Travel Insurance - what will they cover for strikes?

seamus

So with the AL strike action going on, I'm going to buy travel insurance for a wedding trip I've to make over the August bank holiday.

My expectation is that if AL decide to strike and my flights are cancelled, that my insurance will cover the cost of rebooking the flights with a different carrier. Right?

Or will they simply cover any extra accommodation costs while I wait for AL to reschedule? If my outgoing flight is cancelled, I may as well not go, and we can't really afford (family-wise) to hang around for 2 or 3 days if the homeward flight is cancelled.

None of the insurers seem to give any clear information on exactly what their cover offers.

Yamanoto

seamus wrote: »

None of the insurers seem to give any clear information on exactly what their cover offers.

Looks like Multitrip offer levels of cover which may be of use to you.

http://blog.multitrip.com/advice-travel-insurance/

With the announcement in recent days that Aer Lingus plan to strike on May 30th, Multitrip.com are reminding people to be aware of what they are covered for, should strike action affect their travel plans through delay or cancellation.

The threatened strike action by Aer Lingus is yet another reminder to holiday makers that strike action can occur at any time, and without much warning, which is why it is important to check what cover is provided under your travel policy in the event of a strike.

Many policies exclude cover for strike action and deem it the responsibility of the airlines to provide a refund to the customer for a cancelled flight or provide an option to travel on a different date.

Multitrip.com, Irelands favourite Travel Insurance, has unique cover for strike action under their ‘Premier and Premier Plus Cover’ levels, which will cover pre-paid accommodation costs should you be unable to travel out to your destination due to strike or industrial action. ‘Travel Delay Cover’ is provided should you incur a delay of 12 hours or more. It provides additional compensation to pay for food and drink expenses, provided cover is purchased before strike action is announced.

For future strikes Multitrip.com also provides an additional option for increased cover under their ‘Travel Disruption’ section for extended cover under Delayed Departure, Missed Departure and Accommodation sections, should your travel flight be cancelled or delayed. Travel Disruption will provide cover in the event of strike action with cover provided as follows:

If your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than 12 hours it covers additional accommodation and travel costs up to €1,000.

If your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than 12 hours then you can claim back up to €1,000 for irrecoverable unused travel and accommodation costs should you cancel.

Claim back up to €1,000 for accommodation if you have to be moved from your current location or cut your trip short because of flood, earthquake, volcanic eruption etc.

Covers cancellation or curtailment charges should the Foreign & Common wealth office or World Health Organisation advise against travel the country or specific are you are travelling to.

Gives you control of the situation and the added security that you have sufficient cover should an airline cancel, delay or re direct your flight after take-off.

Ciaran Mulligan, Joint Managing Director, says, “With the threat of the Aer Lingus strike looming, it is important that customers are aware of what they are covered for in the event of strike action. We are pleased to have this unique optional cover of ‘Travel Disruption’ available for unexpected costs incurred in making new arrangements due to strike action in addition to our Strike Cover.”