After new DOT rules on flight disruptions, Travel Guard shares advice for travelers on compensation options and protecting their trips

HOUSTON, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This week, the Department of Transportation has enacted new rules related to the causes of flight delays, and whether airlines are responsible. This could impact travelers’ abilities to get compensation when the delay necessitates that they pay out-of-pocket for overnight stays, meals, replacement toiletries or other needs. Travel Guard, part of Zurich Cover-more, which has helped travelers navigate delayed or cancelled trips for more than 40 years, is sharing other solutions that people might use to get compensation when travel goes awry.

According to the rules published in the Federal Register, the DOT is reclassifying 10 specific types of events that cause flight disruptions as no longer being within an airline’s control. The 10 newly classified disruptions include events such as “aircraft damage caused by extreme weather” and “the removal of an unruly passenger.” However, issues centered around scheduled maintenance, crew scheduling issues and standard aircraft cleaning or restocking are still considered to be under an airline’s control.

“These newly exempted causes of flight delays are not especially common, but we understand that the new rules might make travelers feel less protected when they fly,” said Robert Gallagher, CEO, North America, Zurich Cover-More. “That’s why Travel Guard offers advice and products to help airline passengers become better informed about ways to protect their travel expenses and travel with greater confidence.”

Many travel insurance plans offer Trip Delay coverage as part of a comprehensive travel insurance policy. There are typically qualifying criteria, including the number of hours of the delay and the reason for the delay, before the coverage may apply, but if the insured traveler meets the Trip Delay time requirement outlined in their plan, they can be reimbursed – up to a maximum dollar amount – for qualified expenses that arose because of the delay. The majority of the 10 reasons cited in the new DOT rules generally would qualify for Travel Guard’s Trip Delay coverage, subject to the terms of the particular travel insurance policy.

While a plan with Trip Delay coverage could be especially valuable in the case of a flight disruption that doesn’t require an airline to offer any compensation, a travel insurance plan can be valuable even in those cases that the airline is deemed responsible and may be offering reimbursement or vouchers. A travel insurance plan may also cover non-flight components and secondary impacts of delays, such as missed cruise departures, missed tour days, or other destination expenses, which airlines would not cover even if providing hotel vouchers.

“Travel Guard’s support services also assist clients in coordinating connecting travel arrangements to help them catch up with their itineraries,” said Gallagher. “But it’s important that travelers should review the details of their travel insurance plan to determine if it includes Trip Delay coverage, as well as the criteria to be met for the coverage to apply,” said Gallagher.

For more information about Travel Guard, its products and services, visit www.travelguard.com or follow Travel Guard on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Travel Guard, part of Zurich Cover-More, meets the diverse needs of travelers worldwide through its comprehensive portfolio of travel insurance plans and assistance services as well as a network of experienced providers. With global service centers placed strategically around the globe, our 24/7 multilingual team is always just a phone call away and ready to assist when our customers experience travel issues – from lost luggage or minor travel inconveniences to medical emergencies or life-threatening events. We help customers recover from travel disruptions and enjoy their journeys knowing Travel Guard has their back every step of the way. Learn more at www.travelguard.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.

Zurich Cover-More is one of the world’s largest travel insurance and assistance providers and part of Zurich Insurance Group, a leading multi-line insurer. We look after more than 20 million of the world’s travelers every year, making sure we are there every step of their journey. Our family of customer-facing brands include Travel Guard, Cover-More Travel Insurance, Travelex Insurance, Universal Assistance, World Travel Protection, Freely and Blue Insurance.

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SOURCE Travel Guard