TRAVEL INSURANCE
Industrial Action by British Airways
- The air carrier will be responsible for making arrangements for travellers affected. People booked with BA should check position with them [0800 727 800]. We understand that customers booked between 22 December - 2 Jan 2010 can change the date of their trip free of charge. If their flight between these dates needs to be cancelled, BA will offer a full ticket refund or rebook onto a different flight.
- People wishing to change flights to a different operator should contact their tour operator/travel agent. Travel insurance policies will normally be able to be transferred to cover alternative travel arrangements.
- Additional information can be obtained from the British Airways website at: www.BritishAirways.com/strikeupdate
Fortis travel policies
The guidelines below clarify the relevant cover available under the Fortis Broker travel insurance policy.
Section 1 - Cancellation - This will cover certain events specified in the policy, such as illness of the insured policyholder. There is no cover for cancellation due to industrial action/labour dispute.
Section 2 Delay - This section provides cover in two parts:
- Firstly there is a benefit payable if the initial outward journey or the final journey home is delayed for the minimum period specified in the policy. The period of delay is the difference between the actual time of departure and the scheduled time of departure. Cover only applies if the policyholder has checked in, in accordance with the airlines instructions.
- Secondly there is cover for cancelling the holiday before leaving the UK, if the outward journey from the UK is delayed by more than twelve hours and the insured policyholder decides to abandon their trip. If British Airways were to specifically confirm in writing that an insured's flight will be delayed by more than twelve hours, we will consider claims for holiday abandonment without the requirement for the insured to have checked in at the airport.
Please Note - The above sections (other than the Delay benefit) are for irrecoverable amounts only - if costs are recoverable from the airline or a tour operator then cover under the travel insurance policy does not apply.
In addition please note cover is not available if the policy is taken out within 4 weeks of the date customer is due to leave and it is public knowledge that the journey could be delayed.
For the purposes of the BA strike, we are taking the 14 December 2009 as the date on which the strike was public knowledge.
Section 3 Missed Departure - This section provides cover for reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses if the insured person's transport is interrupted by specified causes, including industrial action, preventing them from arriving at the airport on time and missing their flight. This cover may apply if a connecting flight is missed as a result of the industrial action.
Please note: Cover under this section is only available if the industrial action is announced and begins after the insured has already left home to begin their trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: I've got a trip booked during the strike period, but I haven't yet bought any insurance cover. If I buy this now will it cover me if my flight gets delayed or cancelled?
Answer 1: No, cover is only available where the policy was purchased prior to the strike commencing and becoming public knowledge on 14 December 2009.
Question 2: I bought my insurance cover and I booked my trip before the strike was announced and I am due to travel during the strike period, am I covered if my flight gets delayed or cancelled?
Answer 2: Yes, the policy will provide cover under the delay section if the transport on which you are booked as a passenger for your outward or return journey is delayed due to industrial action as long as this was not public knowledge when the policy was bought or the trip was booked, that is before 14 December 2009. If your outward journey is delayed by more than the specified period in the policy, then cover for holiday abandonment will apply.
Question 3: I bought my insurance cover and I booked my trip before the strike was announced. I will be flying out before the strike period but I am due to return during the strike period. Am I covered if my return flight gets delayed or cancelled?
Answer 3: You will be covered under the delay section for your return flight, but will not be eligible for abandonment costs as this cover only applies to outbound trips from the United Kingdom. There is no cover under the policy for the cost of a replacement return flight but we may consider ex-gratia claims on a case by case basis, if you are unable to recover any costs for the unused element of the flight from British Airways or any other source.
Question 4: I bought my insurance cover and I booked my trip before the strike was announced. I am already on holiday and am due to return during the strike period. Am I covered if my return flight gets delayed or cancelled?
Answer 4: Yes, the policy will provide cover for alternative flights under the Missed Departure section, subject to you not being able to recover any costs for the unused element of the flight from British Airways or any other source.
Question 5: I have an annual multi-trip policy which will renew during the strike period and I will be on holiday at this time. Am I covered if my return flight gets delayed or cancelled?
Answer 5: Yes, we will continue cover as outlined in this statement for trips booked prior to the strike being announced as long as policy cover is continuous.