How travel insurance coverage can assist US Residents in the case of an airline strike.
As featured in:
For information relating to policies purchased prior to October 23 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For plans purchased after October 23 2024, please see below.
Every traveler dreams of smooth, stress-free journeys. But sometimes, unexpected turbulence comes in the form of airline strikes, throwing plans into chaos. When labor disputes cause delays or cancellations, your travel insurance benefits may provide a safety net. Here’s what you need to know about airline strikes and how they could impact your trip.
Strike is defined in your plan documents as a labor disagreement resulting in stoppage of work which a) is unannounced and unpublished at time this plan is purchased; b) organized, and legally sanctioned by a labor union or other organized association of workers, in a trade or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests; and c) interferes with the normal departure and arrival of a Common Carrier.
In many European countries, collective bargaining is a fundamental part of labor rights, giving workers a stronger voice in negotiating better pay and working conditions. Trade unions play a major role, and as a result, a high percentage of employees are covered by at least one collective bargaining agreement. While the specifics vary by country, the right to strike is widely recognized as a key labor protection—making strikes a more frequent occurrence across Europe.
When your airline notifies you of an airline strike, they may offer you a refund or an alternative flight to get you to your destination. You’ll need to work with your airline first to be compensated for your flight and additional expenses you may have due to the airline strike.
In addition to the travel headache, an airline strike could cause you to delay or cancel your trip. There may be elements of your trip that you paid for in advance, such as hotel accommodations or tours. Travel insurance benefits such as trip Cancellation, trip interruption, or missed Connection may include coverage for common carrier strikes. If your airline is on strike forcing you to cancel your trip you may be reimbursed for your prepaid, unused, non-refundable expenses that aren’t covered by your common carrier.
You’ll need to contact us after you’ve received alternative flight information from your airline. Make sure you gather all of your documentation for your claim. You’ll need to provide receipts for all unexpected out-of-pocket expenses. If there’s things you paid for in advance that you aren’t able to use, like prepaid hotel accommodations or attraction tickets, you’ll need to supply receipts for those things too if you aren’t able to get refunds from your travel providers. You’ll also need to get documentation from the airline showing proof of the airline strike, as well as your original and revised departure times. When you’re ready to start a claim, you can log in to your member account online. If you didn’t create one previously, you can still create an account.
If there’s an airline strike, it could affect your trip before you leave the US, or once you’re already traveling. World Nomads offers coverage (up to the plan maximum benefit amount) for:
Trip Cancellation if you need to cancel your trip due to a covered reason such as an unannounced airline strike. If the airline you are expected to travel on has a complete cessation of travel services for at least 24 consecutive hours we may be able to reimburse your unused, forfeited, pre-paid, non-refundable expenses for things such as flights, accommodations, or scheduled activities.
Trip Delay coverage may help when your arrival at a trip destination is delayed because of an airline strike with complete cessation of travel services for at least 6 consecutive hours or more. You may be reimbursed for things like additional hotel stay, meals, telephone calls, and more.
Trip Interruption coverage could help when an airline strike with complete cessation of travel services for at least 24 consecutive hours causes you to interrupt your trip and you’re unable to continue on as planned. You may be reimbursed your prepaid, non-refundable land or water travel arrangements if you must interrupt your trip and can’t recover those costs from the travel supplier.
Missed Connection coverage is included in the Explorer and Epic plans and could reimburse you for additional transportation costs to rejoin your trip if an airline strike delays you for at least 3 consecutive hours and causes you to miss your scheduled trip departure for things like a cruise, guided tour, or a flight on another carrier. You could be reimbursed for the unused non-refundable land or water payments or deposits for your trip, and the additional transportation cost to join your scheduled trip.
Pet Kenneling/Boarding coverage is included in the Explorer and Epic plans and could reimburse you for additional days that your cat or dog needs to stay at a licensed pet boarding facility if your arrival back home is delayed for at least 6 consecutive hours because of a covered Trip Delay claim.
World Nomads offers multiple travel protection plans for US residents. The Standard, Explorer, Epic, and Annual plans all include travel insurance benefits that could cover airline strikes, but each vary in the benefit limits and/or sub-limits. When you get a quote, you can compare the coverage of the plans. Make sure you pay attention to the insurance benefits offered with each plan, as well as the Maximum Benefit Amounts and exclusions for each. If you don't understand anything, you can contact us anytime, and we can help explain what’s included with each plan.
Airline strikes could be caused by employees working in various departments. If an airline’s pilots are on strike, it could affect your travel. If the flight attendants or airline mechanics are on strike, that could also put a halt to your plans. It doesn’t matter which department is on strike. Your travel insurance coverage from World Nomads could cover all common carrier strikes, including airlines, that cause a cancellation, delay, or interruption in your travels. Terms and conditions apply. Visit your state specific plan document for a full list of limitations and exclusions of your plan.
Maybe you’re not flying, but instead traveling by land or sea. Your travel insurance benefits from World Nomads could cover more than just airline strikes. You could also be covered for situations such as train strikes and cruise strikes.
Travel insurance benefits cover unexpected and unforeseen circumstances that affect your travel, so you won’t be covered if you purchase a travel protection plan after it’s already known that any common carrier strike will be happening. Your plan must be in effect before the date a labor union’s members have voted to approve a strike. You also need to let us know about the strike as soon as possible following a cancellation, interruption, or delay.
Also, in the event of an airline strike World Nomads travel insurance benefits are secondary to any reimbursement provided by your airline. You’ll always want to reach out to them first for compensation, and you won’t receive additional reimbursements for anything that is already covered by them.
This is not a full list of what is and isn’t covered, so please check your plan document for a full list of terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions that may apply to your specific plan. Any example scenarios provided above are not a guarantee of coverage. All claims are subject to review, require documentation and are considered individually. If you have any questions about may or may not be covered, please reach out – we’re happy to help.
20250410-4398140
I arrived in Delhi from Rome. Baggage claim help desk informed me that my bag had been delayed in transit. I was without my bag for almost a week before it was finally delivered to me. It was cold in Delhi (being winter, December) and my warm jacket was in my bag, requiring that I purchase a jacket and other items of warm clothing that I had not taken in my carry-on.
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
We’ve got your back.
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
We'll provide assistance to get you to the hospital or home quickly.
Help starts here.
Covers the loss, theft or damage of your bags, tech and gear.
Help starts here.
The amounts listed represent the maximum benefit amount.
Protect your health
Protect Your Trip
Protect Your Stuff
Non-Insurance Services
Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Wherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact Generali Global Assistance:
Telephone:
+1 954-334-8143 (Collect outside the US)
+1 877-289-0968 (Toll-free in the US and Canada
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.