Heathrow Airport security staff have announced that they will take strike action across 31 days from June 24 to August 27, due to continuing disputes over pay.
The strikes will impact holidaymakers flying from the UK’s busiest airport on almost every weekend this summer.
With many holidaygoers already enduring huge delays at the airport, or even flight cancellations, it’s been already turbulent year for the travel industry.
Airlines have only started to recover from last year, which saw huge queues due to staff shortages at some major UK airports, while landing at Heathrow Airport saw huge piles of luggage stacking up after the airport struggled with ‘passenger capacity’.
While many hope their travel insurance will cover them for these delays and cancellations, it seems travellers across the UK could be in danger of having to foot the costs for new flights themselves.
Here’s everything you need to know, including how to protect yourself and what to look out for.
How to find out if your travel insurance policy covers airport strike action
While many check that their insurance policies cover them for delays and cancellations for various reasons, including strikes, many fail to check exactly what cancellation causes are covered.
It is generally accepted that your travel insurance will cover flight cancellations if this is the airline’s fault, however it is always best to read through your policy.
Speaking in 2022, Which? Money Editor, Jenny Ross said: “Travellers should ensure they’ve taken out adequate insurance to cover any losses or unexpected costs they might face.
“Which? analysis of 199 policies shows that levels of cover can vary wildly in important areas like disruption caused by strike action.
“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.”
For example, less than one in 10 of the 199 policies Which? analysed in a 2022 study offered ‘Complete’ protection in the event of Covid disrupting a holiday, major problem that holidaymakers face up until last year.
Which? recommends travellers booking holidays on a credit card, where possible, as your bank is legally required to reimburse you for purchases over £100 if the services provided were not as advertised – and if the company, itself, won’t refund you.
You should also try to book package holidays from ATOL-protected firms.
What does a good travel insurance policy look like?
While reading insurance documents can be time-consuming, you should always read the fine print to discover exactly what you are and aren’t covered for.
Travel insurance policies are built from three core elements, comprising how many trips you’re making in the next 12 months, where you’re travelling to and who you’re travelling with.
From there, Which? recommends that you look into whether the policies offer emergency medical cover, and suggests ensuring you’re covered for up to £5 million.
Additionally, explore what sort of cancellation cover the policy offers. The consumer choices website suggests that you “look for a policy that offers cancellation and curtailment cover of at least £2,000 – or the total value of your holiday”.
It advises including you select a value that covers the cost of getting you home, too. And, if you are flying from Heathrow this summer, the regular strikes mean that it may be worth speaking to the insurance provider to clarify whether this is covered and what the stipulations are.
Following baggage delays at Heathrow Airport last year, many passengers were concerned about what cover they had for luggage that was lost or missing.
To prevent losing the value of your items, should anything happen to your case, Which? suggests cover of £1,500 or the cost of replacing those belongings.
If a single item in your luggage exceeds £200, you may want to increase your home contents insurance for possessions away from home as the item will be covered by that instead.
Which? states: “Often the maximum is between £200 and £500, so check the terms and conditions of your policy and don't carry too much currency around with you.”
