LPT: buy travel insurance

Submitted by stowaway43 t3_zxeqxn in LifeProTips

If you have luggage and/or layovers it is worth it. It´'s usually quite cheap and will cover unexpected costs (like meals and hotel) as well as lost or delayed luggage, canceled flights and even medical costs.

I am always surprised at how few people buy travel insurance, for me the peace of mind alone is worth it.

Edit: I'm not saying everyone should buy travel insurance for every trip, simply that it should be considered depending on your circumstances.

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BornAgain20Fifteen t1_j209vl8 wrote

Like the other comment said, it is incredibly dependent on every individual's situation. I don't think this is an LPT because insurance is something that is well known and heavily marketed to you whenever you travel

> for me the peace of mind alone is worth it

Yeah! That is a part of every insurance advertisement or marketing piece you will ever see!

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stowaway43 OP t1_j20bq6z wrote

You're correct that it's a common marketing message but that doesn't make it less true. And honestly, it doesn't seem like it's something that "everyone" already knows about. I know plenty of people who have ended up with little to no help with common travelling snafus.

As for being situationally dependant, that is why I did specify trips involving layovers and checked luggage.

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BornAgain20Fifteen t1_j20qyw9 wrote

> common marketing message but that doesn't make it less true

No where did I say it was not true. However, they sell insurance for everything and so in cases where it is not always necessary (there are many cases where it is actually necessary), that is the only leg they have to stand on which is why your post reads like an advertisement for financial products and quite uneducated

I guess if it keeps you up and sweating all night then it might be worth it (if this is the case you should probably seek help from a professional). Aside from your "peace of mind", they are collecting free money most of the time you buy insurance because you get no goods or services in return. It is designed that way by very smart people (search up the difficulty of actuarial exams). They make tons of money on different types of (often-unnecessary) insurance like extended warrantee

The most extreme example of this kind of thinking are from people who buy lottery tickets. $2, $5, or even $10 a week is nothing compared to the "peace of mind" you get knowing that you are not missing out on the opportunity to substantially change your life forever. Should that be a LPT?

> And honestly, it doesn't seem like it's something that "everyone" already knows about. I know plenty of people who have ended up with little to no help with common travelling snafus

Yes have heard of insurance before, but most people don't care because even if something goes wrong it is not as big of a deal. Different kinds of travel related insurance are often advertised when you buy a plane ticket, renew your car insurance, go to the bank, and on signs and kiosks at the airport. In general, companies also sell insurance for just about anything you want. Travel insurance is definitely not some sort of secret

Also, a point about probability, just because something actually went wrong, it does not mean that not purchasing insurance was the wrong choice. That is like saying that you would have picked the correct lottery numbers so you should have spent all your money on lottery tickets. No one can predict the future and just because something unlikely actually happened does not make it not unlikely

> As for being situationally dependant, that is why I did specify trips involving layovers and checked luggage

I think you either don't travel much or only started traveling recently. Most major trips involve layovers and checked luggage. It is not something weird or unusual. Tons of people have layovers and checked luggage and don't carry have travel insurance and are fine

It is true that recently it is good to avoid having any checked luggage if possible because there are more cases of them being lost. Still most of the time it is fine. Like I said, it is not a LPT because it is not for all situations. Insurance companies are not stupid. Why would they offer you insurance that they are going to lose money on? They use probability and adjust their offerings according to the times which means that the expected outcome/payout always favors the insurance company

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stowaway43 OP t1_j20tv36 wrote

No need to be snarky and condescending. I have traveled extensively, far more than the average person. And no, I am not what most people would consider a "worrier". I don't always buy travel insurance, it depends on the trip. I have, in fact, been reimbursed via travel insurance on a few different occasions (which is why I find it worthwhile)

Yes everyone has heard of insurance but many people, especially those who don't actually travel a lot, may not be aware of travel insurance. Hence my "pro tip". You don't have to agree with me, lol. Obviously you don't. But again there's no need to be insulting by saying I should seek the help of a professional.

PS. I never meant to say that everyone should buy it every time they travel simply that people should consider it. I guess I should have been more nuanced in my original post

Anyway, I'm done with this convo, down vote my advice and move on

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BornAgain20Fifteen t1_j21r2b1 wrote

> No need to be snarky and condescending

I am incredibly annoyed by how this post frames buying a particular financial product as the standard way to go and a life pro tip because you felt it has helped you before ("LPT: buy travel insurance" instead "LPT Research if travel insurance might be right for you if you are someone who...<insert specific circumstance that requires insurance>"). And instead of being curious as to how the financial product that you are promoting works and open to learning more about the insurance industry, you just get angry that I pointed out some things I disagree with and that insurance might not be right for everyone for the following reasons. The willful ignorance and arrogance here

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[deleted] t1_j21yy20 wrote

[removed]

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stowaway43 OP t1_j21zzay wrote

I recognize the snarkiness in my comment, couldn't help it (which is why I wasn't going to continue the conversation)

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Luke90210 t1_j21e4dg wrote

A couple I know never bought travel insurance until they got much older. Worth every cent after an emergency medical evacuation abroad.

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keepthetips t1_j1zt88c wrote

Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips!

Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment.

If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.

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lovepuppy31 t1_j20027c wrote

I travel with a very expensive top of the line Macbook pro and $7k Sony Mirrorless camera. You better believe I'm gonna get travel insurance every time I step foot on a plane.

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Successful-Goose-633 t1_j22lega wrote

How big is the camera? Wouldn't it be safer to keep it in a carry-on so there's no chance of it getting lost?

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lovepuppy31 t1_j29lii5 wrote

Pretty beefy and its in its own shock proof padded case within the luggage

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surgesilk t1_j227y6k wrote

More like shittytips

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TotallynottheCCP t1_j20lda6 wrote

I'm sure it can be helpful, but in my experience any kind of "insurance" is usually a scam and not worth it. Kinda like extended warranties for a $100 Walmart microwave. Not to mention the fact that if I can afford to fly around at $500+ per person one or more times a year, I'm not super concerned about some delays or inconvenient expenses.

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