Read it before Murdoch starts charging for access!

That basically repeats the pitfalls I've mentioned althought the ABI comment is interesting, I'll have to study their site later to see which companies are members.

Our annual policy is with Staysure. When the BA strike was announced I contacted them. Wasn't too worried about the BA flight as I knew it would be refunded but we were connecting with the cruise in Miami. I thought they may have helped us make alternative arrangements. I was told firstly that the cruise fare may not be covered as we would just be a no-show! The next day I was told the flight would not be covered as we took out the policy after the ballot had been announced. They then said that we should turn up at the airport and wait the 12 hours and they would consider the claim.

Seems as though "strike or industrial action you were unaware of when you booked the trip" is a catch all. We booked the flights 3rd August, our travel insurance expired in November and we renewed the day before it expired. Bit pointless taking out annual cover if it has to be renewed each time I book a holiday to keep in benefit!

Because the strike was called off I don't know what the outcome would have been. I am thinking of contacting the Insurance Ombudsman to clarify what should happen in these circumstances. Definately shall not be using this company again.

Just to add. What if we had booked the flights with a foreign airline. We often use AA, surely we cannot be expected to keep up on the worlds press for news too!

It would be an idea to check Google just before you book. The plus side here is that the insurance will have to find out as well! But it may not be world press - the BBC have covered the Lufthansa strike that may restart next Monday.

I think Jacky has raised an interesting point here about annual insurance. I believe that if you renew the policy at its renewal date then the contract would be continuous and regardless of knowledge or lack of knowledge of any action the police "should" cover you. It would a very interesting case if it went to court, it may have already been there but without specialist knowledge or search techniques I have no way of checking.

My annual policy is through my credit card as one of the 'extras' they provide for £8.50 per month and is the only 'extra' I do take advantage of. I think quite a few are like this so I wonder how this would work out if a strike were in the offing on the date the £8.50 was paid! Luckilly my next BA flight isn't until 24th April, so hopefully the strike will either not happen or will have been settled before this.

Aslemma - that's a really interesting question! Is there any point in the year when they ask you to confirm there have been no changes to your health etc. - it's possible that could be the contract date.

Colin - when you renew they usually ask if there is anything new they should know and if you withhold then they can cancel the policy. I don't think you can class it as a continuous contract since either side can walk away and the renewal will have a new policy number.

Steve. I wish I knew the answer. Just imagine you have booked a holiday and at the time you were fit and well. Then you got some sort of illness which although you could travel the insurance company loaded the insurance. Then could you claim off the current insurance to cover the extra cost of the new police. As I said interesting.

No Steve, and I've been with them for many years now. I've always presumed that I had to inform them if my circumstances changed, for example if I'd any new illnesses or operations, but I've never been asked.

An annual policy is not a continuous policy, it is renewed each year as a new policy.

Some interesting information regarding annual policies HERE and HERE

luci

Luci.
Thanks for that it's very interesting,if scary.
Colin

It is scary. We paid extra for higher cancellation amount cover to £5000 only to be informed that we would probably not be covered. Due to the strike being called off we shall never know the outcome. Something to remember when booking different parts of the holiday seperately. I don't like package holidays though.

When I was reading about everything concerning the strike before Xmas I remember an article in one newspaper saying that the people who had travel insurance through their bank would not be covered either.

I can't open links from this site anyone know why? Just clicked on Luci's ones and get a sound. Turned off the pop-up blocker but still don't work

Hi jacky ... unfortunately a few members are having this problem. No one seems to know why, although there was a suggestion that it may be related to their browser or javascript settings. There is a topic about the problem in our Help & Assistance forum where you may get further info or advice:
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=141002
Although you can't currently open the links by left clicking on them, try right clicking on them and see if you are then given an option to open in a new tab or window.

David

Thanks, the right click worked