Qantas Travel Insurance - so uncompetitive

[engbren]

I used them for a recent trip, which due to the nature of the trip was last minute and I didn’t have time to shop around and compare. I had the need to make a claim on this trip due to a series of flight cancellations that meant I had to pay for some accomodation and meals. Qantas refused to offer accomodation as it was cancelled due to weather which they deem outside of their control. Unfortunately the excess of Qantas Travel Insurance applied on this policy eroded all but ~$60 of my claim. They were otherwise quite quick to pay the claim.

 

[Sale]

We pay heaps for travel insurance - cruising, pre-existing conditions and age. I was thrilled to get a Qantas domestic policy (12 days) for a NT / Ghan trip for $100. By far the cheapest out of the dozen or so policies that I looked at. And looking at the Qantas one was the last ditch hoorah! (no excess either)

(it didn't cover some of our preexisting conditions - but we are in Australia still - it's not a matter of life and death like a cruise)

Now to hope we don't need it!

 

[SYD]

Unfortunately, QF (and most of the usuals), have really jacked up the price for annual multi-trip. More than double the policy we have expiring in December….

Purely based on $ value, Southern Cross is the best available. Anyone with positive or negative experiences with them?

 

[aspro2]

Unfortunately, QF (and most of the usuals), have really jacked up the price for annual multi-trip. More than double the policy we have expiring in December….

Purely based on $ value, Southern Cross is the best available. Anyone with positive or negative experiences with them?

It's a long time since I last checked Southern Cross, but I think at that time there was no protection for missed connections (typically "prepaid travel arrangements" or similar category).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's a long time since I last checked Southern Cross, but I think at that time there was no protection for missed connections (typically "prepaid travel arrangements" or similar category).

Interesting..

Just reread the Qantas PDS. Looks like they do provide limited cover for missed connections, under a very strict set of circumstances.

The missed connection must be outside the operator’s control… so that likely means practically limiting it to weather or ATC.

And you must have allowed sufficient time to be at the departure point or checkin at or before the recommended check-in time.

Many airlines recommmend 4 hours prior to departure for check-in for international flights… so if you had a connecting flight on a separate ticket you’d probably have to plan on arriving 5 hours before… allowing 1 hour to enter the country, retrieve bags and get to check-in.

Just doing a quote for friends travelling to europe in a couple months time…. Qf’s comprehensive policy is $790 for two weeks, compared to Southern Cross for $443, or $190 for medical/personal liability only.

 

[RooFlyer]

Southern Cross is the best available. Anyone with positive or negative experiences with them?

Only held it in the past year. 'Positive' in that they give cover (with additional $$) for several of my medical conditions that others wouldn't.

 

[AuSammy]

We have ANZ Black Visas.

Not very recently, but I’ve checked the complimentary policy a couple of times over the years & compared to a standard paid Allianz Travel Policy and couldn’t find any red flag differences.

As a consequence we haven’t taken out a paid travel insurance policy for maybe 15 years.

Note: 75 yo and no pre-existing. We don’t rent motor bikes or do bungy jumping or skiing or the like but do take helicopter & balloon rides.

We had a claim for delayed luggage a couple years ago and was a breeze with not a question asked before payout.

If anyone is aware of shortcomings to this approach for our situation, happy to hear about them.

 

[Brissy1]

breeze with not a question asked before payout.

Thanks, that more than almost anything else is what I want to hear about insurance policies

 

[AuSammy]

Thanks, that more than almost anything else is what I want to hear about insurance policies

I should clarify I we did complete the standard claim form in full and attached evidence of the luggage delay.

Once the form was submitted, 48hrs later the money was in our account with no MORE questions asked than just filling out the claim form.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We have ANZ Black Visas.

Not very recently, but I’ve checked the complimentary policy a couple of times over the years & compared to a standard paid Allianz Travel Policy and couldn’t find any red flag differences.

As a consequence we haven’t taken out a paid travel insurance policy for maybe 15 years.

Note: 75 yo and no pre-existing. We don’t rent motor bikes or do bungy jumping or skiing or the like but do take helicopter & balloon rides.

We had a claim for delayed luggage a couple years ago and was a breeze with not a question asked before payout.

If anyone is aware of shortcomings to this approach for our situation, happy to hear about them.

Agree, I had a medical emergency in Bali (ambulance and ER included) and ANZ CC were exemplary. Liaising with the doctors and my friends, and me, to make sure everything ran smoothly. They even filled in all the claim forms for me to sign when I got back to Australia!

 

[SYD]

Only held it in the past year. 'Positive' in that they give cover (with additional $$) for several of my medical conditions that others wouldn't.

They also have 60 and 90 day trip duration options. Max with QF is 45d.