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Will travel insurance cover strikes?

Although a rare occurrence, in some cases industrial action at airports or with airlines can spoil a holiday of a lifetime. See in what circumstances travel insurance can protect you and what other support is available if your flight is cancelled or delayed.

How strikes impact travellers

Strike action for travellers is an added stress and frustration when planning our trips either within the UK or if we’re heading abroad. According to the Office for National Statistics nearly 20% of people reported disruption to their travel plans due to strike action on Britain’s railways in 2022. Whilst this was mainly people looking to get to work, it would have also affected those using trains to head on holiday or to get to airports for further afield adventures.

It's not just rail strikes either, UK travellers have - over the course of the past few years – been affected by cabin crew, air traffic control, baggage handlers, border force, pilots and ferry staff plan strike action causing delays at the UK’s seaports and airports.

Whilst the airport operators tell us they are better prepared to handle strike action, there will always likely be some disruption when one or more critical elements of the travel ecosystem is missing or have less capacity.

In the event that you are affected by strike action on your next journey, our guide will walk you through the support you should get from your airline, travel operator and your travel insurance provider.

Does travel insurance cover airline strikes?

Buying a travel insurance policy when you book your flights is often beneficial because if a strike is called and your flight is cancelled then you may well be covered. This protection does not only relate to the flights themselves but potentially other elements of the holiday including hotel stays and transfers.

Policies may also provide cover if you flights are delayed or missed due to transport issues, this could include missed connections. So, if disruption is not caused directly by industrial action but other factors relating to strikes then you may still be able to claim.

Importantly, travel insurance is there to protect you against unforeseen events and therefore you will not be covered if you purchase your policy after the strike has been announced.

Will I get compensation from the airline due to a strike?

The airline may be able to provide you compensation but it depends upon when the strikes are called. If you have more than two weeks’ notice then the airline can offer you a replacement flight similar to your original or you could ask for a refund, but there’ll be no additional compensation beyond this.

If you are notified less than 2 weeks before you fly – or if it affects you during your trip then under EU (and now UK law) you are entitled to additional assistance such as accommodation and food costs from the airline.

Beware that if strikes are called by airline workers (cabin crew or pilots employed by the airline) then you should be covered, however if strikes affect other critical staff but not employed by the airline (baggage handlers or air traffic controllers for example) then this may be deemed as extraordinary circumstances and may not be eligible for a pay out from the airline.

Which destinations are covered by the airline in the event of strike action?

Because the legalities around this stem from the EU, the coverage mainly relates to destinations in the EU and EU airlines. Since Brexit this protection has also been continued in the UK for UK airlines and destinations, but it may not cover travelling on non-UK or EU airlines to destinations outside of Europe. Be sure to check with your airline and the destination you're traveling to if you're concerned about strike action affecting your trip.

What should I do if my flight is affected by a strike?

The first thing to do is contact your travel agent, tour operator or airline – there is usually information available on their websites but if in doubt give them a call.

If you have booked with a tour operator then the ATOL protection scheme is there to offer some comfort and provide either:

Alternative travel to your destination
An option to travel on the same holiday at a different date
A full refund

Depending upon where you are travelling to and who you are flying with you may be eligible for compensation under EU law (which has been continued post the UK leaving the EU). Enabling you to seek a full refund if your flight is cancelled because of strike action.

For related costs such as hotels, car hire, excursions, transfers and alike, it is worth contacting the provider to see what you may be eligible for. Depending upon what, if any, compensation is given you may be able to go through your travel insurance policy to recover costs for these.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my flight is delayed for another reason?

Delays can happen for all sorts of reasons not necessarily due to strikes. This could be in the event of technical faults, overbooking, weather conditions, staff illness to name but a few. In order to understand if you are eligible for compensation then you must have been either:

Departing from the UK
Arriving in the UK with a UK or EU airline
Arriving in the EU with a UK airline

If you satisfy the criteria above then the compensation that you are entitled to will depend upon:

How long the delay was
How far you were due to travel in kilometers

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3 hours or more

Less than 1,500km

£220

3 hours or more

1,500km - 3,500km

£350

4 hours or more

More than 3,500km

£520

If you are delayed for 5 hours or more then you can opt to refuse boarding and instead request a full refund which the airline must provide. For more information please visit Citizens Advice.

Importantly, flight delay and cancellation compensation should not be considered as a replacement for travel insurance. The UK The UK flight delay compensation scheme cheme scheme cheme is dependent on your circumstances (where and who you travel with) and the compensation value is unlikely to cover all the costs you incur.

Does compensation apply to connecting flights?

Maybe. If your first flight is delayed and your connecting flight is with the same airline then you should be eligible for compensation or a full refund on the connecting flight as well.

If you are connecting to a different airline, then you will need to work out whether you are eligible for compensation through the airline by going through the steps outlined above.

If your connecting flight is the one that is delayed then you may be eligible for repatriation if the delay is more than 5 hours. Repatriation would be a flight back to the original departure airport.

Should I cancel my flight if there is a threat of a strike?

This is usually not recommended, if you choose to cancel due to potential strike action then you will be unlikely to receive a refund from either the tour operator, airline, travel provider or through your travel insurance policy.

Strikes can often be called off or a resolution found quite quickly in some cases which means that a normal schedule can be run. Or in other cases a limited service may still operate which could include your journey.

I have to travel, should I book an alternative flight asap?

If you have to travel try to hold off booking an alternative flight until you are 100% sure that your original flight is not operating or that you will be eligible for a refund for it.

If you choose to book another flight before the strike is confirmed to affect your booking then you will be unlikely to receive any compensation and instead you’ll have paid twice for the same trip.

How has Brexit affected things?

Despite the UK’s departure from the EU, the laws governing the flight cancellations and responsibilities that airlines have remain the same as before Brexit.

You will still be able to claim compensation if your flight was between the UK and the EU regardless of which airline you fly with. You will also be eligible for compensation for any flight route if you are flying with a UK- based airline (British Airways for example).

The length of time you are delayed and how far you were travelling will impact the amount of compensation you receive.

How long do airline strikes last?

Strikes tend to be rare and usually last no more than a few days at a time. They may spread through the year depending on if and how long it takes to find a resolution to the industrial action.

What is travel disruption cover?

An Allianz Assistance travel insurance policy could allow you to reclaim holiday cancellation costs if your flight is delayed for more than 24 hours under the delayed departure section of cover.

We could also assist with missed departure cover which could help if you miss your flight due to transport not running as scheduled or if the vehicle you are travelling in breaks down.

Our Single Trip and Annual Trip policies come with both delayed departure and missed departure cover as standard on bronze, silver and gold cover levels.

For more information please see our policy documents.

Please note that terms, conditions and exclusions apply.

When should you get covered to be more fully protected if there’s a strike?

We would recommend that you get covered as close to the point of purchasing your trip as possible. This is because whilst your trip is some time in the future the cancellation cover is in force from the date you purchase your policy. This means that should you be forced to cancel your trip you may still be covered and could reclaim the costs of some or all of your trip.

How to ensure you have the right cover

Does your bank or credit card company provide cover?

Many bank accounts and credit cards come with some level of travel insurance cover. While some may be comprehensive, they may not cover you for everything you have planned whilst you’re away, particularly if you have adventurous plans or unusual excursions booked. For example, you might not be covered for emergency medical costs you could incur if you have na accident or need medical treatment.

Make sure you look into the travel insurance policy that you have before every trip, to make sure it’s suitable for you and your plans.

Purchasing a holiday using a credit card means you are often protected by Consumer Protection cover. In most cases, it allows you to get your money returned to you if your provider defaults and you cannot travel.

Are you covered by ABTA or ATOL?

If you have booked a holiday through a tour operator or travel agent, it may be worth checking if you are covered by ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) or ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s License). This type of cover means that your package holiday is protected if, for example, the travel company providing your holiday arrangements or the travel agent themselves fail financially or close down.

Your travel agents will be able to tell you if your holiday is ABTA or ATOL protected. Alternatively, use the links provided to check your cover at home.

What is an EHIC or GHIC and what can it offer you?

Having a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) will entitle you to the government-provided healthcare of the European Union country you are visiting and lowering the medical expenses you would normally expect to pay.

Although this is a good addition to take on holiday, a European Health Insurance Card or Global Health Insurance Card should not be seen as a replacement for travel insurance which could provide you with further protection and peace of mind whilst you are abroad. Our travel insurance policies can protect you against many unforeseen eventualities.

Guide to GHIC cards

Is emergency medical treatment covered?

Depending on the policy and level of cover you choose, your travel insurance may cover you for emergency medical expenses if you fall ill or have an accident while on holiday and require medical treatment. Your insurance policy can also help with any associated expenses or unexpected costs, and repatriation should you need help returning home.

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Understanding our claims process

Policy documents

You'll need your policy number to submit your claim to us. This is available in your certificate of insurance which is sent to you when you take out cover.

It's a good idea to take your policy information with you on your trip so you can provide us with all the necessary details in order for us to help.

Claims assessment

Once we receive your claim, it'll be assessed by our experienced team.

To speed up the assessment of your claim please make sure to include all applicable information and evidence such as receipts, booking confirmations, hotel reservations and crime reference numbers. If you fail to provide all the necessary information this will cause a delay in processing your claim.

Your claims outcome

Once our team has assessed your claim we'll be in touch with you via your preferred contact method to confirm the outcome and inform you of any next steps.