Collinson Insurance is supporting Expedia to extend its One Key flight delay benefit to Gold members in the US, following its launch for Platinum members. The complimentary benefit gives a wider group of higher-tier Expedia travellers access to an airport lounge when an eligible flight is delayed or disrupted by 90 minutes or more.

Gold and Platinum One Key members who book eligible flights through Expedia are registered for SmartDelay+ automatically. Once a delay or disruption reaches 90 minutes, the member receives an alert through the Expedia app and a QR code for airport lounge access. If no eligible lounge or airport experience is available, each eligible passenger on the same itinerary receives $20 in OneKeyCash towards future eligible travel bookings on Expedia. Members do not need to register separately, submit a claim or provide evidence of the delay.

For travellers, the response is built into the booking and app experience. Lounge access provides a more comfortable place to wait, while the OneKeyCash alternative means eligible passengers still receive a benefit when no participating lounge or airport experience is available.

The benefit is delivered through Collinson Insurance’s SmartDelay+ solution and underwritten by Starr Insurance. Collinson provides the technology, live flight monitoring, servicing and access to more than 1,800 airport lounges and travel experiences across 788 airports in 144 countries. Expedia manages eligibility, booking and delivery through its app.

Alex Lawrence, Global Head of Product and Proposition at Collinson Insurance, said: “We’ve probably all been there and know how frustrating it is when a flight is disrupted. The important thing is that travellers do not have to go looking for this benefit. Their eligible flight is monitored and Expedia can respond through the app once the delay reaches 90 minutes. Extending it from Platinum to Gold means a wider group of One Key members can receive lounge access where available, without another form to fill in.”