You can be covered by travel insurance if your flight is delayed or cancelled due to a strike, but cover will depend on when you purchased your travel insurance. If you bought your policy after an industrial strike becomes a 'known event', it's unlikely that your insurer will cover you for associated costs. Here is an example of how a PDS explains a known event;
Losses, liability or expenses are not covered if you did not take all necessary precautions to avoid a claim after there was a warning in the mass media of a strike...
This is one of the reasons why getting travel insurance earlier rather than later is a good idea.
How do Finder travel insurance partners deal with strikes?
Additional expenses. We will pay Your reasonable Additional accommodation expenses (room rate only) and Additional transport expenses, at the same accommodation standard and fare class as originally booked, incurred on the Journey due to an unforeseeable circumstance outside Your control and resulting from: disruption of Your scheduled transport because of riot, strike or civil commotion occurring after the commencement of the Journey provided You act reasonably in avoiding Additional costs.
Additional expenses. We will pay Your reasonable Additional accommodation (room rate only) and Additional transport expenses, at the same fare class and accommodation standard as originally booked, incurred on the Journey due to an unforeseeable circumstance outside Your control and resulting from: disruption of Your scheduled transport because of riot, strike or civil commotion occurring after the commencement of the Journey provided You act reasonably in avoiding Additional costs.
Additional expenses. We will pay Your reasonable Additional accommodation (room rate only) and Additional transport expenses, at the same fare class and accommodation standard as originally booked, incurred on the Journey due to an unforeseeable circumstance outside Your control and resulting from: disruption of Your scheduled transport because of riot, strike or civil commotion occurring after the commencement of the Journey provided You act reasonably in avoiding Additional costs.
You will be covered for cancellation fees and lost deposits for pre-paid travel if your trip is impacted by a strike. You will also be reimbursed any reasonable expenses you incurred.
You will not be covered under any section of the policy if you did not follow advice in the mass media or any government or other official body’s warning of a strike.
Travel delay and abandonment of trip. You are covered in the event that the departure of the carrier with which you have arranged to travel is delayed by at least twelve (12) hours due to strike.
Missed departure/connection. You are covered for reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses if a disruption to your trip arises because of a strike.
Missed departure/connection. You are covered for reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses if a disruption to your Trip arises because of a strike.
You will not be covered under any section of the policy if the mass media has indicated the existence or potential existence of circumstances that may affect your travel including strike or industrial action.
Additional expenses. The additional expenses if the cancellation, delay or diversion of your scheduled transport is caused by a strike and you are unable to have your losses reimbursed by someone else.
Travel delay expenses. Travel delay expenses if during you trip, your final international (internal if Domestic Cover) departure from or returning to Australia by aircraft or sea vessel, is delayed due to a strike.
You will not have any cover under any section if the claim arises from a strike or industrial action that was public knowledge when you booked your trip.
Additional expenses. The additional expenses if the cancellation, delay or diversion of your scheduled transport is caused by a strike and you are unable to have your losses reimbursed by someone else.
Travel delay expenses. Travel delay expenses sections of its policies if during your trip, your final international (internal if Domestic Cover) departure from or returning to Australia by aircraft or sea vessel, is delayed due to a strike.
You will not have any cover under any section if the claim arises from a strike or industrial action that were public knowledge when you booked your trip.
Emergency Expenses. Covers your trip if disrupted because of cancellation, delay or diversion of your scheduled transport caused by power failure, riot, strike or civil commotion but only those expenses you cannot claim from someone else.
Additional Expenses. We will pay Your reasonable Additional accommodation expenses (room rate only) and Additional transport expenses, at the same accommodation standard and fare class as originally booked, incurred on the Journey due to an unforeseeable circumstance outside Your control and resulting from: disruption of Your scheduled transport because of riot, strike or civil commotion occurring after the commencement of the Journey provided you act reasonably in avoiding Additional costs.
Travel delay expenses. You are covered if your pre-paid scheduled transport is delayed, cancelled or rescheduled as a result of poor weather, strike, Industrial action and/or mechanical breakdown.
You will not be covered under any section of the policy if you did not follow advice from a government or other official body’s warning in the mass media of a strike.
Travel delay expenses. You are covered if your pre-paid scheduled transport is delayed, cancelled or rescheduled as a result of poor weather, strike, Industrial action and/or mechanical breakdown.
You will not be covered under any section of the policy if you did not follow advice from a government or other official body’s warning in the mass media of a strike.
You will be covered for cancellation and additional accommodation and transportation expenses that are the result of a strike.
You will not be covered under any section of the policy if you did not follow advice in the mass media or any government or other official body’s warning of a strike.
Additional Expenses. We will pay Your reasonable Additional accommodation expenses (room rate only) and Additional transport expenses, at the same accommodation standard and fare class as originally booked, incurred on the Journey due to an unforeseeable circumstance outside Your control and resulting from: disruption of Your scheduled transport because of riot, strike or civil commotion occurring after the commencement of the Journey provided you act reasonably in avoiding Additional costs.
1Cover will pay for your additional accommodation and travel expenses on all levels of cover (other than essential and basics) for your reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses if a disruption to your journey arises from your scheduled or connecting transport is cancelled, delayed, shortened or diverted due to a strike.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption. Cancellation or restriction by the carrier of pre-paid scheduled public transport services, caused by severe weather, natural disaster, riot, strike or civil commotion.
Under the "other circumstances" section of your policy, you're covered for claims resulting from disruption of your scheduled transport because of a strike.
Boomers will reimburse your reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses resulting from your transport being cancelled, delayed, rescheduled or diverted because of a strike.
Webjet will reimburse your reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses (room rate only) if a disruption to your journey arises from your scheduled or connecting transport is cancelled, delayed, rescheduled or diverted because of a strike.
You will be covered for cancellation fees and lost deposits for pre-paid travel if your trip is impacted by a strike. You will also be reimbursed any reasonable expenses you incurred.
You will not be covered under any section of the policy if you did not follow advice in the mass media or any government or other official body’s warning of a strike.
Note: This information was last updated August 2022
What does cancellation insurance normally cover?
If your trip is affected by a strike, you'll most likely need to claim your expenses under the cancellation and amendment benefits if you're eligible. Cancellation and amendment benefits cover a number of events and situations that result in you having to cancel, reschedule or amend your holiday plans depending on whether or not your policy covers cancellation. Below are some common questions we get asked:
What happens if my passport is stolen overseas? If your passport or other travel documents are stolen, your policy will generally cover the cost of replacing them. You will need to provide your insurer with supporting evidence such as a police report.
Am I covered if have an accident on the way to the airport? Yes, generally you will be covered if you have an accident means you're unable to make a prebooked flight. You will need to provide your evidence of the accident.
What happens to my prepaid accommodation expenses if my trip is cancelled? If an insured event such as adverse weather conditions results in you having to cancel your prepaid accommodation, your policy should reimburse you up to the policy limit.
What happens if I get injured overseas? If during your trip you are forced to cut your trip short due to an illness or injury, your policy will provide you with a benefit for any prepaid expenses you will not be using up to the policy limit.
If I paid with my frequent flyer points and have to cancel my trip, will my insurer cover me? Yes, your travel insurer will generally reimburse you for your lost frequent flyer points as long as you are not able to recover your loss via any other means.
When might I be covered?
I'm too sick to travel, is that covered? It will depend on when you took out your policy. If you are unable to travel due to a pre-existing condition that you knew about prior to taking out your policy, you will not have cover.
Am I covered if I have to cancel my trip due to a death in the family? Depending on your policy you will have cover for your return trip to Australia and for any unused portions of your journey. However, there are various conditions that apply including whether or not the death was the result of a pre-existing condition and the age of the deceased.
When won't I be covered?
Am I covered if my flight is cancelled for any other reason than strike or weather? No, this is a common misconception about cancellation cover. It is up to the airline to reimburse your losses for the actual missed flight.
My employer cancelled my leave and I have to cancel my trip, am I covered? No, you will not have cover in this situation.
I was late to the airport and missed my flight, am I covered? No, if you didn't leave enough time to get to the airport your insurer won't pay out your claim. This also goes for the flow on affect if you incur roll-on affects such as missed accommodation due to your missed flight.
I've changed my mind and I don't want to go any more, can I make a claim? Unfortunately, the only type of policy that would cover you in the event is "cancellation for any reason" travel insurance, which is not offered in Australia.
Richard Laycock is Finder’s insights editor after spending the last five years writing and editing articles about insurance. His musings can be found across the web including on MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism and has a Tier 1 Certification in General Advice for Life Insurance.
We typically use a bank credit card to be eligible for their card insurance which lists cover for overseas and interstate travel, domestic hotel burglary, transport accident, extended warranty, purchase protection and price protection. The rules state that cover is under a Master Policy issued by Chubb.
Thanks for your question. finder.com.au is a comparison service and we are not permitted to provide our users with personalised financial advice or make specific product recommendations. Not knowing the bank that policy was issued through I can’t speak to how and when it would cover strikes but generally if the strike is planned and known in the media, you won’t be covered for costs associated with cancellation etc.
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We typically use a bank credit card to be eligible for their card insurance which lists cover for overseas and interstate travel, domestic hotel burglary, transport accident, extended warranty, purchase protection and price protection. The rules state that cover is under a Master Policy issued by Chubb.
Are we in safe hands here please?
Hi David,
Thanks for your question. finder.com.au is a comparison service and we are not permitted to provide our users with personalised financial advice or make specific product recommendations. Not knowing the bank that policy was issued through I can’t speak to how and when it would cover strikes but generally if the strike is planned and known in the media, you won’t be covered for costs associated with cancellation etc.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard