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Daily Record
Daily Record
Lifestyle
Jacob Rawley

Four in 10 travel insurance policies do not cover strikes by airport or airline staff, research finds

Those planning to go on holiday may want to double check their travel insurance, as many may not realise that not all policies cover cancellations caused by strikes. This comes as workers walk out from leading airlines including Ryanair and BA.

A report by Which?, a leading consumer choice company, has found that after analysing 199 policies offered by 71 providers, only six in 10, equating to 120 total, offered cover if travellers have to cancel a trip due to strikes. This could leave some travellers out of pocket amid the current airline strikes.

Airlines are required by law to refund a cancelled flight, however this is not the case for hotels and other holiday bookings that you may have made. The consumer group has urged holiday makers to look closely at travel insurance policies, making sure that it features strike cover.

The consumer experts have also found that Covid cover appears to be an issue for most travel insurance policies, with fewer than one in 10 offering what they consider "Complete" Covid protection. According to the consumer company, complete cover should include:

  • Emergency medical care if a traveller catches Covid while abroad
  • The option to claim cancellation costs if they test positive for Covid before their trip
  • Cover should the legal requirement to self-isolate be reintroduced for close contacts
  • Cover if the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against travel to their destination because of Covid, or because of regional or national restrictions on movement.

The report did, however, find that two-thirds of policies offered what they considered to be ‘Superior’ level Covid cover which covers the first three points outlined but not the fourth wherein the FCO change their rules.

What should I do to make sure I get refunded during strikes?

Opting for a package holiday may be worthwhile during these months of travel chaos, this is because those who have holidays cancelled by a package tour operator are entitled to a refund by law. This includes when workers go on strike or if Covid rules change in a country, causing the cancellation.

ATOL protected package holidays will also be fully reimbursed, even if the company goes out of business due to or during the disruption that caused the cancellation. Additionally, if you purchase with a credit card, your provider is legally bound to reimburse you for any purchase over £100 if services provided are not as advertised, and the company won’t refund you, advises the consumer brand.

Aside from these tips, it is vital to carefully go over travel insurance policies ahead of buying to ensure that it accounts for all of the disruptions that could take place amid this summer of travel chaos.

Jenny Ross, Which? Money Editor says: “With many airlines warning of widespread disruption this summer and Covid cases on the rise, travellers should ensure they’ve taken out adequate insurance to cover any losses or unexpected costs they might face."

She adds: “We advise travellers to always 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.”

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