Passengers may be left out of pocket by British Airways strike

As British Airways' (www.ba.com) cabin crew return to the ballot box this week, passengers are being warned that they might not be covered by their travel insurance if the airline goes on strike and their flights are cancelled.

Anyone who had already booked flights and bought travel insurance before a new strike ballot was announced will probably be able to claim a refund for their out of pocket expenses, such as unused accommodation and car hire, if their flight is cancelled.

But anyone who bought travel insurance or booked a BA flight after the cabin crew announced plans for a second strike ballot might not be covered as they will have booked knowing there was a risk their flight might be cancelled.

Holidaymakers who have bought package holidays should be offered refunds or alternative holidays by their tour operator.

The results of the ballot will be announced on February 22 and, if cabin crew have voted in favour of industrial action, strikes are likely to take place after March 1.

However, the cabin crew union Unite has already promised that there will not be any industrial action over the busy Easter holiday period.

Unite alienated many British Airways' passengers when it announced a strike over the 12 days of Christmas, which would have wrecked the holidays for tens of thousands of people.

That strike was blocked by a High Court judge who ruled that the ballot was illegal because the airline had allowed crew who had already accepted redundancy to vote.

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