Has anyone ever filed a travel insurance claim on a flight that had to be canceled in which the airline gave you future flight credits? If so, was your claim paid? Thank you.

Why should the insurance pay if you got a credit for future flights? That's double dipping.

My thoughts exactly and that's why I called the insurance company (who will remain anonymous) to ask this question. They would not give a direct answer. Their response was it would be determined by underwriting when a claim is submitted.

Insurance is intended to cover losses. If you are claiming for nonrefundable costs like hotel night(s) or tours that could not be refunded, and if your policy covers those - sure, you can reasonably expect reimbursement. If the airline has issued credit, though, there's no loss so don't expect reimbursement.

Interesting as I only can add my experience with hotel. My trip was canceled due to the pandemic and I had hotel reservations not booked through the hotel directly. The hotel refunded but the 3rd party refused however, one hotel reservation did have trip insurance. I was able to get refunded and told if they found out I still used the credit issued, they could ask for me to return the refund. Perhaps that would work the same for airfare.

I don’t agree that just because you get a credit you can use it. That is not always the case. I can’t use the other hotel credit given as I can’t reasonably go there in the timeframe permitted at a reasonable price and flight to get there. So it’s going to expire and I lose out.

Of course the underwriters wont pay out if you receive flight credits. There has been no loss ergo, there is no claim. To not disclose the flight credits in any claim would be fraud.

My trip cancellation insurance form asked if I had flight credits, so you have to disclose.

I had cruise ship vouchers/credits. The terms stated that I could claim for the value of the vouchers and then they would be void or not claim for the voucher part and keep them. They did pay me the voucher value and now I agree I have no vouchers and would not try to still use them.

If the airline cancelled then I would expect a refund. If you cancelled then it could be a matter of the reason for doing so and whether it was covered. You could read your policy details to see if it addresses the case where a credit was issued.

There is a potential loss here if the refund has an expiration date. Especially if it is a far in advance purchase and the credit expires one year from date of purchase. Or if it is on a foreign carrier that you just can't use. (say i want to buy an SA ticket from JNB to VFA and SA doesn't even fly from my home airport, then a cancel-credit would be useless to me).

Anyway, my policy is to ask or tell people what I want (would like). Company policies are not always fixed in stone and agents often have latitude to make exceptions. Sometimes, not always, I have to explain why my request should be honored. Airlines, in particular, seem to have exceptions for every rule. Rules can be waived. It may be in their interest to maintain customer goodwill.

IDK if you called the airline, but it is worth a shot (if it is worth your time). Being calm, reaonable, and persistent helps.

Bottom line is that you won't get a refund from the airline if you don't ask. You won't get reimbursed by insurance if you don't file a claim. Assume that your understanding of their policies is incomplete - it probably is.