Press release
Four in 10 travel insurance policies do not cover travellers for strikes by airport or airline staff, Which? finds
5 min read
Jenny Ross, Which? Money Editor says: "With many airlines warning of widespread disruption this summer and Covid cases on the rise, travellers should ensure they've taken out adequate insurance to cover any losses or unexpected costs they might face. "Which? analysis of 199 policies shows that levels of cover can vary wildly in important areas like disruption caused by strike action or Covid. "We advise travellers to always check policies carefully to ensure they offer the cover that will be most appropriate to their trip, and to ensure they have cover in place from the time of booking."
NOTES TO EDITORS - To establish policy scores, Which? surveyed 71 insurance companies about 61 different areas of cover from each of their policies, in May 2022. These ratings do not examine the insurers' customer service or how much their policies cost. - Of 199 policies analysed, 120 offer protection if travellers have to cancel a trip due to strike action, 1 offers it as an optional extra, and 78 policies do not offer any coverage. - Which? is campaigning for a major overhaul of the travel industry, calling on Grant Shapps to set out a timetable for reforms to the CAA, giving it the tools and teeth to hold to account companies that break the rules and ignore the law. Find more here:
Which? Tips for ensuring your travel insurance provides the cover you need:
- Before taking out insurance, always check the policy wording to ensure you understand what it offers and any limitations.
- If there are specific reasons you're buying the cover, check these sections to make sure they align with your expectations. Some policies specify - and so limit cover to - certain causes of delay or cancellation such as strike, mechanical failure or adverse weather.
- Though airlines have to refund you the cost of a cancelled flight or reroute you and pay compensation if the flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure, additional costs incurred such as emergency accommodation and meals won't always be met by your carrier. It may therefore be worth exploring policies which can plug this gap.
- It is important to check claim limits to ensure they meet your individual requirements, as these can vary significantly. For example, in the case of cancellation due to serious delays or disruption to transport, Which? found that the average claim limit was £4110.22, with the most generous policies offering up to £15,000.
- Also check the policy's general exclusions and conditions. If anything in the policy is unclear, contact the insurer.
About Which? Which? is the UK's consumer champion, here to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone. Our research gets to the heart of consumer issues, our advice is impartial, and our rigorous product tests lead to expert recommendations. We're the independent consumer voice that influences politicians and lawmakers, investigates, holds businesses to account and makes change happen. As an organisation we're not for profit and all for making consumers more powerful. The information in this press release is for editorial use by journalists and media outlets only. Any business seeking to reproduce information in this release should contact the Which? Endorsement Scheme team at endorsementscheme@which.co.uk.