Travel plans change most often when traveling to Turkey, Germany, and Spain

The peak season for vacations and travel is currently in full swing for a great many Latvian residents. Travel insurance claims data from BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS (hereinafter – BTA Insurance) for the past three years show that the majority of travel and flight plans have changed when traveling to Turkey, Germany, and Spain. The most common reasons for trip and flight cancellations were health issues for 60% of travellers; in 16% of cases, flights were delayed; and in 15% of cases, flights were cancelled by the airline. According to Ivo Danče, director of the Claims Department at BTA Insurance, an unexpected event turns all travel plans upside down, resulting in losses related to airline tickets, prepaid accommodations, transfers, excursions, event tickets, and other expenses, which typically amount to several hundred or even thousands of euros. 

Over the past three years, BTA Insurance has paid out a total of 133,625 euros in travel cancellation claims, the majority of which – nearly 57,000 euros – were paid out last year. The average compensation for trip cancellation has also increased significantly during this period – from 327 euros in 2023 to 623 euros in 2025. 

Trips are cancelled due to a child’s illness, a broken nose, being struck by a boat oar, and domestic disputes 

The most common reason for cancelling or interrupting a trip is sudden health issues – this accounted for 60% of claims. For example, BTA Insurance has a case in which a family had to cancel a trip to Egypt because the child developed a severe cold, a cough, and a fever before the trip began, and later one of the parents also fell ill. In this case, 2,020 euros were paid out as compensation for the cancelled trip. Meanwhile, in another case, a family was unable to take their planned trip to Italy because a child fell ill, and the total losses amounted to 1,644 euros. 

At the same time, travel plans can also be disrupted by a sudden injury or other unforeseen circumstances. For example, two people had to cancel their trip due to a broken nose and necessary surgery, for which BTA Insurance paid out 1,175 euros in compensation. In another situation, a Riga–Berlin flight was delayed due to weather conditions, causing travellers to miss their connecting flight to the U.S.; they were forced to purchase new plane tickets and stay at a hotel in Berlin. In this case, the compensation amounted to 1,400 euros. Meanwhile, a trip to London was cancelled due to a boating incident that occurred the previous week – during which someone had handled an oar carelessly and accidentally struck a traveller in the ear, causing her to experience health complications. 

“The risk of travel cancellation isn’t always related to an airline’s decision or events at the destination. Often, planned trips are disrupted by completely ordinary and unforeseen circumstances even before heading to the airport. That is precisely why, when choosing travel insurance, it is essential to check whether the policy covers not only medical assistance abroad and the risk of flight delays, but also trip cancellation and compensation for prepaid, non-refundable expenses,” says Ivo Danče, Director of the Claims Department at BTA Insurance and an insurance expert. 

He adds that the costliest claims involve trips cancelled due to a child’s illness, when the entire family is unable to travel. Specifically, the financial risk is typically higher for family trips because the trip is planned and paid for by multiple people. 

“If a child or another family member falls ill shortly before departure, the financial loss usually covers the entire trip, not just a single ticket. That’s why it’s important to make sure that your insurance covers not only flight cancellations but also other prepaid reservations that can no longer be used or fully refunded,” explains I. Danče. 

Trips to Turkey, Germany, Spain, and Italy were cancelled most frequently 

Cancelled and delayed flights remain a significant risk that all travellers must take into account, especially when their itinerary includes connecting flights. BTA Insurance data shows that, overall, the majority of cancelled trips and flights were to Turkey, Germany, Spain, and Italy. At the same time, the majority of trip cancellations were recorded in Latvia, which once again confirms that trips are often cancelled even before travellers reach the airport—due to illness, injury, the death of a relative, or other unforeseen circumstances. 

Ivo Danče notes that these destinations coincide with popular vacation spots among Latvian residents, but as travel costs rise – including prices for airline tickets, hotels, and other pre-booked services – people are increasingly opting for broader travel insurance coverage and higher limits. This is especially true when a trip is more expensive, the route is longer, and it involves multiple connecting flights, accommodations, transfers, and other services that cannot always be cancelled without incurring losses. 

“Given how many different unforeseen events can affect a carefully planned, expensive, and long-awaited trip, you should purchase insurance immediately after making and paying for your reservation. To file a claim, it is essential to keep all documents – airline tickets, reservation confirmations, payment receipts, airline notifications, medical certificates, and information on whether the service provider will refund part of the amount. Travelers are also advised to follow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ latest information, recommendations, and warnings regarding their chosen destination, especially if the trip is planned for regions where the situation may change,” says I. Danče.