Are you planning your next Aussie getaway? Whether you’re snorkelling along the Great Barrier Reef, hiking through Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain or watching the sunrise over Uluru, you want to do everything you can to organise a safe, fun-filled experience.
But unfortunately, things don’t always go to plan. Recent stats show that popular domestic airlines (like Qantas) have had to cancel more than 6% (1 in 20) of domestic flights in recent months. In fact, more than a quarter of domestic flights were delayed or failed to arrive on time—making flight disruptions a common occurrence for travellers across the country.
From baggage delays to last-minute cancellations, unexpected events can turn a relaxing holiday into a nightmare you’d rather forget. The good news? There are practical steps you can take to protect yourself against the unexpected when travelling domestically.
Common unexpected events during domestic travel
When planning a holiday, flight disruptions and rental vehicle mishaps aren’t likely the first things on your mind. But even the most carefully curated itineraries can go wrong.
When travelling domestically, there are a range of unexpected events that can prevent you from getting to your destination on schedule, including:
- Flight disruptions: While airlines will do their best to get you to your destination on time, there is always the chance that your flight might be changed, delayed or cancelled at short notice. If you have a connecting flight to a more regional or remote destination, these delays can have flow-on effects that might impact your entire trip.
- Travel delays: Whether you’re flying, driving or catching a train to get to your domestic holiday, delays in your travel time can throw a major spanner in the works.
- Baggage delays: Even if you get to your destination on time, there’s no guarantee your checked baggage will arrive with you. While waiting a few hours might be manageable for some trips, more complex travel itineraries might not be able to accommodate luggage being lost for multiple hours or even days.
- Last-minute trip cancellations: From an unexpected illness to a sudden injury, there may be some occasions when you won’t be able to attend a trip you’ve booked—which can be a major inconvenience if parts of your itinerary are non-refundable.
- Rental vehicle mishaps: Getting behind the wheel of any car comes with some level of risk. When renting a car for your domestic holiday, an unexpected accident could set you back hundreds or even thousands of dollars in insurance excess payments.
5 practical steps to plan for unexpected events
Before you book your next domestic holiday, consider these top tips and advice to safeguard your trip against unexpected events, from travel disruptions to baggage delays.
1. Reconfirming your reservations prior to departure
Certain holidays require more of an investment than others. For high-value getaways (like ski trips or getaways to remote parts of Australia, like the Northern Territory), adjusting plans at late notice can be tricky. That’s why it can be helpful to reconfirm key parts of your itinerary prior to departure.
At least 24 hours before your flight, check in online and find out if there have been any adjustments to your departure time or gate. Before you head to the airport, reconfirm the status of your flight to avoid unwanted delays or waiting hours in a crowded terminal.
It can also be worth contacting your accommodation and transfer operators and touching base with any companies running activities you’ve booked. Extreme weather events and poor conditions can cause reservations to get cancelled at short notice.
While reconfirming your bookings won’t guarantee everything will still go to plan, it can give you some extra time to pivot your plans if needed.
2. Book popular activities well ahead of time
Many domestic holidays are booked with a particular activity, sight or attraction in mind. While many operators welcome walk-ins, others might book out months in advance—which is why it pays to reserve your spot as early as possible.
As soon as your trip dates are locked in, consider booking any non-negotiable activities that are must-sees during your holiday. This is particularly important during peak season, as popular attractions can book out quickly.
It’s worth checking if these tickets are refundable and what their policy is in case of a last-minute cancellation—there’s nothing worse than being hit with a cancellation fee if you can’t make it.
3. Consider booking flexible flights and accommodation options
Life happens, and things might get in the way of your carefully curated trip. That’s why it can be helpful to consider securing flexible flights and accommodation bookings. If you need to change your departure date or extend your trip, these flexible bookings can make it easier (and less expensive) to adjust your itinerary.
Keep in mind that flexible reservations can come with a higher price take than non-refundable spots. While it can give you peace of mind in case of a last-minute change, you’ll likely end up paying more for the same trip by opting for refundable bookings.
4. Understand the cancellation policy for your trip’s itinerary
Like any purchase, it pays to read the fine print when booking a holiday—especially one that requires a big investment of time and money.
While cancelling your plans is unlikely, it’s helpful to know what terms and conditions apply to your bookings before you lock things in. Before paying for flights, accommodation and activities, review the company’s cancellation policy. This ensures you know what fees and charges you might need to pay in case of an unexpected trip cancellation.
Plus, there might be certain timeframes you need to keep in mind—such as the ability to cancel for a full refund a certain number of days or hours before the start of your booking.
When in doubt, pick up the phone and contact the operator to see what cancellation T&Cs you need to keep in mind.
5. Protect yourself with domestic travel insurance
Looking for added peace of mind? Consider taking out domestic travel insurance prior to your next holiday for one less thing to worry about.
With Stella Domestic Travel Insurance, you have a range of options of cover, including:
- Trip interruptions or cancellations*: We’ll pay you the pre-paid or non-refundable trip costs up to $10,000 if your trip is cancelled or interrupted due to a range of unforeseen events (excess applies^).
- Lost or stolen luggage*: We’ll pay you up to $5,000 in total (or up to $1,000 for a single item) if your baggage is damaged, stolen or accidentally lost during your trip (excess applies^).
- Travel delay*: When you are unexpectedly delayed for more than 6 hours, we’ll cover $50 per 6 hours, up to a maximum of $1,000.
- Personal liability*: We’ll pay you up to $2,500,000 for property damage or personal injury caused by your unintentional negligence during the trip.
- Delayed baggage allowance*: If your baggage isn’t showing up, we’ll cover up to $300 for essential expenses incurred due to the delay.
- Renting a vehicle*: Cover for rental vehicle insurance excess by covering up to $8,000 if your rental vehicle is damaged or stolen and you have purchased comprehensive car insurance.
*Note that not all benefits apply and will depend on whether you have selected them (and are reflected on your Certificate of Insurance). Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits apply. Please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for further details. ^A $100 excess applies to the Product.
Prepare for your next adventure with Stella Travel Insurance
Ready to explore your own backyard and get your adventure started? Make sure you can enjoy your trip without the added baggage of stress. With Stella Domestic Travel Insurance, you can select the range of cover that suits your needs, with coverage that’s flexible, supportive and purpose-driven.
Stella Domestic Travel Insurance is issued by Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd (ABN 83 169 311 193) (Pacific) and distributed by Stella Underwriting Pty Ltd (ABN 72 633 811 319, AR 001282046) acting as an Authorised Representative of battleface Insurance Services Pty Ltd (ABN 28 650 606 045, AFSL 536280) (battleface), also operating under the trading name Robin Assist, which is acting under a binding authority as agent for Pacific.
Any advice provided is general only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and may not be right for you. Benefits are subject to the terms and conditions including the limits, sub-limits and exclusions of the insurance policy. You should consider the appropriateness of any such advice, and read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), the Target Market Determination (TMD) and Financial Services Guide (FSG) for these products available at stellainsurance.com.au, before making a decision to acquire, or to continue to hold, the product.
