Using an Amex Travel Credit for Spouse

[_TheTraveller_]

Does anyone know whether it's possible to some how use the Amex travel credit to book flights for your spouse but also have TI triggered? It's a bit frustrating because the credit can only be used by the primary card holder but based on the platinum TI T&Cs, it seems like the insurance will only get triggered if they pay with their own card? They have their own supplementary card but obviously paying with that can't trigger the credit usage.

 

[burneracc]

It's a bit frustrating because the credit can only be used by the primary card holder but based on the platinum TI T&Cs, it seems like the insurance will only get triggered if they pay with their own card?

What exactly is your source from the T&Cs? Can you share the exact quote that leads you to this conclusion? As I have read through them myself and I would disagree with your interpretation entirely.

---
Covered Person means the Card Member or an Additional Card Member,

and:

1. their Spouse;

2. their Dependent Child(ren)

who meets the eligibility criteria as specified in the Eligibility Table.
---

As per the documentation. So spouses are specifically mentioned which is again why I am asking what your source is that claims otherwise.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

What exactly is your source from the T&Cs? Can you share the exact quote that leads you to this conclusion? As I have read through them myself and I would disagree with your interpretation entirely.


Covered Person means the Card Member or an Additional Card Member,

and:

1. their Spouse;

2. their Dependent Child(ren)

who meets the eligibility criteria as specified in the Eligibility Table.


As per the documentation. So spouses are specifically mentioned which is again why I am asking what your source is that claims otherwise.

I should have clarified, I am not travelling with my spouse. i.e. My card booking an airfare under their name with them travelling themself.

The section that had me interpret the T&Cs as not covering the spouse if I'm not traveling is (in addition to what you've mentioned)

4. You are going on an International Return Trip and You pay the full amount of Your outbound ticket for a Scheduled Flight or Scheduled Cruise leaving Australia on Your:
i. American Express Card Account;
ii. corresponding American Express Membership Rewards points or frequent flyer points (where applicable); and/or
iii. Travel Benefit.

I take the Your word as You are their (card member) spouse.

If in the scenario where you are their spouse but aren't paying it with your own card (additional card member) or don't have a card, how are you suppose to pay the full amount of the outbound ticket with your American Express card to trigger the TI? FWIW, I had a few other people read over it because I had the same interpretation as you but the more conservative reading would suggest that spouses aren't covered if they aren't travelling with a card holder.

 

[Doctore1003]

Given “you/your” is defined to include both the card member and their spouse, I don’t think it matters whose card/TC is used.

 

[burneracc]

Given “you/your” is defined to include both the card member and their spouse, I don’t think it matters whose card/TC is used.

Correct; and for reference the exact wording can be found on page 24:

You/Your means a Covered Person

One can always contact Chubb / amex to confirm as well. We have had members on here in the past inquire regarding coverage on trips booked with rewards flights due to the vagueness of the "corresponding points" wording.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Given “you/your” is defined to include both the card member and their spouse, I don’t think it matters whose card/TC is used.

Correct; and for reference the exact wording can be found on page 24:

One can always contact Chubb / amex to confirm as well. We have had members on here in the past inquire regarding coverage on trips booked with rewards flights due to the vagueness of the "corresponding points" wording.

Ended up booking it without the TC and with their additional card but out of curiosity I will give Chubb a call.

My main concern is that you/your as defined on page 24 is covered person and covered person would need to charge their return flight to their Amex account card account which obviously doesn't exist so the concern is it might leave them uncovered if Amex took a conservative interpretation of their rules.

 

[Sandro]

If it were me, I would double check two things in the policy. First whether the insurance requires the cardholder to be travelling on the same itinerary. Second whether the payment condition is satisfied simply by charging the ticket to the eligible account. Those two lines usually decide the outcome.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ended up booking it without the TC and with their additional card but out of curiosity I will give Chubb a call.

My main concern is that you/your as defined on page 24 is covered person and covered person would need to charge their return flight to their Amex account card account which obviously doesn't exist so the concern is it might leave them uncovered if Amex took a conservative interpretation of their rules.

I think that’s right.

Cardholder + spouse travelling together (or required percentage of trip together) and paid for on AMEX = cover for both

Cardholder paying for spouse and not travelling together = no cover

Spouse with supplementary card paying for their own travel and travelling alone = cover.

 

[Doctore1003]

ChatGPT agrees with me fwiw

Yes — based on the current Amex Australia Platinum policy wording, your spouse can still be covered even if you are not travelling with them, provided the trip otherwise satisfies the activation rules. The policy defines a covered person as the Card Member or Additional Card Member and their spouse / dependent children.

For Platinum international travel insurance, the eligibility table says cover applies where:

• the traveller is a Card Member, Additional Card Member, or their spouse/dependent child,
• they are an Australian resident,
• they are taking an international return trip,
• the full outbound ticket leaving Australia is paid using the Amex Platinum account, corresponding Membership Rewards / frequent-flyer points, and/or a travel benefit,
• the account is current, and
• the covered person was 79 or younger when the qualifying travel purchase was made. There is no separate requirement in that eligibility section that the primary cardholder must also be on the trip.

Two important catches:

• it must be a return trip, not a one-way trip, because the policy says Sections A–K only apply to return trips that begin and end from home/work in Australia; and
• standard exclusions still apply, including things like pre-existing medical conditions and other policy exclusions.

So the practical answer is: your spouse is generally covered even when travelling without you, if you used your Amex Platinum to trigger cover correctly and all other policy conditions are met.