It never fails--I schedule a trip, book a flight THEN someone gets sick. Sometimes it is me, but more often than not, it is one of the kiddos. In the past I had gotten travel insurance and then ended up just changing the tickets, paying the fees and not even bothering trying to put in a claim. This past trip, my daughter was sick with a very high fever for over a week and a half and of course, the week and a half period came right upon our departure date. I couldn't chance flying with her because A) she wasn't fever free--still at a much lower 101, but still, B) I didn't want to deal with a cranky, sleep deprived baby, C) I didn't want to get up in the air and have here have something else go wrong, and D)she might be contagious and what kind of person would I be to knowingly add a virus into the already gross recycled air. So, I filed a claim with the travel insurance company Access America, who I got through Orbitz when I book my flight. I was a little apprehensive because my daughter was actually sitting on my lap for this trip, she is 10 months, so she technically wasn't the official traveler and I didn't have a fever or illness. I also couldn't rebook my trip and just pay the change fees, because I had to go back to the drawing board on a date that would work for several parties and there was no near date in sight. I called Access America 24-hours before my departure time and let them know what had happened, they emailed the claims forms immediately, and I cancelled the flight on Orbitz, as directed. Mind you, that was on January 27. I was able to get our pediatrician to fill out a very short form, fax it along with my forms back in and about a week and a half later, I was called and informed that I would be getting a check in the mail for a full refund of my flight. THAT'S IT! I haven't gotten the check yet--I was just informed today of the refund, but I've never had anything go this smoothly and I must say that I am pleasantly surprised.
Access America
http://www.accessamerica.com/
So, my advice? Get that insurance! It's just a few dollars more, but so worth it when traveling with kiddos.
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