Planning to travel abroad? Consider making international travel insurance a part of your travel plan. It ensures you will have your financial support when things go south. From trip delays and baggage loss to medical repatriation and accidental death benefit, there are a variety of benefits. Read on to learn more about these.
On June 12, 2025, an Air India flight (AI-171) from Ahmedabad to London crashed just minutes after takeoff. In a horrifying turn, the plane collided with a medical college hostel building. The outcome was heartbreaking; around 290 lives were lost, including almost everyone on board, with only one survivor among the 242 passengers and crew.
The AI-171 crash stands as one of the world’s most tragic air disasters. It shook the nation and reminded us all of the unpredictability we live with. While some accidents are entirely beyond our control, we can take steps to prepare ourselves for such difficult and devastating situations. In such a scenario, international travel insurance is one practical solution. It doesn’t just cover delays or baggage losses; it gives you financial protection in unexpected, often unimaginable situations, even when you’re far from home.
Travel Insurance: The Next Best Alternative?
The AI-171 crash was surely devastating. And when something like this happens, it raises serious concerns about what we generally think of routine travel and planning. It also raises questions like: What insurance can help with cases like this? Well, the emotional loss caused by such incidents is irreparable. However, you still can cover the financial loss to some extent.
When someone mentions travel insurance, the top things that might come to your mind might be cover for trip cancellations, lost luggage, flights, etc. However, travel insurance isn’t just limited to these benefits.
With comprehensive policies, you generally get:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Accidental treatment
- Personal accident cover
- Accidental death or disability, etc.
What is Covered in Your International Travel Insurance? How May it Help?
Once you understand what’s included in your policy and what isn’t, you are better aware of your plan benefits. Here is what is generally covered under international travel insurance that might help during such catastrophic events.
1. Medical Repatriation
Generally covered as a part of emergency travel, this benefit ensures that in case the insured individual is not able to continue their journey after an illness or a hospital stay, the company pays the sum insured for the repatriation of the individual back to their country of residence.
How may this help?
With this benefit, you ensure that in case of a serious event causing body injury or more, your evacuation costs are covered and you do not worry about the same.
2. Body Repatriation
This benefit ensures that in case insured individuals suffer a bodily injury or sickness, the company pays the total sum insured mentioned or actual expenses for repatriation of the corpse to their country of residence.
How may this help?
This can help cover the logistics and transportation costs, so that families of the deceased do not have to worry about the financial burden.
3. Accidental Death- Common Carrier
This benefit ensures that in case the insured person is riding as a passenger, boarding, or alighting, and suffers from bodily injury that causes their accidental death, the company pays the mentioned compensation to the beneficiary.
How may this help?
The benefit can come in handy to offer financial support to the dependents of the deceased.
4. Permanent Disablement- Common Carrier
This benefit ensures that in case the insured person is riding as a passenger, boarding, or alighting, and suffers from bodily injury that causes their permanent disability, the company pays the mentioned compensation to the insured.
How may this help?
This can help cover the long-term disability treatment costs. Also, this can be used as a source of additional income.
5. Loss of Baggage and Personal Documents
With this benefit, you ensure that you’re reimbursed and compensated for the articles in case you lose your baggage or personal documents in custody or even checked in with the same carrier as the insured.
How may this help?
With such benefits, you ensure you have your essentials no matter what. So, your trip goes as you planned.
6. Emergency Hotel Extension
In case the insured suffers any bodily injury and has to be hospitalised for inpatient treatment, leading to missed flights. This benefit ensures coverage for the additional accommodation expenses until the next flight is arranged.
How may this help?
With this benefit, you ensure you recover at your own pace, and the additional costs need not be paid by you.
These are just some benefits that are generally covered under your comprehensive travel insurance plan. In addition to these, they also secure your travel with benefits like baggage delay, flight delays, financial security against hijacking, etc. Plus, not to forget, comprehensive travel insurance for a Schengen visa is one of the must-have requirements to travel to any of the Schengen areas.
Conclusion
The AI-171 tragedy will forever serve as a sobering reminder of life’s unpredictability. While nothing can prepare you for such a tragedy, having insurance can provide financial support in such a crisis.
International travel insurance is a vital safeguard for travellers, offering medical coverage, financial compensation, and emergency assistance in the face of aviation disasters. For those travelling to Europe, travel insurance for a Schengen visa ensures visa compliance while providing robust protection.
By choosing a comprehensive policy, comparing the options online, and understanding coverage details, travellers can embark on their journeys with confidence, knowing they’re prepared for the unexpected. Before your next trip, invest in the right travel insurance and travel with peace of mind.
Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
