Heathrow border strike: how to protect your trip to London

What your travel insurance covers

Coverage Assessment: Covered Only for Split-Ticket Journeys Meeting Minimum Transit Buffers

What common policies say

• Single-Priced Ticket Rule: If Qantas, British Airways, or Emirates ticketed your entire route on a single booking reference (PNR), the operating carrier is legally obligated under EU261/UK261 or IATA conventions to re-route and feed you. Australian travel insurers will decline initial lodging claims, requiring you to exhaust carrier remedy first.
• Split-Ticket Layover Trap: If you booked separate tickets (e.g. Qantas to LHR, followed by a separate EasyJet flight to Rome), insurers require a minimum 3-hour scheduled buffer. If your connection was under the threshold, claims for missed onward flights will be summarily rejected.

Carrier Duty of Care & Transit Guidance

• Single-Booking Protection: Under UK/EU passenger rights rules, your operating carrier must provide care and rebooking if your transit was booked on a single ticket.
• Separate Bookings: If traveling on separate tickets through London, allow at least 3 to 4 hours between flights during industrial action to avoid missed onward departures.

What to do now

1. Never Walk Away Without Baggage Irregularity Report: If bags are stalled due to ground crew shortages, lodge a PIR before crossing customs.
2. Obtain Gate Disruption Timestamp: Photograph flight departure boards showing security/immigration queue queues.