After the end of COVID lockdowns and ease in travel restrictions, individuals and families have been looking forward to long-awaited summer travel plans becoming a reality. But many can’t expect a perfect travel experience now as airlines are dealing with huge demand, staff shortages, and logistical issues that make travel more painful than travelers assumed. Also, flights are now getting delayed or canceled at a moment’s notice due to reasons like strike action.
If you are wondering will my travel insurance cover strike action, then read on.
There is no
one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It depends on many factors. There
are circumstances where your airline will compensate you if your flight is
canceled or delayed, but those instances could be rare.
Each policy has
its own coverage regarding industrial action. So, one should have a look at the
policy document carefully before taking out insurance.
The Data
Which? Analysis
of 199 policies shows that the levels of cover can vary in vital areas like
disruption caused by COVID or strike action. Jenny Ross, Which? Money Editor stated
‘With many airlines warning of widespread disruption this Summer and Covid
cases on the rise, travelers should ensure they’ve taken out adequate insurance
to cover any losses or unexpected costs they might face. We advise travelers to
check policies carefully to ensure they offer the cover that will be most
appropriate to their trip and to ensure they have cover in place from the time
of booking.’
In an analysis
of 199 policies offered by 71 providers, Which? found out that four out of ten
policies don’t protect against strikes. It also mentioned that if your airline
goes bankrupt, just half will refund the holiday costs.
It also unveiled
that less than 10% of examined policies offered “complete” protection in case
of COVID-19-related
disruptions.
It also
mentioned that two-thirds of policies offered a “superior” level of cover, including
emergency medical care and cancellations from catching the virus. The superior
level of cover also includes events such as reintroducing legal requirements to
self-isolate.
How to Find
Out Whether Your Travel Insurance Will Cover Strike Action
If you are planning
to take out travel insurance, you need to check whether the travel insurance
can protect you if your trip is canceled or cut short due to unforeseen
circumstances like COVID spread, delayed departure, missed transport, and other
emergencies.
If you already
have taken out a policy and want to know what it covers, then you can check the
terms and conditions of the company. They will be available via a web link or
an attached document that the insurer sent you when you bought the policy.
You can also
check the FAQ section of the insurer’s website to know what is covered and what
is not.
If you still
don’t get the answers, you should talk to the insurance provider’s customer
care executives. You can email them if you don’t need a quick response or call
them if you need a swift answer.
Sources:
https://metro.co.uk/2022/07/05/travel-insurance-how-to-check-if-strike-action-is-covered-16944545/
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-05/canceled-flight-almost-half-of-uk-travel-insurance-policies-don-t-cover-strikes
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/uk/news/breaking-news/travel-insurance-crisis--summer-travellers-issued-warning-411940.aspx