Holidaymakers are being warned to make sure their travel insurance covers them in the event of their trips being cancelled due to strikes. Consumer choice and rights group Which? revealed that many policies offer no protection whatsoever from industrial action.
Air traffic controller strikes in France and other European countries is not uncommon in the summer months when British families are heading abroad on holiday. The issue of industrial action also reared its head in the UK last month when the RMT transport union held a three-day strike.
Further disruption is expected in the coming months, with 700 British Airways check-in and ground-handling workers threatening a walk-out over pay and conditions. EasyJet staff in Spain have said could strike later this month, with transport unions in other European countries making similar threats.
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Which? warns that many travel insurance policies taken out by Brits do not cover them for trips cancelled due to industrial action. It looked at 199 packages offered by 71 providers and discovered that only six in 10 offered cover for strikes.
That means that only 40% of policies analysed by the researchers offered reimbursement to people whose trips away had to be cancelled. Jenny Ross, money editor at Which? told Sky News that it was vital for travellers to check their cover before their holiday.
"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," she said. "They should ensure they’ve taken out adequate insurance to cover any losses or unexpected costs they might face."
Travellers are also being warned of concerning variations in the level of cover offered by different insurance firms for trips disrupted due to Covid-19. Which? said that this could become more of an issue because of a rise in cases in many holiday destinations across Europe.
Its researchers found that less than 10 per cent of the 199 packages analysed offered customers full protection, including emergency medical care if a trip was disrupted because of coronavirus. Which said it was also important for travellers to know their rights.
As well as medical care, the full cover would also allow travellers to claim costs back if they were forced to cancel their trip after testing positive for the virus. It should also include reimbursement if travel restrictions are suddenly introduced or changed in destination countries.
Which? travel experts recommend booking flights and holidays on your credit card. This is because credit card providers are required under law to reimburse customers for any purchase of £100 or greater value in the event that advertised services are withdrawn without refund.
They added that package tour operators are legally bound to refund customers whose holiday is cancelled. Which? said that airlines have to offer similar refunds, even in the case of industrial action.
Holidaymakers are also urged to ensure that their trips are ATOL (Air Travel Organiser's Licence) protected. This is because it ensures customers can be reimbursed and repatriated if a company goes out of business. while you're on holiday.
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