In general, this type of policy covers flight delay, trip cancellation or trip interruption, and lost, damaged, or stolen luggage up to the plan limit. It also covers you if you're not able to fly due to a documented medical reason on the date of your trip.

Standard flight insurance, often purchased during checkout or through a third party, typically covers three main categories: Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, and Travel Delays. Trip cancellation covers non-refundable costs if you have a "covered reason" to bail before the trip, such as a sudden illness, injury, or a death in the family. Trip interruption kicks in if you are already traveling and must return home early for similar reasons. Delay coverage is perhaps the most useful; it reimburses you for "reasonable expenses" like a hotel, meals, and toiletries if your flight is delayed by a significant amount of time (usually 6+ hours) due to weather or mechanical issues. However, it is vital to read the fine print: most standard policies do not cover "Cancel for Any Reason" (CFAR) unless you pay a premium, nor do they cover pre-existing medical conditions or "foreseen" events like a named hurricane that was already in the news. Many high-end travel credit cards provide this coverage for free if you use the card to pay for the flight, making additional insurance unnecessary for many savvy travelers.