Summer of strikes: Travel insurance and delays due to strike action

On-going strike action is currently affecting flights to Spain and Portugal, causing delays and cancellations.

With austerity measures continuing to hit areas of the Eurozone, including some of our best loved summer holiday destinations, it looks like we could be set for another summer of strikes causing disruption to our well-earned holidays

The continued risk of strike action is a very good reason to buy travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday. Travel insurance can provide cover for flight delays caused by strike action so long as you booked your holiday and bought your insurance before a strike announced.

Your rights if your flight is delayed

If your flight is delayed or cancelled due to strike action your first point of call should be your airline or tour operator.

You have a contract with them to get you to certain destination at a certain time, if they are unable to do this they are legally required to look after you. With a flight delay this takes the form of providing refreshments and overnight accommodation if necessary. In the case of a flight cancellation, they must offer you an alternative flight or a full refund.

Travel insurance can also help if your flight is delayed by strike action

In addition to your rights with your airline, travel insurance can also help if your flight is delayed by strike action, so long as you booked your holiday and bought your travel insurance before the strike dates were announced.

Travel insurance provides cover for flight delays due to strike action under the travel delay section of the policy.

Travel delay is covered as standard on all insurewithease.com travel insurance policies.

The travel delay section of your travel insurance policy pays you a fixed amount for every 12 hours that you are delayed. It is designed to help you with additional expenses, such as food and drink, whilst you are waiting at the airport.

Travel insurance also gives you the option to ‘abandon' the holiday and make a claim to recoup the cost if you are delayed by more than 24 hours.This gives you the freedom to choose not to continue with your trip at that time if you feel the flight delay will eat into your holiday time too much. You can make a claim on your travel insurance to recoup the cost, up to the limit stated in the terms and conditions, then use the money to rebook your holiday for another time.

In order to make a claim under the travel delay section of your travel insurance policy you must have checked in at the airport, or checked in online and travelled to the airport with the intention of travelling as planned. You must also obtain a letter from your airline stating the length and reason for the delay.

Get a quote for travel insurance for your next holiday.

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