With holiday travel right around the corner, many of us do not anticipate early snow storms wrecking our travel plans in October or November. Early winter weather has wreaked havoc on several occasions, halting all types of transportation causing flights to be cancelled and delayed, leaving thousands of individuals and families’ travel plans completely ruined. Unlike hurricanes, winter storms are not generally predictable more than a week in advance. Over the years major snowstorms have hit earlier than expected causing major disruption to travel forcing individuals to forfeit expensive vacation deposits, or foot the expensive bill for extra accommodations because they’re stranded during a storm.

Here’s a look at the most memorable and historical storms that wreaked havoc for thousands of travelers during holiday events:

-The Great Appalachian Storm: November 24-25, 1950
-Thanksgiving Snowstorm of 1971: November 24-25, 1971
-Surprise October Snowstorm: October 4, 1987
-NYC’s White Thanksgiving: November 23-24 1989
-New England’s Halloween Snowstorm: October 29, 2011

Travel Insured International urges travelers to invest in coverage more than ever in order to help protect their investments due to a higher risk of flight cancellations and delays during the upcoming holiday seasons. Policies can help to protect against unforeseen expenses caused by these storms, including Trip Delay or Cancellation, Medical Emergencies, and Lost Baggage.

It is important to remember that coverage including Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, or Trip Delay cannot be purchased to protect against the loss caused by a storm that is already in progress. Travel Insured International, reminds travelers to purchase coverage with their initial trip deposit to help protect against future winter storms expected to be arriving soon.

Winter Storm Coverage:

All of Travel Insured Internationasl's plans in the Worldwide Trip Protector line, as well as its Airline Ticket Protector plan, provide Trip Cancellation coverage up to the prepaid cost of the trip when weather causes complete cessation of the insured traveler’s common carrier service for 24 or more consecutive hours. Trip Interruption coverage for the same 24-hour common carrier disruption due to weather can be up to 100% or 150% of the trip cost depending upon the selected Travel Insured plan.

An insured, however, can upgrade their purchase with our Cancel for Any Reason option when buying a Worldwide Trip Protector or Trip Protector Gold plan allowing them to cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure for any reason with coverage limits up to 75% of prepaid, non-refundable trip cost.

All of the same plans provide Trip Delay coverage when the common carrier is delayed, including for weather, for a minimum of either six or 12 hours depending upon the specific plan purchased. Trip Delay coverage supports expense reimbursement of up to $100 or $200 per day, depending upon the selected plan, to help pay for the unexpected additional costs for accommodations, meals and transportation due to the covered trip delay.

Worldwide Trip Protector, Trip Protector Gold and Airline Ticket Protector, provide Missed Connection coverage to reimburse the insured for extra transportation expenses when a common carrier is delayed, including for weather, for three or more hours. The Trip Protector Lite Expanded plan provides Missed Connection coverage for a delay of six or more hours.

Travel Insured International
52-S Oakland Ave.
E. Hartford, CT 06128-0568