Changes to CBA Travel Insurance Activation

[burmans]

Westpac doesn't require $500 per single transaction, but its policy provider Allianz does say "have used this card to spend at least A$500 of each traveler's prepaid travel cost", so if you have any family members to travel with you and you'd like to get them all covered, you will have to prepay $500 x number of people.

You've got to think this would be a good topic for someone to do a guide on (either our own editors or pointhacks) about what is the best card for frequent flyers, given CBA is no longer a clear standout. Covering eligibility criteria, e.g. how much, is it per person or per policy, what counts (e.g. must it be one transaction or can it be multiple) ...

The fact that you nowadays need to book 11 months out (and hence in this case) would need to keep the card over the 1 year renewal would perhaps provide some additional criteria around value of doing this, some cards have better offers to retain than others.

 

[wxxnxs]

You've got to think this would be a good topic for someone to do a guide on (either our own editors or pointhacks) about what is the best card for frequent flyers, given CBA is no longer a clear standout. Covering eligibility criteria, e.g. how much, is it per person or per policy, what counts (e.g. must it be one transaction or can it be multiple) ...

The fact that you nowadays need to book 11 months out (and hence in this case) would need to keep the card over the 1 year renewal would perhaps provide some additional criteria around value of doing this, some cards have better offers to retain than others.

I initially thought the Westpac credit card insurance will be activated if total of $500 is prepaid before the travel without looking details, but how wrong I was. I've found the complimentary travel insurance that's attached to the credit card in the past few years has gone downwards a lot.

 

[theblank]

You've got to think this would be a good topic for someone to do a guide on (either our own editors or pointhacks) about what is the best card for frequent flyers,

there is already guide online somewhere ... but i dont remember where. Maybe its here.

I make my own guide for the credit cards that i have, noting the factors that I care about (which is probably not what others care about). so that when i am booking a trip, I refer to this guide first (and then double check the PDS to be sure nuthin changed).

 

[CaptJCool]

Tried to activate CBA Free insurance via the app
And it ported me Orf to the CoverMore webpage which then wanted to charge me $600 plus for the privilege of receiving a free insurance offer

 

[Clarky351]

Would transferring $500 cash (foreign currency) to a commbank travel money card qualify as a travel cost?

 

[Flyfrequently]

Welcome to AFF @Clarky351
Lots of knowledgeable folk here who I am sure will be able to assist.

Perhaps ask CBA/their insurer and get it in writing if so.
Happy travels

 

[henrus]

Would transferring $500 cash (foreign currency) to a commbank travel money card qualify as a travel cost?

Nope, needs to be an expense transaction on the card. Transferring money between accounts such as loading a travel card doesn’t process as a transaction on a credit/debit card.

 

[stopthecap]

To revive an old thread, could one book a hotel for the last night of their long trip to get travel insurance cover of $500? This would essentially cover you for 99% of the trip assuming you remember to cancel the booking the night before as most of the travel sites allow you to.

 

[burmans]

To revive an old thread, could one book a hotel for the last night of their long trip to get travel insurance cover of $500? This would essentially cover you for 99% of the trip assuming you remember to cancel the booking the night before as most of the travel sites allow you to.

Don’t forget you have to make a claim which might take some time to settle, I don’t imagine they’d look at a cancellation before your claim was processed positively.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Don’t forget you have to make a claim which might take some time to settle, I don’t imagine they’d look at a cancellation before your claim was processed positively.

In the spirit of discussing the concept, rather than explicitly supporting the manoeuvre…

In the case where an insured event occurs before ‘placeholder hotel room booking’ cancellation date arrived, then I suspect that the cancellable room would not be cancelled… (and in some circumstances, the room cost would be one of the claimed items).

 

[burmans]

In the spirit of discussing the concept, rather than explicitly supporting the manoeuvre…

In the case where an insured event occurs before ‘placeholder hotel room booking’ cancellation date arrived, then I suspect that the cancellable room would not be cancelled… (and in some circumstances, the room cost would be one of the claimed items).

Indeed but seems a bit convoluted to me, it’s not that hard to prespend $500 on something.

Having said that, having just cancelled my CBA HL Package I’ve also cancelled the fee free CBA card that came with it. My only real reason for keeping was the travel insurance but there are other cards with travel insurance that I actually use.

Having this otherwise useless card was potentially impeding my ability to churn!

 

[stopthecap]

Indeed but seems a bit convoluted to me, it’s not that hard to prespend $500 on something.

Having said that, having just cancelled my CBA HL Package I’ve also cancelled the fee free CBA card that came with it. My only real reason for keeping was the travel insurance but there are other cards with travel insurance that I actually use.

Having this otherwise useless card was potentially impeding my ability to churn!

Unfortunately im retired and unable to get anymore credit, any different credit card so im stuck with CBA. I buy 5k of wine a year netting me 350k points and book my flights accordingly. I own my own little pad overseas and would barely spend 500 in a whole month.

Assuming a claim was to be made id either decide to stay at the hotel and enjoy the costs but this is more for serious medical costs in the case an incident occured.

 

[clifford]

As I read the T&C's, if making a claim you need to provide proof that you have actually paid the $500.

I'm off to southern Italy later this year, and I've had to plan my stays carefully to ensure I spend $500 or more in one transaction, Of course I don't use my CBA card to purchase airfares, because of the 3% currency conversion fee.

This was a little onerous, but I've ended up with a very nice AirBnB apartment in Brindisi, that I otherwise would'nt have booked because of the cost.

You just have to be a little bit creative...