From understanding what's covered to picking the best policy — your complete guide to protecting every trip you take.
Travel insurance is a financial safety net designed to protect you from unexpected costs and losses that can occur before or during a trip. Whether it's a sudden illness that forces you to cancel, a delayed flight that strands you overnight, or a hospital visit in a foreign country, travel insurance ensures you're not left paying out of pocket.
Most policies bundle several types of coverage together, though you can often customise them. The cost typically ranges from 4% to 10% of your total trip cost — a small price compared to the potential losses you'd face without it.
Important: Travel insurance is separate from your legal rights as an air passenger. Under EU261, UK261, and similar regulations, you may be entitled to compensation from your airline for delays and cancellations — even if you have no travel insurance. Check your eligibility with Sky Pro Claims →
Here are the main types of coverage most comprehensive policies include:
Covers hospital bills, doctor visits, and emergency evacuation if you get sick or injured abroad. Critical for international travel where your domestic health insurance may not apply.
Reimburses pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs if you must cancel or cut short your trip due to a covered reason like illness, injury, or a family emergency.
Compensates you if your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged. Also covers essential purchases if your bags are delayed for more than a set number of hours.
Covers meals, accommodation, and incidentals when your trip is delayed beyond the policy threshold. Note: for EU/UK flight delays you may also have statutory rights.
An optional add-on that lets you cancel your trip for any reason and receive a partial refund (typically 50–75%). Must usually be purchased within 14–21 days of your initial trip deposit.
Most policies include a helpline you can call any time to get help arranging medical care, replacing lost documents, or handling travel emergencies while abroad.
Follow these steps to find and purchase the right policy for your trip:
Add up all non-refundable pre-paid costs: flights, hotels, tours, and other bookings. This determines how much coverage you need for trip cancellation.
At minimum, consider medical and emergency evacuation coverage. Add trip cancellation if your bookings are non-refundable. Consider CFAR if your plans may change.
Use comparison sites like InsureMyTrip or Squaremouth to compare policies side by side. Don't just look at price — check coverage limits, exclusions, and deductibles.
Read the fine print. Common exclusions include pre-existing conditions (unless waived), high-risk activities, and travel to countries under government advisories.
Purchase your policy right after making your first trip deposit to maximise your coverage window and qualify for time-sensitive benefits like CFAR and pre-existing condition waivers.
Keep your policy number, provider contact details, and emergency helpline number easily accessible — store them on your phone and in email so you can find them quickly if needed.
Our ranked list of the best travel insurance companies based on coverage, value, customer service, and claims experience.
Top 20 providers coming soon
We're compiling our ranked list — check back shortly.
Travel insurance helps, but under EU261, UK261, and other regulations, airlines owe you up to €600 per passenger for delays and cancellations. No insurance needed — it's your legal right.
Check My Flight Compensation →