American Airlines: Travel Insurance Simplified

American Airlines offers travel insurance to its customers, which is underwritten by Jefferson Insurance Company or BCS Insurance Company and administered by Allianz Global Assistance. The insurance covers trip cancellation, interruption, emergency medical and dental care, transportation, travel delay, lost or damaged baggage, baggage delay, 24-hour assistance, and rental car collision/damage. The cost of the insurance varies depending on factors such as the trip destination and the state of residence. It is recommended for travellers who want protection from unexpected events such as lost luggage and cancelled flights.

Trip cancellation

If you have a premium travel card from American Express or Chase, you may already have trip cancellation insurance. These cards will reimburse you in cash for the value of the points you used if you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason. However, trips booked with an American Express card are only covered when booked as round trips.

If you need to cancel your American Airlines flight, you may be eligible for a refund. American Airlines offers a full refund if you cancel your trip within 24 hours of purchasing your ticket, provided that you booked at least two days before departure. Refunds are issued to the original form of payment. Non-refundable tickets can also be refunded if you cancel within 24 hours of purchasing, if there is a schedule change of more than four hours, or in the event of the death of the passenger or travelling companion.

Trip interruption

Trip insurance for American Airlines is provided by Allianz Global Assistance. The insurance covers trip interruption costs, reimbursing the unused, non-refundable portion of your trip and increased transportation costs if you need to return home early or continue your trip due to a covered illness, injury, jury duty, or other reasons. You can also be reimbursed for emergency medical and dental care, emergency medical transportation, travel delays, baggage loss/damage, and baggage delay.

Trip insurance is available to residents of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and insurance providers vary by country. You can contact Allianz Global Assistance by mail or phone for more information.

American Airlines trip insurance plans are available for international and domestic trips booked with the carrier. The promotional offer you receive when booking a ticket is based on the cost of your flight and is valid for that trip only. The cost of the insurance will depend on your trip details, such as the total non-refundable trip cost and your state of residence.

It's important to note that trip insurance may not cover all circumstances. Exclusions include losses due to government restrictions, travel advisories, or warnings; losses due to known, foreseeable, and expected events; epidemics, natural disasters, pollution leading to flight disruption, and war; pre-existing medical conditions; pregnancy, fertility treatment, and childbirth; health issues related to alcohol or drug use; and injury during professional or amateur sports training.

Emergency medical and dental care

The insurance covers up to $10,000 in eligible emergency medical and dental expenses, providing peace of mind in case of unexpected accidents or illnesses while travelling. It is important to note that this coverage is for eligible occurrences only, and pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.

In addition to emergency medical and dental care, American Airlines' travel insurance also provides benefits such as trip cancellation and interruption coverage, lost or damaged baggage reimbursement, travel delay reimbursement, and rental car collision and damage coverage.

The cost of the travel insurance plan varies depending on your trip details and can be calculated using an online form. It is recommended to review the terms and conditions carefully before purchasing, as there are exclusions and limitations to the coverage.

Travel delay

Travel insurance can be purchased through American Airlines and is provided by Allianz Global Assistance. It covers trip delays of 6 or more hours for a covered reason, such as illness, injury, jury duty, etc. In the event of a covered delay, you will be reimbursed for extra meals and accommodations. The maximum coverage limits vary by U.S. state.

American Airlines also offers refunds for flights delayed by more than four hours, with some restrictions. If the airline is at fault for the delay and your flight doesn't board before 11:59 pm local time on your scheduled arrival day, American may cover the cost of an overnight stay.

If you have travel insurance through your credit card, you may already have trip delay coverage. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers up to $500 per ticket for delays of more than 6 hours, while the United Explorer Card offers up to $500 for delays of more than 12 hours.

Baggage loss/damage

Baggage loss and damage is a common occurrence, even when airlines take every precaution. If your bag is lost or damaged while flying with American Airlines, there are a few things you should know about filing a report and claiming compensation.

Firstly, it is important to note that airlines are required to compensate passengers for lost, damaged, or delayed bags under DOT regulations for domestic travel and international treaties for international travel. American Airlines outlines specific steps for passengers to follow in the event of baggage loss or damage. If your bag is missing after landing, you should file a report before leaving the airport. You can do this by scanning a QR code found at the Baggage Claim or by visiting a URL with your device. You will need to provide your last name and American confirmation code or bag tag number to begin the process. This service is available for trips ending in the US, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

For flights within the US, you must report delayed bags within four hours of arriving at your destination or within 12 hours if you used the Bags VIP Luggage Delivery service. For international flights, you must report delayed bags upon arrival at your destination and before leaving the airport. If your bag has been missing for five or more days, American Airlines will need additional information to locate it. You will need to submit an online claim using the 13-character file ID received when you initially filed the report.

In the unfortunate event that your bag cannot be located, American Airlines will make a final decision regarding your claim in accordance with their conditions of carriage and liability for international flights. They will inform you of this decision via email. During this time, if you incur reasonable and necessary expenses for items you need while away from home without your bags, American Airlines will reimburse you for these expenses. To be reimbursed, you must send the following information to the airline within 30 days of the delay: your 13-character file ID, a copy of your ticket receipt and baggage claim checks, and your original, dated, itemized receipts.

If you notice damage to your bags, it is important to file a report before leaving the airport. For flights within the US, you must file a report before departure or within 24 hours of receiving your bags. For international flights, the report must be filed before leaving the airport or within seven days of receiving your bags. American Airlines will provide you with a 13-character file incident number (file ID) when you report your damaged bag, which you can use to submit a claim.

It is important to note that airlines are responsible for repairing or reimbursing passengers for damaged baggage and/or its contents when the damage occurs during transportation, subject to maximum limits on liabilities. However, airlines are not responsible for pre-existing damage to bags or damage caused by improper packing. When the damage cannot be repaired, airlines will negotiate a compensation amount based on the bag's value and depreciation. Additionally, airlines often exclude liability for certain categories of items, such as fragile items, electronics, cash, perishable items, and other valuables. These exclusions are typically outlined in the airline's contract of carriage.

American Airlines also provides specific guidelines for liability limitations. They cannot accept liability for items that are not properly packed, loss or damage due to security searches conducted by local, state, or federal agencies, missing items inside a checked bag if it is not delayed or damaged, and items excluded from liability. The liability for loss, delay, or damage to bags is limited to $3,800. For international travel, the liability limitations are based on the Montreal Convention and applicable international tariffs, amounting to 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per ticketed passenger.

If you are travelling with items that exceed the bag liability limitations, American Airlines offers the option to purchase additional insurance for checked bags at the ticket counter. Their excess valuation insurance guidelines include coverage for lost bags, but not for damage to bags or their contents. The cost of this insurance is $5 for every $100 worth of checked bags, with a total valuation limit of $5,000 per passenger.

By understanding and following the procedures outlined by American Airlines, you can ensure that any issues related to baggage loss or damage are properly addressed and compensated.

Frequently asked questions