More and more often, travel plans are being disrupted by strikes, natural disasters, and unexpected delays, even within Europe. At the end of April, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake shook Istanbul, which is a sharp reminder that natural catastrophes can affect travel even close to home. At the same time, Southern Europe has been hit by storms and floods, while Germany, France, and other countries continue to see frequent airport strikes that wreak havoc on air travel. These interruptions are no longer rare exceptions, they are becoming the new normal, and every traveller should be prepared.
According to Alver Kivirüüt, the Head of the Products Department at LHV Kindlustus, their team is seeing a growing number of claims related to strikes and extreme weather events. ‘Hoping for the best just is not enough anymore – every traveller needs insurance that is tailored to their destination and travel style, so they can act fast when plans fall apart,’ Kivirüüt says.
When nature disrupts your plans
Last autumn, severe flooding left many travellers stranded in Spain as roads and airports were shut down. Some who were stuck in Valencia could not continue on to Alicante, which meant renting a car, booking new accommodation, and missing their return flights. The average extra cost? Around 1,500 euros.
Some sports fans found themselves in a similar bind, missing out on the long-awaited MotoGP experience. Instead, they had to quickly reroute to Barcelona, buy last-minute flights and accommodation, and swallow the loss of their pre-paid hotels, pushing total expenses to nearly 2,500 euros.
When a strike throws off your itinerary
Strikes at airports and among airline staff have become unexpected yet frequent hurdles. One strike in Frankfurt cancelled a traveller’s entire trip. While the airline refunded the original ticket, new ones had to be bought at last-minute prices, costing about 2,000 euros.
When Finnair pilots walked off the job, it caused a wave of confusion: return flights were cancelled and travellers faced penalty fees for returning rental cars to the wrong airport. Combined with new tickets and hotel stays, the damage added up to another 2,500 euros.
‘Without travel disruption cover, these surprises can get expensive fast, whether it is replacement tickets, extra hotel nights or just meals on the go,’ Kivirüüt explains. ‘The right insurance is not just financial protection, it is your peace of mind.’
Three things to check before you travel
1. Does your insurance cover strikes and natural disasters?
Travel disruption cover is not always included in the basic package: you may need to add it separately.
2. Does your insurance also cover your family members?
This is especially important when travelling with kids or extended family. If you rely on travel insurance tied to a bank card, make sure the cover limits apply per insured person, not just per card.
3. Are you aware of safety conditions at your destination?
Before you leave, check sites like reisitargalt.ee for up-to-date travel advisories. If there is an official warning in place, like a storm or strike, it might affect your insurance cover.
‘Travel insurance cannot calm the storm clouds, but it can absolutely soften the financial blow and reduce stress when something goes wrong,’ Kivirüüt says. ‘We are not here to scare people, we are here to help them think a couple of steps ahead.’
