What to Do If Your Airline Goes on Strike

In the U.S., airlines aren’t required to provide cash compensation for cancellations or delays caused by strikes. However, you still have important passenger rights. You can generally expect:

• Rebooking: Airlines must offer you a seat on the next available flight to your destination. Sometimes this may include a partner carrier.
• Refunds: If your flight is cancelled and you decide not to travel, you’re entitled to a full refund for the unused portion of your ticket.
• Amenities: Depending on the airline, you may receive meal vouchers, hotel accommodations or ground transportation if delays are overnight or extended.
• Travel Insurance coverage: If you purchased a travel insurance plan, many cover strike-related disruptions, meaning you could be reimbursed for hotels, meals, missed connections or other unused trip portions.

Always review the airline’s Contract of Carriage, which defines the legal responsibilities of both the carrier and the user, to understand what applies to your situation.

Start with the airline. Most carriers allow refund or rebooking requests online or through their app. At the airport, customer service staff can help secure new arrangements.

If you purchased a travel insurance plan, contact your provider promptly to start a claim. You may need documentation such as proof of delay or cancellation, your itinerary and receipts for covered expenses.

The process is usually straightforward and can often be done entirely online. Travel Guard, for example, makes it quick and simple, typically requiring only your policy number and a few documents to get started. You can even check your claim status on the go.

If an airline rebooks you on an alternative flight, they’ve generally met their obligation. If you cancel your trip entirely, you’re entitled to a refund for unused ticket portions, but the airline will not reimburse additional expenses such as prepaid hotels or missed tours. Some of these costs may be eligible for reimbursement under a travel insurance plan, depending on the coverage you selected.

If you already know your flight has been cancelled, there’s usually no need to go to the airport. Instead, save yourself the stress and try to handle everything online or over the phone. Most airlines will update your booking automatically, send you an email or app notification, and give you options to rebook or request a refund.

That said, if communication from the airline is limited or you’re having trouble rebooking, heading to the airport might be the fastest way to sort things out. Ticket counter staff can often access options that aren’t visible online, especially during large-scale disruptions when flights are filling up quickly.

Long delays can be almost as frustrating as outright cancellations. If your flight is delayed for several hours, airlines will generally try to accommodate you, but policies vary. In some cases, they may offer meal vouchers, hotel accommodations (if you’re stuck overnight) or rebooking onto a later or partner flight.

If you have a travel insurance plan, this is where it can really make a difference. Many plans (including Travel Guard’s) offer trip delay coverage that can reimburse you for meals, accommodation and even local transportation if your delay is lengthy enough (usually five hours or more). Keep your receipts and any relevant documents so you can file a claim afterwards.

While you wait, it’s worth asking airline staff about your options, checking the airline’s app for rebooking tools, and keeping an eye on other nearby airports that might have earlier departures.

Airline strikes can throw even the best-planned trips into chaos, but you don’t have to face it alone. If you’ve purchased a travel insurance plan with Travel Guard, you have added protection that can help soften the impact of cancellations and delays.

Most of our comprehensive travel insurance plans come with the following features:

• Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage if your flight is cancelled for a covered reason and you can’t make it to your destination as planned.

• Trip Delay coverage to help reimburse you for covered meals, hotel stays and other out-of-pocket expenses during long delays. 

• Assistance services to help you rebook flights, find alternate routes or arrange other travel solutions.