AMEX Charge Platinum travel insurance... kids covered when traveling on their own?

[M@rcoPolo]

I've been reading the T&C's and I guess the answer is yes, but I'd be interested in your comments on the subject...

My kids (aged 15 & 16, both are students and dependents) will be travelling to Europe next year for a 3 weeks holiday, staying with some family friends. They will be travelling on their own, my wife (additional cardholder) and I (primary cardholder) will stay in Sydney.

Will they be covered by the Charge Plat insurance policy? I was under the impression they wouldn't unless my wife or myself were travelling with them, but looking at the T&C's it looks like they would "You/Your means any person provided they are an American Express Platinum Card member or their Spouse or Dependent Child."

Do you agree? Should I get this spelled out in writing by the insurer?

[straitman]

I've been reading the T&C's and I guess the answer is yes, but I'd be interested in your comments on the subject...

My kids (aged 15 & 16, both are students and dependents) will be travelling to Europe next year for a 3 weeks holiday, staying with some family friends. They will be travelling on their own, my wife (additional cardholder) and I (primary cardholder) will stay in Sydney.

Will they be covered by the Charge Plat insurance policy? I was under the impression they wouldn't unless my wife or myself were travelling with them, but looking at the T&C's it looks like they would "You/Your means any person provided they are an American Express Platinum Card member or their Spouse or Dependent Child."

Do you agree? Should I get this spelled out in writing by the insurer?

I believe they are covered but it is always good to check. At worst you could get them supp cards in which case they would definitely be covered.

[M@rcoPolo]

I believe they are covered but it is always good to check. At worst you could get them supp cards in which case they would definitely be covered.

Will check. Cannot get them supp cards as they need to be 18yo

[awilcockson]

Will check. Cannot get them supp cards as they need to be 18yo

Exactly. I have just signed up for the card, and my question is slightly different but similar to yours. My kids are 6 & 7 so they'd only ever be travelling with my, so it looks as though my question is answered (thanks) and they will be covered in this situation.

[Duffa]

My reading of terms is that you are covered just by having a card. No need to buy tickets with the card. No need for primary cardholder to travel with the kids.

[M@rcoPolo]

Just called the insurer - ACE Assistance on +61 2 9335 3492
They confirmed the kids - provided they fit the definition of "Dependent Child" below have the same level of cover as I do, doesn't matter if they are travelling with me or on their own...

Dependent Child means the American Express Platinum Card member’s legally
dependent child up to and including the age of twenty-four (24), including a
stepchild or legally adopted child, who is wholly dependent on the American Express
Platinum Card member for financial support.


Note the same is true for your spouse, so there's no need for him/her neither to travel with you nor to be a supplementary cardholder in order to be covered by travel insurance...

[awilcockson]

Thanks for taking the time to call and post the results. Very handy to know.

[Duffa]

An equivalent family policy with a traditional insurer would be $500 p.a. and I'm not sure many of them would allow kids to travel alone. Good value for Amex plat then!!

[scaredeycat]

My 14 year old daughter is traveling to Canada early next year on a school exchange. Tickets were bought on visa before I signed up for my Platinum charge card. Do you reckon she'd be covered by the Amex policy?

[straitman]

My 14 year old daughter is traveling to Canada early next year on a school exchange. Tickets were bought on visa before I signed up for my Platinum charge card. Do you reckon she'd be covered by the Amex policy?

To be safe I would ring Ace and ask and also get them to send you a copy of the T&C.