Travel insurance providers are preparing for a spike in claims today after a global technology outage on Friday morning grounded several flights, spurring widespread delays and cancellations.
Travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip said more than 1,600 customers had plans to fly today, meaning they could potentially be affected by the outage.
Depending on their travel insurance policy, InsureMyTrip said travelers could be covered under travel delay or missed connection coverage.
InsureMyTrip is an insurance marketplace and doesn't handle claims directly, but the company offered some tips in a release.
Travelers should read their plan carefully to understand what's covered and how to file a claim. Documents should also be collected, including receipts and proof of expenses that occurred during a delay, unused tickets and proof of payment for those tickets and, if it's a baggage claim, proof from the airline that baggage was delayed or lost.
The company recommends filling a claim right away so it can be processed as fast as possible. InsureMyTrip said filing via a travel insurance company's online portal is typically the fastest way to file a claim and receive reimbursement.
"It's important to read your policy to understand what issues may be covered, and now that this is a known issue, coverage can't be purchased for it," InsureMyTrip director of product Meghan Walch said in a release.