Traveling With a Safety Net

Life Insurance, health insurance, car insurance, home owners insurance...geez, the list goes on and on. So when someone asks me if I want extra insurance on anything I say, "NO!"

Except this time. When I booked the flight to Santa Fe for Left Coast Crime, a fun mystery convention and romantic getaway for my husband and me, and the travel insurance ad popped up on my screen, I actually bought it. Eighteen bucks each. Thirty six extra dollars.

Off we went for five glorious days. When it was time to go home, we arrived at the Albuquerque airport to learn that our plane was delayed in Aspen due to a snow storm. That meant we would miss our connecting flight in Denver. And since it was weather related, the airline wasn't going to pop for our additional expenses. After a serious whining fit, I remembered the travel insurance and called them.

They tried to get us out. When they couldn't, they offered to find us a room in Albuquerque. They assured us we each had $100 to spend that night due to the interrupted flight. $200 play money. Okay, maybe this wasn't so bad after all. We stayed in a hotel near Old Town. We walked the sun-baked streets, explored the small shops. We sipped sangria at the Church Street Cafe. It was our most memorable part of the trip.

So next time you're offered travel insurance, take the gamble. Go for it. With a little luck, you just might miss your flight.