Holidaymakers are being warned that their travel insurance may not cover strike disruption. Which? has found that four in 10 policies do not cover travellers for strikes by airport or airline staff.
Travellers are being advised to take care when buying travel insurance ahead of a summer of predicted disruption. The consumer choice and rights group assessed 199 policies offered by 71 providers and rated them dependent on the level of protection offered in 61 key areas for its annual review of travel insurance.
Six in 10 (120) of the policies Which? looked at offered cover if travellers have to cancel a trip due to strikes. Four in 10 policies (78) did not provide cover for cancellations due to strikes, while for one policy it was an optional extra.
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Covid cover is another area where Which? says it found disparities in the level of cover offered.
A spokesperson said: "Of the 199 policies the consumer champion examined, fewer than one in 10 (9) offered what it considers to be ‘Complete’ protection in the event of a holiday being disrupted by Covid. This means that travellers can claim for emergency medical care if they catch Covid while abroad, and have the option to claim cancellation costs if they test positive for Covid before their trip. These policies also provide cover should the legal requirement to self-isolate be reintroduced for those identified as close contacts. They can also claim if, after booking their trip, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against travel to their destination because of Covid, or because of regional or national restrictions on movement."
Which? also said that anyone who has their holiday cancelled by a package tour operator is entitled to a refund by law.
A spokesperson added: "Airlines are also obligated to refund passengers when they cancel flights - including when the cancellation is caused by their own staff going on strike.
"Likewise, package holidays from an ATOL protected firm will ensure that you’ll be reimbursed should the company go out of business and repatriated if it happens while you’re abroad.
"Which? also advises that wherever possible, holidays should be purchased via credit card, as your credit card provider is legally bound to reimburse you for any purchase over £100 if services provided are not as advertised, and the company responsible won’t refund you."
Jenny Ross, Which? Money Editor continued: “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.
“Which? analysis of 199 policies shows that levels of cover can vary wildly in important areas like disruption caused by strike action or Covid.
“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.”
Richard Williams, Head of Transport Policy at the Consumer Council reiterated that travellers must check the terms and conditions of their insurance policy.
He said: “Our advice for travellers is to take out travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday. This summer it is more important than ever to do this as we see the potential for travel disruption looming, due to staff shortages in the aviation industry and the threat of strike action by some aviation workers
“When purchasing travel insurance, or if you already have an existing policy, you should check the terms and conditions to ensure it meets your needs. Insurance policies vary in the cover they provide and not all insurance policies cover strike action or disruption due to COVID-19.
“For more information on travel insurance and the types of cover you should look out for, you can download our Travel Insurance Factsheet at www.consumercouncil.org.uk/travelinsurance or request a copy by calling 0800 121 6022.”
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