WestJet travellers, brace yourselves: buying travel insurance might not be the silver bullet you thought it was. Here's why: when a potential strike is announced, insurance companies can suddenly see the writing on the wall and refuse coverage for future work stoppages. This means that if the WestJet flight attendants go on strike, your travel insurance might not cover the costs associated with the strike, leaving you high and dry.
The key takeaway? If you want to be covered, you need to buy insurance before the strike is announced. Otherwise, you're on your own. This is a crucial point that travellers often overlook, focusing instead on the airfare and the insurance that comes with it. But as Martin Firestone, a travel insurance salesman, points out, it's not just about the airfare. It's about the entire trip, including the cruise or hotel you might be missing out on.
In the event of a strike, airlines are typically obligated to rebook flights or offer refunds. However, this doesn't guarantee a convenient or timely rebooking, and it certainly doesn't cover the additional costs associated with the strike, such as the cruise or hotel you might have already paid for. This is where travel insurance should step in, but only if you've purchased it beforehand.
The moral of the story? Don't wait until the last minute to buy travel insurance. If you're planning a trip to WestJet, consider the possibility of a strike and buy insurance accordingly. Otherwise, you might find yourself out of luck when the flight attendants go on strike, and you'll be left wondering where to turn for financial protection.
