What to know about credit card travel insurance when an Air Canada Strike looms up – Moneysenense

It can be a challenge for customers who are stuck in the Crossfire, deal with delays and cancellations. But travelers may be lucky if they have booked their tickets with a credit card with built-in travel insurance with one reservation. “You have to make sure that when you book it, it is not over the date on which much of (the credit card companies) would consider it a well -known event,” said Will McALeer, executive director of the Travel Health Insurance Association. That means that as long as the tickets were booked before a potential labor conflict became clear, the credit card travel insurance would cover it under their cancellation policy of the trip, McALeer explained.

If the ticket was booked via credit card after the strike was to be expected, the disturbance -related costs would not be covered, he added.

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Know the exclusions before booking

But it is important to read the small print of your credit card travel insurance, said Natasha Macmillan, senior business director of Everyday Banking on Ratehub.ca.

Macmillan said that consumers should check whether labor disputes -related cancellations or delays are covered. The travel policy often specified exclusions such as delays caused by government actions, a pandemic or work disruption. She said that the coverage of labor disputes can also vary, depending on the card type and the card provider. Some high-end credit cards can, for example, cover disruptions of labor attacks, even when the tickets were booked after it became a foreseeable event.

Macmillan said that travelers should also understand their coverage limits and payment rules. “There are usually very specific requirements,” she said. For example, some credit card travel insurance can cover up to $ 5,000 for a cancellation of a trip, while other cards can have a lower limit.

In addition to the maximum coverage, McAleer said that travelers should determine whether the policy is sufficient for the trip – it is less than what you have paid per traveler. Consumers must also ensure that they meet the general terms and conditions of the credit card policy, including paying a large part of the trip through the credit card, he added. McAleer said that if there is a travel break when a traveler is already on the road, the airlines usually offer some services, such as meals and hotel enclosures.

During work disruptions, Steven Harris, a recognized insurance broker and Lowestrates.ca expert, said, while passengers are generally entitled to reimbursement for accommodations, meals and re -books, airlines are not obliged to compensate extra costs such as pre -set hotel bookings, unless they are specifically covered by the policy of the Airline policy.

Air Canada offers refunds, but alternatives can be limited

Air Canada has said that customers who have been affected by Vluchtanulingsingen are eligible for a full reimbursement. It has also made arrangements with other carriers to offer alternative options, but warns that it can take time to secure capacity, since other airlines are already full because of the summer peak.

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Experts say that credit card insurance policies amount to understanding the coverage and doing your homework in advance. “We all know that there is a reasonable chance that this can happen,” he said. “If I was traveling on those days and would probably be hit at that time, I would make that phone call.”

McAleer said it is important to check with the credit card manager to see if the policy is covering work attacks. “I would like to call my credit card and see what my protection would probably do,” he said. “Prepare for every surprise.”

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