Four out of 10 travel insurance policies offer no protection for air travelers if their holiday is canceled due to a strike. Which ones? he warned.
While airlines are required by law to reimburse the cost of a canceled flight, some travelers may lose money spent on hotels and other expenses.
A consumer group is urging people to look carefully at their policies ahead of expected summer disruptions.
The holiday package covers you in full in case of cancellation of any part of the trip.
which one? said that travelers who make separate arrangements for flights, accommodation, car hire and the like should always purchase appropriate travel insurance when booking.
If your flight is cancelled, customers are entitled to a full refund or an alternative flight. Many hotels also offer penalty-free cancellation policies.
However, many travelers could be in need of a travel insurance claim if their holiday is disrupted by a flight cancellation.
which one? evaluated 199 policies offered by 71 providers and found that 120 offered cover if travelers had to cancel their trip due to a strike.
Of the remainder, 78 did not provide cover for strike cancellations, while one policy had an optional extra.
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The consumer group said there were also big differences between policies for holidays affected by Covid.
Jenny Ross, Money Editor at Which?, said: “With many airlines warning of widespread disruption this summer and increasing cases of Covid, travelers should ensure they have adequate insurance to cover any losses or unexpected costs that may arise could face.
“Travellers are advised to always check policies carefully to ensure they have the cover most suitable for their trip and to ensure they have cover available from the time of booking.”
Can you get compensation if your flight is cancelled?
Can you get compensation if your flight is cancelled?
If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund or an alternative flight. This may interest you : Fourth of July Trip: Flight Cancellations, Delays Persist Before Holiday Weekend.
“It doesn’t have to be a different flight on the same carrier – it can be an alternative if it flies on the same day,” says Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership.
If you and the airline cannot agree on a new flight, they will refund your money.
If the flight was canceled with 14 days’ notice or less, you may also be entitled to compensation – but only if the airline is at fault.
“If it’s a direct result of the airline, you’re entitled to compensation, but if it’s the airport, your compensation doesn’t apply,” says Ms Lo Bue-Said.
Cancellation plan
Last month, hundreds of British Airways workers at Heathrow Airport voted to strike over pay. To see also : The best stewardess tips to avoid the worst headaches during the summer.
As well as the strikes, many companies have struggled to recruit enough new staff to cope with a resurgence in travel demand following the easing of Covid rules.
Airlines are expected to announce a raft of UK summer flight cancellations this week to minimize disruption to the peak holiday season.
The government’s “amnesty” of airport slot rules runs until Friday, allowing airlines to change schedules without facing potential fines.
Gatwick has already announced that it will reduce the number of flights during the summer. Heathrow has so far announced no similar plans, although it ordered the cancellation of 30 flights last week, saying it was expecting more passengers than it could handle.
Manchester Airport has warned it will not be able to return to pre-pandemic standards until the autumn.
On Monday, EasyJet announced that its chief operating officer, Peter Bellew, had resigned following a series of flight cancellations and disruptions at the airline in recent weeks.
