Can Travel Insurance Help If Travel Is Impacted by Strikes?

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 policies purchased after October 23 2024, please see below. 

Concerned that strikes may disrupt your travel plans? They’re not a common occurrence but strikes are certainly a possibility in an uncertain world and could delay, cancel or interrupt your trip. A strike is defined as a labor disagreement resulting in a work stoppage that interferes with the normal departure and arrival of a common carrier.

Is there travel insurance for strikes?

That depends on the timing... You may have coverage if you purchased your travel insurance* plan before the strike was announced. However, no coverage is available if you purchase your plan after a strike has been announced. An announcement is defined when the union issues an official statement announcing the date and time of the strike.

What coverage may be included in the event of a strike?

There may be coverage for trip cancellation or interruption if the strike causes complete cessation of services of your common carrier for at least 24 hours. You may be able to claim for reimbursement of your pre-paid, forfeited, non-refundable payments or deposits paid for your trip. Reimbursable costs could include transportation, accommodations, and other specified services arranged by the travel supplier who made the land, air and/or sea arrangements for your trip. The amount you receive could be up the maximum benefit amount specified in your plan.

There may be coverage for trip delay if the strike causes a delay of at least six hours. You may be able to claim, up to the maximum amount allowed by your plan for:

  • Basic expenses, such as food, local transportation and accommodation, that you had to pay for because of the delay;
  • Any pre-paid, unused, non-refundable land and water accommodations that you’ve had to forfeit because of the delay (such as a hotel night or a tour).

The missed connection benefit may also come into play if you miss the start of your trip departure (like on a cruise or group tour, for example) by at least three hours due to the strike.

Check your insurance plan for more details.

What should I do if my plans are affected?

If you think your travel plans might be affected by a strike, you should first:

Contact your airline, cruise or tour operator to check if tourist services are affected.

  1. If you need to change your travel arrangements, contact your airline, cruise company or travel agent for assistance in the first instance.
  2. In the event of a claim, you must do everything you can to minimize and reduce the cost of the claim and provide all supporting documentation of the event and expenses incurred. See our article on how to make a claim for more information.

If you’re in an emergency situation, injured or sick and need help, contact the 24/7 emergency assistance team as soon as possible. If you have any other concerns, please contact us.

*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans.


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