American Express Membership Rewards - UK Amex Insurance cover

I'm due to fly to New York later this week with BA but am scheduled to return to the UK on one of the days British Airways Cabin Crew may be on strike (27 to 31 January). I thought this would not be a problem as I would be covered by the comprehensive UK Amex Platinum insurance policy. However, while there is reference to cancelling trips due to industrial action on the way out I can find nothing about cover when returning - apart possibly just £150 for travel inconvenience cover. Can anyone clarify the situation?

Thanks!

Sorry can't answer since I'm no longer an Amex cardholder and don't have the insurance stuff with me which may be out of date anyway.

But whatever you discover, I would certainly discuss it with them. The strike has already been announced (even if it wasn't when you ticketed your trip) and in general there is a responsibility on the covered person to disclose material facts that influence the risk and jointly mitigate losses when they occur. They might know about the strike, but they don't know about your trip. To get their "buy in" protects you if you are covered.

I'm due to fly to New York later this week with BA but am scheduled to return to the UK on one of the days British Airways Cabin Crew may be on strike (27 to 31 January). I thought this would not be a problem as I would be covered by the comprehensive UK Amex Platinum insurance policy. However, while there is reference to cancelling trips due to industrial action on the way out I can find nothing about cover when returning - apart possibly just £150 for travel inconvenience cover. Can anyone clarify the situation?

My understanding of the Amex policy (and other travel insurance policies that I've looked at) is that if an airline cancels your flight, then it is between you and the airline to find you an alternate route out or home, and the insurance company won't normally step in and buy you an alternative flight with another airline.

As you mentioned, most policies will allow you to cancel your flight/holiday if you are delayed outbound by more than a fixed time, but again they won't normally buy you an alternate mode of transport if it is the airlines fault.

However, the Amex insurance is pretty unique in giving you £150 to spend yourself in this situation though!

I believe British Airways are under an obligation to get you home in this circumstance, including hotels for the delay, but the ball seems to be in their court as to how they accomplish this.

I'd imagine if you rang them now, they might agree to move your return date away from the strike date, but I've no direct experience of this situation.

Let us know how you get on :)

Summary of amex cover :-
http://www.americanexpress.com/pes/uk/benefits/include/maincontent/platinum_list_summ_benefits.pdf

I'm due to fly to New York later this week with BA but am scheduled to return to the UK on one of the days British Airways Cabin Crew may be on strike (27 to 31 January). I thought this would not be a problem as I would be covered by the comprehensive UK Amex Platinum insurance policy. However, while there is reference to cancelling trips due to industrial action on the way out I can find nothing about cover when returning - apart possibly just £150 for travel inconvenience cover. Can anyone clarify the situation?

Thanks!

According to the Terms and Conditions (Platinum Charge Card Travel Insurance) published here http://www.americanexpress.com/pes/uk/benefits/include/maincontent/platinum_hub_summ_benefits.pdf the insurance does NOT cover:

"Industrial action which has commenced or has been announced prior to booking Your Trip."

Although the union was in talks with BA for quite some time and they had balloted their members regarding industrial action, the action was only announced in the past few days so my reading of the condition is that they WILL cover you if you are affected.

Therefore, my impression is that you could cancel your trip (with up to £7500 compensation) on the outward leg if:

g) a delay of more than 12 hours on the outward leg of Your Trip as a result of industrial action, adverse weather, mechanical breakdown of public transport, or a transportation accident which means you no longer want to go on Your Trip. The period of delay is reduced to 6 hours for Trips less than 5 days.

BA will probably let you change your flights for free if your plans are flexible. They won't be wanting too many people to be booked on cancelled flights. Speak to BA about this.

All that said, don't take my word for it - I could have completely misread the T&C's or maybe you have a different policy. Phone Amex and ask them directly to avoid any potential misunderstandings!

abfab's quite right.

I was previously under the impression that, if an airline screwed up and cancelled your flight for whatever reason, AmEx would step in and you wouldn't be at the mercy of the airline's policies to get to your destination without too much delay. Sounds like a sensible service of any travel insurance really.

I called AmEx a few weeks ago when the first news of a pending BA strike appeared in the press.
You can get the £150 for delays (travel inconvenience) but it's between you and the airline to negotiate travel.

Any bookings made after the announcement of strike action are not covered at all.

I am in the same situation, outbound flight should be OK as not a strike day but return flight may well be cancelled. I booked on BA Amex Premium plus and I am also a Platinum charge card holder. Does anybody have the information on the additional insurance for BA flights booked on the BA Premium plus card?, does this help any more?, otherwise the only thing I see is the £150 if the return leg is cancelled or delayed.

BA are now allowing flights to be rescheduled but are not offering a refund. I have a feeling that BA is not obliged to get you home - all they have to do is give you your money back for the unflown - and unflyable - sector.

I wonder if EU rules on delayed flights help out here. Does anyone know or is industrial action 'beyond the airlines control' which works as a get-out clause.

Interestingly BA are no longer selling tickets on the strike dates and those following. As a BA Gold travelling in business I expect that I would be able to recover hotel and other expenses from them plus some extra miles and I fon't much mind being stuck in New York for a bit longer.

Finally, I think all I can expect from Amex is £150 under the travel delay section of the insurance.

bmifly

I have a feeling that BA is not obliged to get you home - all they have to do is give you your money back for the unflown - and unflyable - sector.
bmifly

I would be extremely surprised if British Airways would (or could) simply refund some of your fare and leave you marooned. I have never heard of it happen.

I think the main hazard of being stuck at an outstation with a cancelled flight is that if all the alternative flights are already fully booked, they might only offer you a seat in a lower class on another flight (which I think you would have to accept), or worst case, not be able to offer you an alternate flight for up to several days.

I don't think they are under any obligation to book you on another carrier though.