Travel Insurance for Airline Strikes: What You Need to Know

With a marked increase in airline strikes in the U.S. and globally over the past two years, travel disruptions are more of a concern than normal for travelers. Travel insurance can offer you peace of mind when you book your next trip. Travel insurance can offset the expense of a cancelled or delayed trip — if you have the right coverage. We’ll explain what’s covered and what’s not, and how to get the best airline strike travel insurance.

Airline Strikes Globally

The global airline industry has experienced an increase in contract disputes and potential strikes over the past few years. This summer, United, Alaska, Frontier, Spirit and other airlines were able to resolve their contract dispute with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and avoid disrupting thousands of travelers’ flight plans. However, Air Canada travelers were not as lucky with the airline cancelling 3,200 flights in August of this year due to a strike by flight attendants.

While airline contracts seem to have been resolved for the most part in North America, there are several disruptions for European travelers now looming. Baggage handlers and ground staff in Spain have been striking since August for increased pay and better working conditions. Unionized Italian airline crews and airport staff have called for walkouts over pay and working conditions. Flight cancellations and delays are also expected if the French air traffic controllers’ strike in early October of this year, as planned. The French air traffic controllers’ strike could have the potential to affect about a third of all European flights.

When you book your travel, it’s nearly impossible to predict if and when the next airline strike may occur. Flight cancellations and disruptions are not only distressing, but they can also prove expensive, especially when your plans require prepayment and nonrefundable costs. Travel insurance covers events that disrupt your travel plans, but does travel insurance cover airline strikes?

Does Travel Insurance Cover Airline Strikes?

Yes, travel insurance can cover airline strikes that cause the cancellation of your trip, travel delays, missed connections, and rebookings. In order for coverage to be available, the airline strike must be an unforeseen event, meaning you must purchase the insurance policy before the strike is publicly announced to qualify for reimbursement of travel expenses. You won’t be covered if the strike is public knowledge.

What Does Travel Insurance Cover During an Airline Strike?

Travel insurance covers disruptions related to common carrier strikes. Airlines, cruise lines, train operators and other transportation companies are considered common carriers. Travel disruption insurance can offer benefits when your trip is complicated by an airline strike.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption

Trip Cancellation insurance can cover you when an airline strike forces you to completely cancel or interrupt your travel. This coverage is included in comprehensive travel insurance plans. The strike must cause a complete stop to travel services at your departure or destination point. Trip Cancellation insurance can provide 100% reimbursement of your prepaid and nonrefundable travel costs, such as airfare, hotel expenses, rental cars, tours and event tickets. You can refer to your insurance plan for a complete list of what’s covered.

Travel Delay

Travel Delay insurance, or Trip Delay insurance, covers you for unexpected expenses resulting from significant delays by a common carrier, such as an airline dealing with an employee strike. A minimum delay period of between 3-12 hours is required before you can be reimbursed. Travel Delay benefits are often included in comprehensive policies along with Trip Cancellation benefits. Most travel insurance for flight delays will cover food and accommodation expenses during the delay. The best plans protect travelers for “any delay of a common carrier,” which includes airline strikes, and don’t limit coverage to only weather or mechanical breakdowns.

Missed Connection

If you can’t make a connecting flight due to an airline strike, Missed Connection insurance can reimburse you to catch up to your planned itinerary if you’re delayed at least 3 hours. This benefit is often included, along with other standard protections, in a travel insurance policy. Reimbursements can cover necessary transportation, accommodation, meals and non-refundable trip costs that are prepaid.

Rebooking Assistance

Many travel insurance providers offer 24/7 assistance services to policyholders who have encountered problems due to an airline strike. You can get help rebooking flights, hotels and transportation or locating your baggage when your travel plans are interrupted.

Eligibility requirements for travel insurance for airline strikes, along with plan benefits, vary based on the travel insurance policy you purchase. It’s important to confirm that an airline strike is covered by your policy before you purchase it.

What Travel Insurance Does Not Cover During a Strike

Here are some situations where you would not be covered by travel insurance during an airline strike:

• Cancellations or delays are caused by a known strike
• Flights were booked after a strike was announced
• Flight delays are less than 3 hours
• Common carrier strikes aren’t a covered event in the policy
• Flight cancellation is not caused by the airline strike or any other covered event

How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance for Airline Strikes

Select at least 3 travel insurance providers and look at the benefits each offers. The best flight insurance companies will offer Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption and Travel Delay benefits, as well as around-the-clock assistance services. Also, the travel insurance must list common carrier strikes, including airline strikes, as covered events in the policy.

In addition to comparing the cost of the insurance, look at coverage amounts to see how they match up to your trip costs. Reviews and ratings, including AM Best Ratings, are helpful in getting direct feedback on a company’s customer service and reimbursement process.

You may also want to consider Cancel For Any Reason travel insurance, which is an add-on that can provide the highest cancellation flexibility. It offers partial reimbursement for prepaid, non-refundable trip costs when you cancel your travel plans for reasons not covered in your Trip Cancellation Insurance.

Also, Interruption For Any Reason coverage can be purchased as an upgrade to Trip Interruption coverage. It expands the list of covered reasons for ending your trip early and offers partial reimbursement for unused trip costs that you’ve prepaid and that aren’t refundable.

Conclusion: Travel Insurance for Airline Strikes

Airline strikes, like other unforeseen events, can put even the best-made travel plans into disarray. While it’s often impossible to anticipate whether a strike will disrupt your plans, travel insurance for airline strikes is a benefit that can help you recoup travel costs or even get your trip back on track.

Written by Lisa Anthony