BA Strikes March 2010 and Travel Insurance Claims

The first wave of British Airways strikes is almost over (March 20-22).  According to the BA website, if you have flights booked between March 23-26 you should check the status before going to the airport. 

At the time of writing, BA also states on its website (FAQ section) that flights from March 27-30/31 (the next scheduled strike dates) are to operate normally, but it would probably be smart to keep an eye on the latest news and check before travelling to the airport. 

Not all flights are affected by the strikes, and some have been reinstated due to staff unexpectedly returning to work.  Passengers should check with BA, or their tour operator or travel agent for updates.  In most cases, customers affected by the strikes have the option to reschedule flights or obtain a refund from BA.  For updated information visit the BA website – click here

Flights operated by BA franchise, codeshare and alliance partners are operating to schedule, to our knowledge, at the time of writing, including flights from London City Airport and all longhaul flights in and out of Gatwick.

For our travel insurance customers, cover will largely depend on whether their flight/holiday was booked, and travel insurance purchased, prior to announcement of the strike action - on 12 March 2010.  Customers should refer to their individual policies to check the terms and conditions as they vary between types of policies.  In general, however:

Extension of Cover - The good news first!  Those customers booked to return home from their trip whose flight is affected by strikes will be entitled to an automatic extension of their travel insurance – free of charge – for up to 72 hours, or the period stated in the policy. 

Baggage & Baggage Delay  Travel insurance cover will normally apply for any baggage lost or misplaced during transit throughout the course of a strike – subject to the individual terms and conditions of cover.

Cancellation/curtailment cover does not extend to those who wish to cancel their holiday or travel plans due to a disinclination to travel because of the strikes. 

Travel Delay/Travel Abandonment  Does not apply when the affected flight has been cancelled before the booked time of departure.  See the policy for full details.

Missed departure  Cover is not applicable under this section if a flight is cancelled and the affected passengers are booked on an alternative flight.

Scheduled Airline Failure  Cover due to strikes is not applicable under this section.

Trip Interruption/Disruption and Connecting Flight Cover may apply in some instances, but check the policy for more details.

We cannot cover all aspects of claims here as terms and conditions vary between the types of policy purchased.   If in any doubt, or clarification is needed, please do not hesitate to call us and ask.

Safe travels!  The TIA Team

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