British Airways pilots plan to strike
Important:
Travel insurance rules continue to change as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. We’re working hard to keep up and make sure our guides are up to date, however some information may not be accurate during the pandemic. It’s even more important to double-check all details that matter to you before taking out cover. Please know that some policies may not be available through Finder at this time. Here are some helpful tips:- If you're buying a policy today, it's unlikely that you'll be covered for any coronavirus-related claims
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Just remember, you won't be covered for any pandemic related claims if you do take out domestic travel insurance.
Strikes to take place on three separate occasions throughout September.
A dispute over wages involving pilots from the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA), will see British Airways flights grounded on three separate days this September. BALPA members will strike on 9, 10 and 27 September 2019.
British Airways has been busy contacting affected customers advising those whose flights are cancelled that they can "request a full refund, or rebook their flight to another date in the next 355 days". While the strikes will only occur on 9, 10 and 27 September 2019, some customers travelling on days either side of the strike may also see their flights cancelled.
If you happened to book your accommodation directly through British Airways and you've been affected by the strikes, you will be entitled to a refund. However, if you booked your hotel or Airbnb separately, you'll need to check if you're covered by your travel insurance.
Does travel insurance cover strikes?
If you have bought travel insurance and your policy covers you for benefits like "cancellation fees and lost deposits", then you may be able to lodge a claim if you've been affected by an airport strike. However, while your policy may provide you with cover, it may also have a caveat about when you would have needed to have booked your travel. Most policies will exclude you from being able to claim for something that is a "known event".
A known event is any event that would disrupt your travel that has been covered by the media and as such, the average person should have been aware of the risks at the time of booking a trip. At the time of writing this, no Australian travel insurance brand has issued a cut-off date for cover for this event.
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