Will trip insurance cover an airline strike?

[Fionasmommy]

We're booked on Delta and I just read that their pilots have authorized a strike. Should we get trip insurance now - does it cover strikes?

 

[CarolA]

If you don't have it already, it's probably too late. Once the vote is cast the insurance would not cover it. (Generally travel insurance only covers "unannouned strikes" anyway!)

 

[lauren0309]

I just called my insurance company and they told me I will be covered if they strike because I bought my tickets in November. If they go bankrupt, I will not be covered and I lose the money.

 

[B9erSteve]

I discussed this very problem with my TA. I went through AAA and they stated that the benefit of using them was that if anything were to happen, they would see to it that we got a flight. Hopefully that is true. We only have a month until we are supposed to leave.

 

[CarolA]

I just called my insurance company and they told me I will be covered if they strike because I bought my tickets in November. If they go bankrupt, I will not be covered and I lose the money.

The trick is to buy the insurance BEFORE the strike vote.

Your next goal will be to file IMMEDIATELY if there is a strike. DL probably won't last more then 48 hours after the strike starts before they close forever under bankruptcy... there isn't the cash to keep going if the planes aren't flying.

 

[bicker]

Currently, Access America, CSA Travel, HTH Worldwide, MH Ross, Specialty Risk Interational, Travel Guard, TravelSafe and Travelex (basically ALL the major underwriters of trip insurance) are not underwriting any trip insurance policies for travel on Delta Airlines.

 

[new_mouser]

The trick is to buy the insurance BEFORE the strike vote.

Your next goal will be to file IMMEDIATELY if there is a strike. DL probably won't last more then 48 hours after the strike starts before they close forever under bankruptcy... there isn't the cash to keep going if the planes aren't flying.

Carol - I booked through Disney for September. Bought insurance when I booked in January. Would I be covered? If so, how does one file?

 

[CarolA]

Carol - I booked through Disney for September. Bought insurance when I booked in January. Would I be covered? If so, how does one file?

Sorry, I don't have a clue what Disney's insurance covers or how you file. You might just want to give them a call.

 

[new_mouser]

Sorry, I don't have a clue what Disney's insurance covers or how you file. You might just want to give them a call.

Thanks - I sent an e-mail so I could have it in writing (just in case).

 

[Fionasmommy]

Hmmmm... So basically there's a reasonable chance that Delta will either go on strike or go completely under before our trip in May, and if so we'll be out of luck?

I had no idea they had problems of the magnitude, and if I had I wouldn't of booked with them.

 

[slippahs]

Remember, if Delta pilots do strike (there's no possibility here--them striking if a big if) and you've booked your ticket with a credit card, your credit card company will very well likely refund your money to your card if you so choose. Essentially, the flights would be handled like a cancelled flight for weather.

For what it's worth, with Chapter 7 liquidation, other carriers would be mandated to allow you to standby on their flights for a $50 charge (ala Independence Air's Chapter 7 liquidation/closing).

 

[bicker]

Credit card companies are required only to refund money for tickets that were purchased within 60 days from the date of the flight. Tickets purchased earlier aren't covered by such protections.

Beyond that, the liquidation of Delta would be nothing like any previous liquidation of an airline. The system doesn't have enough capacity to absorb that many passengers into the other airlines. Flying stand-by means that the airlines would be selling tickets for those seats right up until flight time, and many folks will buy those seats for $51 (or really, a lot more than that) rather than take their chances that there will be enough room to be accommodate them stand-by for $50. Don't plan on that law to be of any assistance. It is intended to provide a sense of security, not real security.

This website provided a good summary of the situation:

http://www.hasbrouck.org/articles/bankruptcy.html