A global IT outage caused by a botched software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Friday disrupted numerous industries, with the aviation sector bearing the brunt of the disruption. The outage, which rendered many Microsoft Windows computer systems non-functional, led to widespread flight delays and cancellations across the globe.
Passengers were left stranded in long queues, receiving handwritten boarding passes as flight operations were thrown into chaos. India was not spared, with hundreds of flights being cancelled or delayed due to the IT outage.
Fortunately, those with travel insurance policies can find relief. According to experts, travel insurance policies offer coverage for flight delays and cancellations caused by major tech disruptions like the one experienced this Friday.
“Major tech disruption of cloud services by a major IT corporation has caused widespread flight delays and cancellations, both domestically and internationally. Any delays or cancellations of scheduled flights by the airlines will get covered under travel insurance,” says Vivek Chaturvedi, CMO and Head of Direct Sales, Go Digit General Insurance.
Similarly, Aashish Sethi, Head, Health SBU and Travel, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance confirms, “If the cancellation and delays are covered as per policy terms and conditions, then we will pay the claim (irrespective of measures taken by airlines).”
If an airline cancelled your domestic or international flight due to the outage disruption without proper prior notification, you can file for compensation. However, the notification period before flight termination varies depending on your insurance provider and policy terms.
“You may need to provide written proof from the airline regarding the same. However, such proof is not required if the information is available to the insurer from a public source (like in this case of outage-linked cancellations),” explains Chaturvedi.
It’s essential to remember that conditions for valid claims can vary depending on your insurance provider, policy type, and any additional coverage you’ve purchased. For instance, Bajaj Allianz offers a domestic travel policy that compensates for flight delays exceeding six hours, unless you purchase a rider for additional coverage.
“In this case, even delays of over 30 minutes to two hours are covered, depending on the variant chosen,” clarifies Sethi. The policy also covers expenses for food and accommodation if the airline doesn’t provide them free of cost.
