What should I do if a strike affects my travel plans?

If a strike impacts your travel plans, first contact your airline, tour operator, or travel agent. They may offer alternative arrangements, rebooking options, or refunds. Gather all documentation, including any official announcements from the strike organisers or transport providers. Notify your travel insurer as soon as reasonably possible to understand your policy's specific requirements and next steps.

What specific expenses can I claim if my trip is disrupted by a strike?

Travel insurance typically covers reasonable additional expenses incurred due to an unforeseen strike. This can include costs for alternative transport, extra accommodation, and meals if you are delayed for a significant period (usually over 6 hours). It may also cover non-refundable prepaid deposits for tours or activities that you miss because of the disruption. Always keep all receipts and documentation related to these expenses to support your claim.

How do I know if a strike is considered a 'known event' by my insurer?

A strike is generally considered a 'known event' once it has been publicised in the mass media or by official government bodies. Insurers often use the date the strike was first reported as a cut-off point. If you purchase your policy after this date, claims related to that specific strike are usually not covered. Check your Product Disclosure Statement for your insurer's exact definition and "cut-off" times.

Does travel insurance cover strikes by different types of transport workers?

Most comprehensive travel insurance policies cover disruptions caused by industrial action affecting various transport types, including airlines, train services, ferry operators, and ground staff. The key factor is usually whether the strike causes an unforeseen delay, cancellation, or diversion of your scheduled transport. However, some policies distinguish between a 'strike' and 'civil unrest' or 'war,' which are often excluded, so refer to your policy wording to confirm coverage for specific events.

What evidence do I need to support a travel insurance claim for a strike?

To support a strike-related claim, you will typically need evidence of the strike itself, such as media reports or official announcements from the transport provider. You will also need documentation showing your original booking details, proof of purchase for prepaid expenses, and evidence of the disruption, such as cancellation notices or delay confirmations. Finally, ensure you keep all receipts for additional expenses you incurred, like new flights, accommodation, or meals.

Can I cancel my trip and claim if a future strike is announced?

If a strike is announced that significantly impacts your ability to commence your trip and it becomes a 'known event' after you bought your policy, you may be able to claim for cancellation costs. However, you are expected to mitigate your losses, meaning you should wait for official confirmation of the impact from your provider before cancelling. If you cancel too far in advance without such confirmation, your claim might be denied. Most insurers will not cover cancellations if the strike was public knowledge before you purchased your policy.

Does travel insurance cover strikes?

Travel insurance can cover flight delays or cancellations due to a strike if you bought your policy before the industrial action became a known event.
You must make a reasonable effort to avoid a claim, such as contacting your airline for a refund or rebooking, once a strike warning is issued.
Comprehensive policies typically cover additional accommodation and transport costs or non-refundable cancellation fees for pre-paid travel if an unforeseen strike occurs.

Does travel insurance cover strikes?

Travel insurance will cover costs associated with strikes or industrial action, under some circumstances. For example, 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.

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Common exclusions for travel insurance for strikes

Here are a few of the common exclusions listed by travel insurance providers that will stop you from making a claim for losses resulting from a strike or industrial action.

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.
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.
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.

Common policy wording for travel insurance for strikes

Here is a common way that an insurance provider might word their strike cancellation policy. The exact details will change from provider to provider, but this should give you some idea of how strikes and industrial action is typically covered.

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.
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.
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.

How do Finder travel insurance partners deal with strikes?

Brand	Conditions for travel insurance for strikes	Apply
Medibank	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.	Get quote
Freely	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.	Get quote
Zoom	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.	Finder Award Get quote
Fast Cover	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.	Get quote
Insure4less	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.	Get quote
Travel Insuranz	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.	Get quote
InsureandGo	InsureandGo will pay claims as follows: 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.	Get quote
Tick	Tick Travel Insurance will pay claims as follows: 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.	Finder Award Get quote
World2cover	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.	Get quote
Cover-More	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.	Get quote
Travel With Kit	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.	Get quote
Travel With Jane	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 Insurance Saver	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.	Get quote
Easy	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.	Get quote
1cover	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.	More info
Stella	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.	Get quote
Australia Post	Under the "other circumstances" section of your policy, you're covered for claims resulting from disruption of your scheduled transport because of a strike.	Get quote
Boomers	Boomers will reimburse your reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses resulting from your transport being cancelled, delayed, rescheduled or diverted because of a strike.	More info
Webjet	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.	More info
Worldcare	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

Frequently Asked Questions

If a strike impacts your travel plans, first contact your airline, tour operator, or travel agent. They may offer alternative arrangements, rebooking options, or refunds. Gather all documentation, including any official announcements from the strike organisers or transport providers. Notify your travel insurer as soon as reasonably possible to understand your policy's specific requirements and next steps.
Travel insurance typically covers reasonable additional expenses incurred due to an unforeseen strike. This can include costs for alternative transport, extra accommodation, and meals if you are delayed for a significant period (usually over 6 hours). It may also cover non-refundable prepaid deposits for tours or activities that you miss because of the disruption. Always keep all receipts and documentation related to these expenses to support your claim.
A strike is generally considered a 'known event' once it has been publicised in the mass media or by official government bodies. Insurers often use the date the strike was first reported as a cut-off point. If you purchase your policy after this date, claims related to that specific strike are usually not covered. Check your Product Disclosure Statement for your insurer's exact definition and "cut-off" times.
Most comprehensive travel insurance policies cover disruptions caused by industrial action affecting various transport types, including airlines, train services, ferry operators, and ground staff. The key factor is usually whether the strike causes an unforeseen delay, cancellation, or diversion of your scheduled transport. However, some policies distinguish between a 'strike' and 'civil unrest' or 'war,' which are often excluded, so refer to your policy wording to confirm coverage for specific events.
To support a strike-related claim, you will typically need evidence of the strike itself, such as media reports or official announcements from the transport provider. You will also need documentation showing your original booking details, proof of purchase for prepaid expenses, and evidence of the disruption, such as cancellation notices or delay confirmations. Finally, ensure you keep all receipts for additional expenses you incurred, like new flights, accommodation, or meals.
If a strike is announced that significantly impacts your ability to commence your trip and it becomes a 'known event' after you bought your policy, you may be able to claim for cancellation costs. However, you are expected to mitigate your losses, meaning you should wait for official confirmation of the impact from your provider before cancelling. If you cancel too far in advance without such confirmation, your claim might be denied. Most insurers will not cover cancellations if the strike was public knowledge before you purchased your policy.

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by

Richard Laycock

Editor

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. See full bio

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2 Responses

DavidMarch 17, 2016

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?

Finder

RichardMarch 17, 2016Finder

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

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Does travel insurance cover strikes?

In short, yes, but different travel insurance brands may cover strikes in a different way. Read on to find out how.