Will travel insurance cover your ruined vacation? How to choose the best plan amid looming summer flight cancellations

Travel cancellations are looming amid jet fuel shortages from the ongoing Middle East conflict, potentially leaving some vacationers stranded without recourse — that is, if they overlooked the search for the right insurance policy.As the cost of fuel increased 78% from a year ago to an astonishing $6.5 billion in April, airline forecasters have warned that flight cancellations are inevitable.Travel experts who spoke to The Post said that choosing an insurance plan should be strategic, and aiming for umbrella policies that cover a variety of reasons for cancellation is imperative.Adam Morvitz, CEO and co-founder at point.me, said that for starters, travelers should avoid hotel or airfare checkout-page insurance policies.Those typically have minimal coverage and are expensive for what you get; it’s best to purchase a separate policy after reviewing what your credit card covers, he said. “Read the fine print carefully,” Morvitz told The Post.

“Like all insurance policies, the important exclusions and limitations are often buried in small font and easy to miss on a first read.” He added that Chase Sapphire Reserve and other premium credit cards already include robust travel protections that can rival standalone policies, for no additional costs.Chase Sapphire Reserve only requires that a portion of the flight be charged to the card, so even just charging the taxes/fees on a booking would activate the insurance benefits. Travelers should also understand what “triggers” coverage, as policies vary on what qualifies as an “eligible travel purchase,” since some plans won’t include lodging, car rentals, airfare/transport, or tour guides in their coverage.

Paying attention to whether tickets booked using frequent flyer miles or loyalty points is important because many cards only cover purchases made entirely on the card, without booking via an airline program.Frequent fliers should consider whether an annual trade policy — where the purchase of one ...