AA Travel Insurance: British Airways and Flyglobespan

British Airways strike action: For customers who have yet to book their travel or holiday insurance, cover in respect of the strikes will not apply.  Travel insurance is designed to cover unforeseen events and circumstances that you cannot reasonably expect - so insurance cannot be expected to cover a strike that has already been announced or expected to take place.

However:

For policies already in place claims will be met according to the terms and conditions and policy wording

AA Travel Insurance will not deal unreasonably with customers who have already purchased their single trip cover or have an annual policy are affected by the strike action

Advice to customers:

Talk to the airline and/or travel agent first - they can advise on potential delays

Travel delay benefit will apply for all policies purchased before the strike action was announced

Missed departure claims could arise if customers are changing flights overseas and such claims will be considered as and when they arise

For customers delayed over 12 hours at their departure point, trip abandonment claims could be met according to policy terms and conditions which includes written evidence from the airport of the delay

An important but:

For policies sold after the strike action was announced on 14th December delayed departure or missed departure claims will not be covered because customers will have been aware of the likelihood of such strikes (some insurers are not covering claims on policies sold before 2 November).

The strikes may yet be averted and further comment may be made if and when they are confirmed to be going ahead.

Flyglobespan collapse: AA Travel Insurance has every sympathy with customers who find themselves unable to travel because of the collapse of this Scottish carrier, and for those who are stranded away from home and whose flight has been cancelled.  For customers who booked a package holiday through a travel agent, in most cases their loss will be covered by ATOL or other similar arrangements.  However, for customers who built their holiday by booking individual components such as flight, car hire, hotel and so forth, may not be covered.

For all policies bought on 4th July onwards, AA Travel Insurance now automatically includes financial failure holiday protection, providing cover against the insolvency of any travel or accommodation supplier up to a maximum of £5,000 per person and where ATOL or other cover doesn't apply. It is one of very few travel insurers that include this cover.

Customers should:

In the first instance talk to their travel agent and / or Flyglobespan representatives to find out what options there are for alternative flights

Pursue statutory options through the airline's governing body, i.e. ATOL to obtain compensation for their loss

Customers may be covered if they purchased their flight with a credit card and will need to contact their card issuer

Keep documentary evidence at every stage, including details of who you speak to and when, to simplify making a claim

If there is no cover in place that protects your holiday, make a claim through your AA travel insurance policy.  Financial failure protection is managed through International Passenger Protection Ltd.  All single trip and annual multi-trip policies bought after 4th July 2009 include financial failure protection.

For full information visit AAtravelinsurance.com