We have heard today that air traffic controllers are expected to be among 750,000 workers who will join a day of mass strikes that are planned by trade unions for the 30^th June. If this happens then the travel industry will face more delays, cancellations and travel misery. Oh dear.

If you are due to be travelling on the 30^th June or shortly after then it should be noted that you will be covered for Travel Delay, Abandonment and Missed Departure on your World First Travel Insurance policy as long as you took out your policy before 16^th June (today) at 0800 GMT.

Unfortunately anyone who took out a policy after this cut off time will not be covered. However, as usual, your airline should be responsible for offering you alternate flights or compensation for additional accommodation.

We will update this story as and when we hear more.

It’s heartbreaking watching the news today. As we stare open mouthed at our televisions it’s hard to imagine the magnitude of what has happened in Japan and what is about to happen in the rest of the Pacific. Tidal wave alerts are in force in Russia, Hawaii, The Philippines, Indonesia, Alaska, Central America and even South America. The Tsunami that resulted from the largest earthquake to hit the country since records began over a hundred years ago has already hit the north east coast of Japan. Its magnitude has been put at 8.8 on the Richter scale with some reports putting the wave height of the tsunami at 10 metres. To give it some scale the earthquake that hit Christchurch last month was 6.3.

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With the ongoing problems relating from the fallout from the volcanic ash (pun intended), World First has set out how it intends to respond to the claims its policyholders will be making in the next few weeks here.

To summarise, if you are returning to the UK with an EU registered airline, they have a legal obligation to look after you – even if they might try to wriggle out of it. If you are leaving or were intending to leave from the UK, either World First or your airline will cover you. Read the policy for details on how to claim. This is not the case for all travel insurance companies, see here for more details.

It goes without saying that if you purchased your policy after the no fly policy started, you won’t be covered. However, if you had the foresight to purchase an annual policy, you will be covered when the next unforeseen crisis occurs!

Travelling off-piste is very much in vogue these days. You can do some pretty extreme things in the pursuit of pleasure like flying a MiG jet over Moscow, swimming with sharks or going to the edge of space where the sky above you is black and below you is blue.

You don’t have to go that far though, thrills are still to be found on mountain sides, down fast torrents, on the snow of in the sea. And then there’s all the more exotic places you can go without placing yourself in sporting danger. A recent survey by ABTA has highlighted a trend towards visiting former war zones. (more…)

You may be a little concerned by the recent turn of events at British Airways. Legal action and reconciliation notwithstanding, the company is considering cancelling large chunks of its timetable over the Christmas period following a vote for strike action by its cabin staff.

Assuming the strike goes ahead, this will mean extensive cancellations and re-booking and consequently a large number of insurance claims due to travel delays that are widely expected. (more…)