TravelSafe Covers Airline Baggage Fees
Release Date: 9/3/08
There are two scenarios that may come into play when a traveler is charged a baggage fee by the airline. Please read the following carefully to determine if the baggage fee charged by the airline may be covered under the plan.
1. If the traveler interrupts his/her trip for a covered reason but is still traveling on the same airline as originally scheduled, and is charged a fee by the airline for checking more luggage than allowed, the expense is not covered. This expense is not covered since the traveler would have incurred the expense regardless of which flight the passenger was traveling with the airline (i.e. this is not an “additional” transportation expense).
Example: The traveler is originally scheduled to travel on American Airlines but due to a covered reason under Trip Interruption, the traveler must travel on a different American Airlines flight. American Airlines allows each traveler to check one piece of luggage without a charge. If the passenger is charged a fee by American Airlines to check an extra piece of luggage, this expense will not be covered as this is not an “additional transportation expense.
2. If the traveler interrupts his/her trip for a covered reason but is traveling on a different airline than originally scheduled, and is charged a fee by the airline for checking more luggage than allowed, this expense may be covered if the new airline’s luggage requirement is stricter than that of the originally scheduled airline.
Example: The traveler is originally scheduled to travel on Lufthansa but due to a covered reason under Trip Interruption the traveler must travel on an American Airlines flight. Lufthansa allows each passenger to check two pieces of luggage without a charge and American Airlines allows each passenger to check one piece of luggage without a charge. If the passenger is charged a baggage fee by American Airlines, we would pay the cost to check one additional piece of luggage under Trip Interruption as an “additional transportation expense.”
Of course, in order to determine whether baggage fees can be covered in case of travel on an airline different than originally scheduled, you will need to know the rules for both the original airline and for the different airline.
Tags: TravelSafe, Trip Interruption