Should I buy travel insurance for my flight?

For domestic flights, probably not — but check your credit card first. Many premium credit cards (Chase Sapphire, Amex Platinum, Capital One Venture X) include trip delay protection ($300-500 per person for delays over 6-12 hours), trip cancellation coverage, and lost baggage reimbursement at no extra cost. If your card already covers these, buying separate travel insurance is redundant.

Travel insurance makes more sense for: international trips (where medical coverage matters — your U.S. health insurance typically doesn't work abroad), expensive trips where cancellation would mean losing thousands, trips with many non-refundable bookings (hotels, tours, events), and trips during weather-prone seasons to weather-prone destinations.

What to look for if buying: "cancel for any reason" (CFAR) coverage if you want maximum flexibility (usually covers 50-75% of costs), medical evacuation coverage for international trips, and trip delay coverage with a reasonable trigger threshold (6 hours is better than 12). What to skip: the airline's own travel insurance sold during booking is almost always overpriced for what it covers. Third-party policies from companies like World Nomads, Allianz, or through InsureMyTrip.com typically offer better value and more comprehensive coverage.