Travel Insurance - in a bad place

[RRS_Staffs]

The bad place being my own home

Texted 30 mins ago to say those hard working Frenchie airtraffic controllers are throwing a strike tomorrow to watch the TdF

Due to a logistical hellhole I have flights out with one airline who are going to refund me
Flights back with another airline who wont
Car hire who also wont refund me
And 'executive' airport parking who wont either

I spoke to my travel insurance people kind of expecting them to cough up no probs however claims are shut and the guy on customer services didnt exactly inspire confidence

He told me they wouldnt pay for the return flight, or my car park, or my hire car
I have 'cancellation' cover but this doesnt cover the above if my out flight is cancelled due to a strike

Im fuming
But as the trips been planned for a year I will now drive to the sodding Pyrenees which TBH I had thought of doing anyway

Grrrrr

Any advice gladly accepted
Personal anecdotes or esteemed experts both welcome

Insurance via Columbus

Cheers

[llewop]

curious - the strike seems to be as you say... but if it is for the reason you say, so so badly planned! Tomorrow is a rest day for TdF!

best of luck

ETA: if you are going to drive: check out the TdF route, otherwise you may run head on into it coming the other way...currently where you are heading but will be moving north after thursday!

Edited by llewop on Tuesday 20th July 20:10

[russ_a]

Flying back to the UK from Grenoble last year, got to the airport to be told Frenchies had gone on a one day strike without warning. The pilot of our plane only found out when trying to raise them on Air Traffic Control and got no answer.

Result was a two hour transfer by coach to Chambery sat next to Roy Keane of all people. Who by the way was as mardy and arrogant as you would expect.

[RRS_Staffs]

Are there any experts on travel insurance in Da House?

I had my final letter from the loss adjuster today
They have bounced my claim referring to the small print

As I drove the next morning I was not delayed for the necessary 24h so they wont pay out as per the contract
This is harsh but within the letter of my T&Cs I suppose

My angle had been that I was flying to a godforsaken airport with no other flight till the day of my departure

If I hadnt driven Id have cancelled the whole trip and claimed airport parking, return flight, car hire and hotel

As I drove, and snookered any claim, I was actually saving them the cost of the hotel

Im felling pretty hacked off

Comments welcome

Cheers

Edited by RRS_Staffs on Thursday 26th August 19:36