May 16, 2024, 8:14 am | Read time: 4 minutes
When flying on vacation, people primarily wish for good weather. With “WeatherPromise,” there’s now a special travel insurance against rain.
The days are getting warmer again in Germany, and surely some are already planning their big summer vacation or have already booked it. However, many things can proverbially fall through if the weather at the destination doesn’t meet expectations. To address this issue, the creators behind “WeatherPromise” now offer a special type of travel insurance.
How “WeatherPromise” Works
There are different types of travel insurance, but “WeatherPromise” focuses on one of the key factors for a successful or unsuccessful vacation–the weather. Through the online service, travelers can enter their start and destination points and calculate the cost of their personal weather promise.
After purchasing a “WeatherPromise,” an individual weather guarantee is automatically created based on the travel location and period. If it rains more than initially forecasted, customers receive a refund of their travel costs. According to the New York Post, the amount can be up to $10,000.
But smaller trips or single events are also covered: If it rains too much at an open-air concert, a sporting event, or while at an amusement park, you get the ticket price back.
More Than 500 Million Data Points for Accurate Weather Information
At “WeatherPromise,” traditional weather forecasts are considered imprecise, which is why they always rely on current data from the respective vacation destination. They continuously monitor developments using satellites, weather, and radar stations. According to their own information, they process more than 500 million data points daily.
In wetter areas and during certain times, more rain is expected, which can make the offer more expensive. Also relevant are all hours in which at least 1.5 millimeters of rain has fallen.
These Problems Still Exist
Currently, “WeatherPromise” works best for vacations at single destinations. The weather monitoring cannot yet follow you. If a refund case arises, the main travel destination specified at purchase applies.
Booking and refunds are best handled with one of “WeatherPromise’s” partners. However, the website does not specify who all the partners are, and according to the New York Post, there aren’t many yet. Currently, the service mainly covers rain, but they are working on data collections for heatwaves and wind, and snow forecasts are also expected to be possible in the future.
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“WeatherPromise” Now Available in Germany
Until recently, the offer was only available to travelers from the U.S. But as a new press release indicates, HomeToGo is now the first partner bringing “WeatherPromise” to Germany. The vacation rental marketplace is currently testing the direct integration of weather insurance in the booking process for a limited number of users.
Hope for Refund–Is It Gambling?
With “WeatherPromise,” they promise a refund of travel costs in case of bad weather. Surely, the hope of a potentially paid vacation plays a significant role in purchasing such a weather promise.
Could it therefore be a form of gambling? TECHBOOK asked the consumer law firm Goldenstein Rechtsanwälte for a legal assessment. The response:
“Legally, it is considered gambling if a provider charges a fee for the chance to win and the win depends entirely or predominantly on chance. At first glance, this definition may apply to the offer from ‘WeatherPromise.’
However, upon closer inspection, it can be seen that a weather forecast, thanks to modern technology, is by no means predominantly dependent on chance. Moreover, consumers likely use the ‘WeatherPromise’ offer not to make a profit, but to protect themselves against a bad vacation experience. Therefore, in my view, ‘WeatherPromise’ offers more of a travel cancellation insurance than a form of gambling.”
Claus Goldenstein/Goldenstein Rechtsanwälte