I want to talk travel insurance and one reason it can prove to be very valuable. I always have it, even for a short domestic trip. 

This trip, I was hosted at a conference. I had to pay air and a 2-night stay at the hotel. I was in the USA so my medical insurance is still valid and my air could have been changed to another flight, so why do I need travel insurance?

I was supposed to take off at 4:00. The tarmac was backed up so we did not depart till 4:35, even though the United app said 3:55, that was the time the door closed. We were scheduled to land at 6:37 but we didn’t get off the plane until 8:30.

Lightning was the factor in Houston. When there is lightning, the ground crew cannot escort the planes out and bring them in so we had to circle till we had the go ahead to land. Once we landed, we sat on the tarmac for close to an hour to get a gate. 

If this was a connecting flight for me and I missed my connection, the airlines do not comp you a room if it is weather related. I could have been out of pocket for a hotel but my travel insurance would have reimbursed me as well as for any meals I would have needed. 

Also, a lesson as to why I always try to recommend a layover of at least 2 hours.

• Special thanks to Angel Grigar - angela@travelnta.com