Aviation analyst Sean Mendez says a significant number of air travellers are failing to benefit fully from travel insurance because they do not read or understand the policy terms before travelling.
Speaking to The High Street Journal, he said insurance is widely purchased, particularly for international air travel and visa requirements, but is often not properly reviewed by passengers.
According to him, this leads to situations where travellers only learn what their policies cover when they are already experiencing disruptions, limiting their ability to make informed claims.
“In most cases, people treat travel insurance as a formality for visas, without actually understanding the coverage they already have,” he said.
Mendez explained that most travel insurance policies contain detailed provisions covering air travel-related risks such as emergency expenses, accommodation, transport, and other incidental costs during disruptions. However, these benefits are frequently underused because passengers do not engage with the policy documents.
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He said this lack of attention creates a gap between what is available on paper and what travellers actually access in practice.
The analyst added that many passengers mistakenly assume airlines are responsible for covering all costs arising from air travel disruptions, when in reality airline liability is limited under international rules such as the Montreal Convention.
He noted that insurance is designed to fill that gap, but only works effectively when travellers understand how it applies.
Mendez stressed that the issue is not availability of insurance, but awareness and usage.
He further pointed out that most air travel disruptions are short-term, meaning insurance is structured primarily to cover immediate, incidental costs rather than long-term compensation.
Beyond financial protection, he said travel insurance also includes medical coverage, which remains critical for international travellers.
He urged passengers to read policy terms before travelling, noting that better understanding would improve claims outcomes and reduce confusion about entitlements.
Mendez concluded that travel insurance only delivers value when passengers understand what they have purchased, adding that the current gap is not in access, but in awareness.
