Most airline insurance policies only cover you when you're on duty. They don’t apply during personal trips, vacations, or interline travel. TraveLab recommends separate travel insurance for all leisure trips to ensure you're protected against cancellations, delays, medical emergencies, or lost baggage.

CFAR gives you the flexibility to cancel your trip for literally any reason and still recover a portion of your prepaid costs—typically 50% to 75%. It must be purchased within 14–21 days of your initial deposit (depending on the provider) and covers cancellations not typically included in standard policies, like change of heart, work conflicts, or last-minute schedule changes. It's a great option for flight attendants or crew with unpredictable rosters.

While coverage varies by provider and plan, most standard policies include:

• Trip Cancellation: Reimbursement if you cancel due to illness, injury, or certain unforeseen events.

• Trip Interruption: Coverage if your trip is cut short for covered reasons.

• Emergency Medical: Costs of unexpected medical care abroad.

• Baggage Loss/Delay: Compensation for lost, stolen, or delayed bags.

• Travel Delay: Reimbursement for meals and lodging if you're stuck somewhere.

• 24/7 Assistance: Hotline for emergencies, rebooking, and support abroad.

Yes! Allianz Annual Plans are ideal for crew, digital nomads, or frequent travelers. You pay once and get year-round coverage—perfect if you take 3+ trips per year. Coverage tiers allow you to select your maximum trip cost, and it works even for short weekend breaks.

Most insurance providers do cover standby travel, but it’s wise to review the fine print or contact the provider directly to confirm. For buddy passes, make sure the traveler’s name and travel dates are locked in before purchasing insurance.

Yes, but options may be limited. For full coverage (especially CFAR or pre-existing condition waivers), it’s best to buy within 14–21 days of your first trip deposit. You can still purchase standard coverage closer to departure, but benefits may be reduced.

Most U.S.-based health insurance plans do not cover international emergencies. Medicare, for example, offers zero coverage abroad. A travel plan ensures you're not stuck with thousands in out-of-pocket expenses if something happens.

Both are highly rated and reliable providers, but they serve slightly different needs:

• Allianz is best for frequent travelers. Their Annual Plans offer year-round protection, ideal if you take multiple trips per year (including last-minute getaways).

• Travelex is great for individual trips and families. Their customizable single-trip plans allow you to tailor coverage to each journey and budget.

Yes, but only as optional add-ons and only if purchased within 14–21 days of your first deposit:

• Travelex offers CFAR with higher reimbursement potential (up to 75%).

• Allianz offers similar flexibility but is often bundled within premium or annual plans.

Both Allianz and Travelex offer excellent emergency medical, trip interruption, and evacuation coverage for international travel. If you're traveling more than once this year, go with Allianz Annual Plans. If it’s a one-time big trip, Travelex offers great one-trip options with robust coverage.