There are some fabulous, cancellable flight options available currently. Does anyone know what happens to your money, and ability to get where you're going, if you buy tickets, and then the airline goes bankrupt prior to your flight?
As I recall, when Braniff went belly up, you were SOL. I surmise you would be on the lowest level of claims in a Bankruptcy.
Your fare is an unsecured loan... and if they go BK you may have to pay again to get where you want to go. Not long ago the UK government tried to rescue stranded travelers after Thomas Cook went pear shaped, but no help at all for those not yet embarked.
You know what would be the cherry on top. Mother nature wreaking havoc with rains and floods. Didn't I read this in a book somewhere once?