No, I don't mean the normal insurance one takes out to cover lost baggage etc but a special one. Tomorrow morning I am booked on the only flight of the day to East Midlands Airport (Nottingham) on my way to my daughter's home in Sheffield. Just one problem, a small one, the weather forecast for here tomorrow morning is FOG! Now if the flight is badly delayed they might well cancel it completely which will leave me stuffed as the next day's flight might well be full (23rd December and a Friday). What to do, the stress levels were rising and my poor heart was in overdrive SO I have booked another flight with a different airline to a different airport for the evening. Now I have TWO tickets, two airlines, two destinations (one to the south and one to the north) and two completely different times of day - then if the absolute worst happens and BOTH cancel on me then I have back-up with both for the next day, I hope. The extra money is well worth the lowering of stress.

Anyone so paranoid as to take similar steps?

Are you sure they'd cancel the flight because of fog? I've been on a fair number of flights which have either taken off or landed in fog, or other adverse weather conditions such as driving snow, tropical rain, duststorms, etc. I've experienced delays, but never cancellations, and only once been on an aircraft which had to divert for landing, this due to severe crosswinds at Lerwick in the Shetland Islands.
I've never bought two tickets on a 'just in case' basis, and it would have to be something akin to a 'life or death' situation to make me do so.
Hopefully Sue, the extra ticket didn't cost you too much, and will prove worth it.

It was worth it for peace of mind and lack of stress. I have had flights cancelled with fog, fog and the Channel Islands are well acquainted. The cheaper airlines do cancel as to delay flights throws their schedules for the remainder of the day. Easier to cancel one return flight than to delay lots of flights. One airline flying here is Flybe, known locally as Flymaybe. A lot depends on where the plane needs to end up for the day, they like to get it positioned for the next morning.

For the record there was no fog at all and my morning plane took off on time and I am safely at my daughter's house waiting for her to return home.

I am pleased to hear you got away ok Sue.
I hope you have a wonderful time.
See you when you get back.
PF

Relax and enjoy your time there Sue!
Safe journeys to all who may be traveling.