provide options like cancelling your trip in exchange for credit, which is why insurance companies are no longer providing coverage.
For people still in the process of planning their vacations, Kendrick advises people to include “cushions” in their plans in case of issues like delays and cancellations.
He says those buffers are key for allowing travelers to work around unexpected issues.
Kendrick also always recommends booking through a travel agent, saying they have the most experience booking trips and can help find the best prices, additional benefits for things like cruises, and to provide support in case of unexpected issues.
Brian’s team can be reached at 613-635-7000.
(Steve Berard)
