Stormy skies ruin your vacation? JetBlue has a refund for that – The Points Guy

Worried that stormy skies could interrupt your vacation? Well, JetBlue has an innovative solution to protect your trip (and your wallet).

JetBlue Vacations and WeatherPromise announced on Thursday that they are teaming up to offer rain protection for trips booked through the airline’s vacation portal.

This optional coverage will reimburse you if your destination experiences significant rainfall. You’ll still be able to take the trip — and you’ll get your money back.

WeatherPromise covers “excessive rain,” which is defined on a trip-by-trip basis based on a variety of factors, including destination, trip length and historical weather data. The company says that “millions of data points are assessed for each trip, and weather conditions are continually monitored using satellite imagery, weather stations and radar to ensure an accurate, real-time evaluation at the travel destination.”

The airline and WeatherPromise assure that no paperwork is needed when bad weather occurs — the reimbursement should happen automatically.

I personally haven’t used WeatherPromise before, so I can’t vouch for how much rain might qualify to get your trip reimbursed by the company or how much it costs.

I attempted to make a dummy JetBlue Vacations booking to test out the service, but JetBlue Vacations doesn’t offer free 24-hour cancellations, so I abandoned my purchase. Instead, JetBlue sent me the representative pricing samples below.

WeatherPromise typically defines a rainy day based on the number of hours of rain above a certain intensity, such as 1 millimeter of rain per hour. This figure can be different depending on the trip, activities and locations.

Nevertheless, this innovative protection could be a fantastic addition for trips to the beach or theme park, where rain could really disrupt your vacation.

You can purchase a WeatherPromise guarantee in three ways: on the confirmation page for your flight and hotel package, directly in your confirmation email or when managing your vacation booking. (Note that you’ll only see the option to purchase a package for flights departing from airports within the U.S. or U.S. territories.)

As you can imagine, there are lots of terms and conditions to sift through for this insurancelike product. You’ll want to make sure to read everything carefully and then track your weather and payout status directly via the WeatherPromise portal.

No other airline currently partners with WeatherPromise, but depending on how successful the JetBlue tie-up is, that might change in the coming months.

“Travel should be exciting, not stressful, and our partnership with WeatherPromise is another way we’re making that a reality,” Jamie Perry, president of JetBlue Travel Products, said in a statement. “When customers book through JetBlue Vacations, they’re choosing a travel brand they trust to support them every step of the way. We know how important vacations are, and by offering coverage against weather disruptions, we’re ensuring our customers can focus on enjoying their trips with confidence and peace of mind.”

Related reading: