Tweet This
It is the season for winter storms. Between travel delays, airport closures and flight cancellations, traveling this time of year can be a nightmare. So we are kicking off three-days of winter travel advice.
First up: how to minimize the cost of bad weather delays.
Winter storms can wreck havoc on your wallet. Follow these three rules and minimize the cost of... [+]
Buy Your Tickets With A Premium Credit Card
For most trips, the cost of travel insurance outweighs the benefits. Enter: the travel rewards credit card.
Many premium credit cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Platinum offer travel protection benefits at no extra cost, besides the card's annual fee. In comparison with costly travel insurance, booking on a rewards card is a no-brainer.
“I had a trip where my Southwest flight was delayed in Corpus Christi," says Gary Leff, an avid travel hacker and founder of website View from the Wing. The flight was delayed for hours, but Leff, who lives in Austin, Texas got off the plane, rented a car, and sent the bill to Chase Sapphire Preferred. He was home before the flight landed in Austin.
Reimbursement varies from card to card, with some offering money when your baggage is lost while others will cover incidentals during flight cancellations. Do your research beforehand to make sure you're booking with the right card.
Use Travel Insurance… For Once-In-A-Lifetime Trips
Since travel insurance plans can be expensive, they only make sense for unique, never-going-to-happen-again vacations. Experts recommend considering a plan if you're heading off on a Kenyan safari, a cruise to Antarctica or an icy adventure to see the Northern Lights.
“I would only purchase it for a very pricey leisure trip that I knew would not happen at all if it had to be cancelled for the exact dates I booked," says Michael McGillian, Hilton Chicago O'Hare General Manager. For his work, McGillian is frequently on the road but he rarely uses travel insurance.
In addition to recompensing booking costs, travel insurance can also provide money for delays and help with finding new flights.
However, make sure to purchase insurance way in advance of a trip.
"If a plan makes sense, make sure to get it early," says Rachel Taft, content manager at Squaremouth, a travel insurance company. Once a winter storm is officially named, it's impossible to purchase insurance for the effected trip.
Save Your Receipts
Whether you booked your tickets on a premium credit card or bought travel insurance, make sure to save ALL your receipts. Yes, even for the Starbucks latte you bought for the WiFi access during your unexpected eight-hour layover. Make a note on the customer copy and stash it in your wallet, so that you're organized when it's time to recoup your expenses.
“One other thing that is a misconception, is that if you are delayed you will get a payout,” says Taft. “Save your receipts because that is how you are going to get paid.”
This is the first in a series of posts on successfully traveling with winter storm delays. Here are the other posts:
The 3 Most Important Things To Do When Your Flight Is Cancelled
Travel Experts Reveal Their Secrets For Skipping Winter Flight Delays
