Does my Travel Insurance cover industrial strikes?

Millions of people are finally looking forward to a long-awaited and much-deserved holiday this summer, after two years of disruption due to Covid.

Unfortunately, staff shortages have led to delays and cancellations, and now there is the threat of strike action too, leaving many people querying what level of protection they have from Travel Insurance.

Travel Insurance is very important; it can act as a safety net should something not go to plan, for example if you need to cancel your trip*, need medical treatment abroad, or if your luggage is lost, stolen or damaged.

However, it’s important to remember that Travel Insurance is there to protect you against the unforeseen. With regards to strike action, your policy may offer some protection, depending on when you bought your policy.

For example, if you know there is strike action planned, and buy a Travel Insurance policy today, it is unlikely to provide cover, as this would be classed as a “known event”. However, if you purchased your policy before it became a known event, or you have an annual policy, you may be covered.

Every Travel Insurance policy is likely to have different terms too, so always check what the Policy Wording says. If you have already taken out your Travel Insurance with us, you can access your policy documents via your online account.

If you arranged your Travel Insurance before strike or industrial action was announced and that there was no reasonable expectation that the trip would be affected, you may be able to claim under your Travel Insurance for:

• Cancellation & Abandonment
• Missed departure and Travel Delay
• Travel Delay (outward Journey)
• Cruise Cover – Missed port departures, connecting flights and itinerary changes.

You can only claim under one section of your policy and not multiple. Unfortunately, if you buy Travel Insurance or book a holiday now, you will not be covered by your Travel Insurance as there is no longer a reasonable exception that the trip will be affected. 

It is also worthwhile noting that:

“Anyone who has their holiday cancelled by a package tour operator is entitled to a refund by law. 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?, 2022)

Similarly, if you purchased your holiday on a credit card, your bank 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.

Airlines are not obliged to pay you compensation, if a third-party strike such as air traffic control or airport staff, cause your flight to be delayed.