Amex Platinum Charge Card Travel Insurance

[potm]

must be different for other AMEX products. I have Platinum Edge and FF points is not eligible. I didnt make the distinction this was exclusively about Platinum Charge
( I blame the poorly constructed thread title, use of capitals properly is helpful )

Seriously?
How about taking some accountability for your own failure in reading comprehension.
It’s a pretty clear and simple thread title.

 

[straitman]

must be different for other AMEX products. I have Platinum Edge and FF points is not eligible. I didnt make the distinction this was exclusively about Platinum Charge
( I blame the poorly constructed thread title, use of capitals properly is helpful )

I'm sure this comment was tongue in cheek!

Seriously?
How about taking some accountability for your own failure in reading comprehension.
It’s a pretty clear and simple thread title.

I hope this comment was tongue in cheek!

In any case the title has been capitalised appropriately.

 

[theblank]

How about taking some accountability for your own failure in reading comprehension.

why does it bother you so much to comment?

most people when skim reading, only take in a couple of key words. its fairly common.
maybe you dont do it, thats fine.

It’s a pretty clear and simple thread title.

If the thread title was so clear and simple, why did someone edit it to fix it just now?

 

[straitman]

Any further OT comments will be removed.

Let’s move forward.

 

[Doctore1003]

The Trip must be a return Trip and commence and end in Your Country of Residence. Cover is not activated until a return ticket has been purchased.
Important: One-way Trips are not covered.

The cover doesn't define what "return" trip means. Does anyone know if booking two one-way fares would qualify? And what if you fly out of one city but return somewhere else, eg. MEL-SIN then SIN-PER?

 

[Bell21]

That sounds like an open jaw, so I don't think it would necessarily impact whether it can be ticketed as a return ticket (esp. since it's in the same country of residence as the originating flight) - however, it's worth checking with AMEX whether 'return trip' means ticketed as a 'return trip' - I suspect that may be the case, but I'm interesting to know if I'm correct (it's partly why I prefer to rely on premium Visa / Mastercard insurance, as their conditions tend to be less stringent)

 

[liuyz]

The cover doesn't define what "return" trip means. Does anyone know if booking two one-way fares would qualify? And what if you fly out of one city but return somewhere else, eg. MEL-SIN then SIN-PER?

Discussed this question over the phone with Chubb months ago, two single trip tickets is okay. However, still worth a double check with them. Let me know if you heard sth different.

Also, MEL and PER is in the same country as well.

 

[Bell21]

some people may well debate that last point

 

[dec540]

I've had a conversation with Amex confirming that so long as you have tickets back to Australia it doesn't matter whether they are return, single tickets, open jaw etc. etc.

Best to call and get this on record against your account if it might impact you as YMMV.

 

[Renato1]

With the move to Chubb, Amex cover removed the ability to cover pre existing conditions for an extra fee.

I’ve been activating and relying on my CBA cover (has no spend requirement) which still offers cover for an additional premium after answering a few short questions. They even cover over 80 year olds for an extra premium which isn’t available on the Amex cover.

I usually activate my cover as soon as I’ve booked my flights so I have immediate cover should I have a change in circumstances before my trip. This is particularly important If traveling to/through an area that may have volcanic ash activity. If you activate after the event, they’ll likely exclude it.

As with everything insurance, make sure you read the PDS and decide if it’s roght for your situation before proceeding.

Haven’t needed to make a claim yet

Amex/Chubb did have some provision for pre-existing conditions when I tried to declare and pay for them on-line some years ago. But unlike with CBA - I was rejected out of hand. The questions were the same as those asked at CBA.

Which makes Amex Travel Insurance useless for me.
Regards,
Renato

 

[albyd]

I’ve always been accepted by both so far. CBA’s insurer accepts Amex for the premium - although the premium is much higher than the $50 Zurich as Amex’s then insurer used to charge. My theory is if you can’t afford insurance, you can’t afford to travel.

 

[momad]

Usually use my CBA cc insurance. Activation is a breeze and can just manually add spouse and kid to it with not much hassle. Also able to add 'packs' like IIRC ski packs but with some payment.

Amex is way too strict. Even a Flight Centre gift card mix payment with my plat charge doesn't activate the travel insurance.

 

[liuyz]

Amex is way too strict. Even a Flight Centre gift card mix payment with my plat charge doesn't activate the travel insurance.

What if the gift card was purchased with the plat charge card? Does it count?

 

[momad]

What if the gift card was purchased with the plat charge card? Does it count?

Sorry I'm not sure as I was given the gift card. Best is to email them and get it in writing

 

[potm]

Using frequent flyer points to book your tickets is a good way to activate cover.

 

[davestan]

Using frequent flyer points to book your tickets is a good way to activate cover.

I read the latest Platinum Charge Card Insurance PDS with regard to using frequent flyer points, the relevant sentence section says:

“(a) You pay the full fare for a returnTrip onYour American Express Platinum Card; or
(b) You pay using American Express Membership Rewards points, frequent flyer points; or
(c) You useYourTravel Benefit.”

The “frequent flyer points” phrase seemed generic.

I couldn’t find any clarification of where the frequent flyer points need to come from. I took it that they can come from any airline loyalty scheme, and not necessarily linked back to AMEX points transfers to a particular airline.

I did call Chubb to clarify and albeit got a bit of a vague response, but it seems the trip can be booked using frequent flyer points from any airline loyalty program. Must be outgoing and return flights but can be separate transactions.
I guess it’s important to have a printout of the invoice of points used provided by the airline at the time of booking to prove activation.

My query was specifically in relation to the Platinum Charge Card benefits.

 

[Dave G]

Yep -
3 International trips in last 2 years - 4 claims
Son broke arm snowboarding - fairly serious surgery required in Switzerland $$$$
Delayed luggage in Berlin
Sons iphone screen smashed in Fiji
Daughters phone stolen in Bali (Solo trip without us)

All paid for with Alex Plat travel insurnace -
Just evidence booked with points, and taxes paid on card required.

Winner in my books (Except the $1k limit on daughters iphone - although - to their credit - the phone was $1800, and they took the excess off the full claim, and paid us the $1k for her new phone )

 

[Dave G]

Yep -
Not overly fussed though - my PC is my go to card anyway - and have been getting 2 ppt/$ with airline purchases.
If they want that then I am more than happy

 

[davestan]

Yep -

All paid for with Alex Plat travel insurnace -
Just evidence booked with points, and taxes paid on card required.

)

As has been pointed out elsewhere in this thread, in the latest terms & conditions (July 2018) payment of taxes on the card is no longer listed as a requirement.

This does make sense as some airlines do require taxes to be paid with a monetary cost separately (eg Qantas) and in these cases I probably would pay that with the card. But others (eg, Virgin) factor in taxes in the final point payment required).

I still can't help but think that if prior to the trip, activation documentation could be forwarded to Chubb, and some sort of activation confirmation or policy number was issued it would be a whole lot more comforting!

 

[serenityc]

Interested to see if people rely solely on the Platinum Charge Travel Insurance.

My husband has a pre existing health condition.We have always used VISA as the extra cost for the complimentary health insurance is just $75.00 per trip. My husband booked a flight for a golfing holiday and used our AMEX card for the flight. They flatly refused to consider covering any pre existing health conditions, even for an extra fee. This mistake cost him hundreds of dollars to arrange insurance independently. Have others had this problem?