European Travel Supplier Strikes
European Travel Supplier Strikes – Provider Position Statements
Squaremouth’s travel insurance providers share their position statements explaining their coverage stance for the ongoing travel strikes across Europe.
Generali Global Assistance
Once a strike is announced it would be considered a foreseeable event. The policy is unable to provide coverage for foreseeable events that occur prior to coverage going into effect. In all cases, the policyholder would need to file a claim to get a final determination on coverage.
IMG
Strike means a labor disagreement resulting in a stoppage of work which: (a) is unannounced and unpublished at time this policy is purchased; (b) is organized, and legally sanctioned by a labor union or other organized association of workers, in a trade or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests; and (c) interferes with the normal departure and arrival of a Common Carrier.
An unannounced Strike resulting in complete cessation of travel services for at least six (6) consecutive hours of the Common Carrier on which You or Your Traveling Companion are scheduled to travel which prevents You from reaching Your Scheduled Destination or Return Destination.
Position Statement for Crum & Forster iTI policies:
In regard to the travel supplier strikes in the UK, many of International Medical Group’s (IMG) iTravelInsured plans provide coverage for a “Strike” under the Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, and Trip Delay benefits as long as coverage was purchased prior to the event being announced. For this situation, each strike or event is considered separate.
Please refer to your plan documents and official policy wording for complete terms and conditions as benefits, conditions of coverage, and definitions may vary by plan and state. You may also call IMG at +1 (317) 655-4500 for additional questions.
Insurance benefits contained within the iTravelInsured plans described above are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company. C&F and Crum & Forster are registered trademarks of United State Fire Insurance Company. The Crum & Forster group of companies is rated A (Excellent) by AM Best Company 2022.
Position Statement for SiriusPoint America iTI policies:
In regard to the travel supplier strikes in the UK, many of International Medical Group’s (IMG) iTravelInsured plans provide coverage for a “Strike” under the Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, and Travel Delay benefits as long as travel arrangements were purchased prior to the event being announced. For this situation, each strike or event is considered separate.
Please refer to your plan documents and official policy wording for complete terms and conditions as benefits, conditions of coverage, and definitions may vary by plan and state. You may also call IMG at +1 (317) 655-4500 for additional questions.
The insurance benefits described above are underwritten by SiriusPoint America Insurance Company (rated A- (Excellent) by AM Best 2021). Coverages are subject to the terms, limitations, and exclusions in the insurance policy.
Seven Corners
On our RoundTrip policies, the following benefits include strike as a covered unforeseen reason:
- Trip Cancellation (covered reason # 8)
- Trip Interruption (covered reason #6)
- Trip Delay (covered reason #5)
- Missed Connection (covered reason #3)
The policy defines unforeseen as follows:
Unforeseen means not known, anticipated or reasonably expected, and occurring after the effective date of the benefit under which the claim is being made.
Additionally, strike is defined as follows:
Strike means a labor disagreement resulting in a stoppage of work which:
a. is unannounced and unpublished at time this policy is purchased;
b. is organized, and legally sanctioned by a labor union or other organized association of workers, in a trade or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests; and
c. interferes with the normal departure and arrival of a Common Carrier.
So if a strike was already underway, or was publicized as likely to occur before the effective date, it would not be considered unforeseen, and therefore not a triggering event under the above benefits. If it occurs after the effective date, a member could have an eligible claim for a cancellation, interruption, delay or missed connection.
TravelSafe
Each strike or event is considered separate. So long as it has not been announced and coverage is purchased prior to specific event, it is considered covered (subject to all terms and conditions).
Trawick International
Strike means any unannounced labor disagreement that interferes with the normal departure and arrival of a Common Carrier
If a policy is purchased prior to an announcement, coverage is in force. Each new announcement is a new event.
If coverage is purchased prior to announcement of an event, then coverage is available subject to terms and conditions. In this example where strikes are announced weekly, coverage will apply as long as the policy is purchased prior to the strike that impacts the traveler’s trip.
WorldTrips
The rail strikes in the UK are considered ongoing, and therefore foreseeable, and thus are not eligible perils for trip cancellation or interruption.