Qantas Award Flights - Insurance to cover?

[Joy6328]

I know this isn't the right place for it - but I didn't get any help in the Insurance section...

We are a family of 4, travelling to Canada, UK, Italy and transiting through Dubai / Singapore on the way home.

Bookings are a mix of paid and Classic Reward Business Class tickets.... Is Qantas Travel Insurance my best option to protect the reward bookings (in the event of them being cancelled etc)? I also have an AMEX with built in insurance and have paid for some of the tickets, and the taxes for Rewards flights with this card.

Any recomendations would be really appreciated - thank you!

 

[exceladdict]

YMMV but i contacted an insurance provider earlier in the year for confirmation that seperately paid tickets (a mix of award and cash bookings) fulfil the requirement of a 'return' ticket. I would personally want that in writing from your insurance provider before moving forward.

I have 'relied' on complimentary CC insurance many times in the past but never had to claim.

Be sure to double check in the PDS for a bunch of things that are excluded (snowsports etc) or may have lower limits than paid insurance. Particularly with 4 travellers if you are limited to say 3k for covid expenses if you have to bear expenses to isolate, that may not cover it.

 

[MrJetset]

Regardless of insurance provider, if your flights are cancelled you will get the points back.

In the event that you don't (travel has commenced, for e.g.) your insurance will calculate a cash value for the points to reimburse you for.

Most insurance will not cover new flights for you to purchase, simply cover the flights you already purchase.

 

[Joy6328]

YMMV but i contacted an insurance provider earlier in the year for confirmation that seperately paid tickets (a mix of award and cash bookings) fulfil the requirement of a 'return' ticket. I would personally want that in writing from your insurance provider before moving forward.

I have 'relied' on complimentary CC insurance many times in the past but never had to claim.

Be sure to double check in the PDS for a bunch of things that are excluded (snowsports etc) or may have lower limits than paid insurance. Particularly with 4 travellers if you are limited to say 3k for covid expenses if you have to bear expenses to isolate, that may not cover it.

Thank you - thats why i was wondering if maybe best to buy Qantas Travel insurance as I have booked all QFF, Emirates and BA flights.... I'll definitely look into the PDS.

 

[Joy6328]

Regardless of insurance provider, if your flights are cancelled you will get the points back.

In the event that you don't (travel has commenced, for e.g.) your insurance will calculate a cash value for the points to reimburse you for.

Most insurance will not cover new flights for you to purchase, simply cover the flights you already purchase.

Thank you - I think this is what I"m most worried about. I have busines class tickets ex Canada that I got with points that have an airline value of $8k each. We can't afford to pay cash for those same seats, but I dare say the 'value' of my points would not be generously calculated either.

Do you know if Qantas has any responsibility to rebook us in the same class or if they simply cancel our reward tickets and we are forced to find our own way with new tickets? We are travelling at Xmas so it's a stress point for me... trying to do my best to protect our travel.

 

[MrJetset]

Thank you - I think this is what I"m most worried about. I have busines class tickets ex Canada that I got with points that have an airline value of $8k each. We can't afford to pay cash for those same seats, but I dare say the 'value' of my points would not be generously calculated either.

Do you know if Qantas has any responsibility to rebook us in the same class or if they simply cancel our reward tickets and we are forced to find our own way with new tickets? We are travelling at Xmas so it's a stress point for me... trying to do my best to protect our travel.

On QF metal, if they cancel the flight, they will generally rebook you.

On other partners you're left to find our own new availability.

 

[Joy6328]

On QF metal, if they cancel the flight, they will generally rebook you.

On other partners you're left to find our own new availability.

Thank you - good to know!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There are lots of insurances that cover reward points! Qantas insurance may or may not be your best option, it depends on the price and the scope of cover.

Things to look out for are whether your company will bring you home, in the same class, as your cancelled award booking, and/or how they cover any ‘lost’ points that might not be recoverable.

If an airline cancels your flights you will get your points back. But what if you get sick? While you might get your points back for the flights you can’t take, but unless you can find alternative award availability, that doesn’t get you back home! An appropriate travel insurance should cover the latter.

 

[Scr77]

Thank you - thats why i was wondering if maybe best to buy Qantas Travel insurance as I have booked all QFF, Emirates and BA flights.... I'll definitely look into the PDS.

Don’t go thinking that because it’s “Qantas Travel Insurance” it’ll be better. Look around. We used Medibank in April and there was some cover for points, but you really need to read the PDS.

 

[Anna]

I would suggest making a list of what events you want insurance cover for. Eg if you have to go to hospital, if you have to buy a new flight because your reward flight was cancelled and there was no other award availability to rebook, lost bags, or whatever it is you have in your mind that you are concerned about. Then go through the PDS and check off your list as to what the cover is and what the claiming conditions are, and any exclusions. You might also need to read the actual policy document for the details. It's boring but it's the way to avoid nasty surprises later if you need to claim.

 

[MrJetset]

I just looked at the QF PDS. Travel Delay is a merely $1,500.

If you have to stay somewhere because of a delayed flight or Covid it come sunder Travel Delay.

Generally you are looking for:

Medical and Covid - Unlimited
Travel Delay - Enough to cover 5-10 nights of extra accomm
And the sub limits of items like luggage, jewellery and watches.

I've been looking and found World Nomads offers $10k in Travel Delay for 2 pax which is very, very good. Allianz was only $2k.

 

[Joy6328]

I just looked at the QF PDS. Travel Delay is a merely $1,500.

If you have to stay somewhere because of a delayed flight or Covid it come sunder Travel Delay.

Generally you are looking for:

Medical and Covid - Unlimited
Travel Delay - Enough to cover 5-10 nights of extra accomm
And the sub limits of items like luggage, jewellery and watches.

I've been looking and found World Nomads offers $10k in Travel Delay for 2 pax which is very, very good. Allianz was only $2k.

Thank you very much! Looks like I have a boring weekend of PDS reading ahead of me!

 

[algae]

Does anyone know if there are any travel insurance policies that would cover the following example situations:

1. Reward business multiple-leg journey that has commenced and one middle leg gets cancelled by airline. Qantas unable to find alternative reward availability. Traveller pays $15,000 for an equivalent business fare to continue journey (even if total itinerary cost was 318k points+ $2,000).

2. As above, however for a trip that hasn't commenced yet.

With #2 i suspect that probably doesn't exist (fair enough). But does #1 exist out there at all?

 

[Joy6328]

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Does anyone know if there are any travel insurance policies that would cover the following example situations:

1. Reward business multiple-leg journey that has commenced and one middle leg gets cancelled by airline. Qantas unable to find alternative reward availability. Traveller pays $15,000 for an equivalent business fare to continue journey (even if total itinerary cost was 318k points+ $2,000).

2. As above, however for a trip that hasn't commenced yet.

With #2 i suspect that probably doesn't exist (fair enough). But does #1 exist out there at all?

This is the most generous limit I have found (you have to pay extra for higher limit) but it doesn’t include Covid cover…

I’m still looking because my situation is similar to yours - very long planned family trip, multiple legs of business class reward tickets that we can’t afford to pay cash to replace…

https://travel.allianz.com.au/pds

 

[algae]

This is the most generous limit I have found (you have to pay extra for higher limit) but it doesn’t include Covid cover…

Reading through this now.... As i can see, "Trip cancellation cover" which you can increase to 'unlimited' covers "your reasonable costs of rescheduling your journey" (2.1.1.c).

However the kicker is "The most we will pay for rescheduling your journey is the unrecoverable amount that would have been payable under sub-sections 2.1.1.a and b.

Which, as i understand, is pretty minor and will only cover things like hotels or bookings that would be lost?

I'm sure there are others more experienced than me who could confirm this.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Does anyone know if there are any travel insurance policies that would cover the following example situations:

1. Reward business multiple-leg journey that has commenced and one middle leg gets cancelled by airline. Qantas unable to find alternative reward availability. Traveller pays $15,000 for an equivalent business fare to continue journey (even if total itinerary cost was 318k points+ $2,000).

2. As above, however for a trip that hasn't commenced yet.

With #2 i suspect that probably doesn't exist (fair enough). But does #1 exist out there at all?

I think scenario 1 is unlikely to happen in terms of the dollar values. In those circumstances it is advisable to contact the insurance company to work out with them how much they will pay before booking and alternative flights. Spending $15k might not be covered, but spending $1000 to fly that leg in economy so you can resume your trip might be covered (or if it’s long haul the insurance company might want to choose a connecting flight for $3000, etc rather than $15k for non-stop)

 

[jbman]

Did you end finding suitable insurance cover for your award bookings?

 

[Joy6328]

Hi -

Did you end finding suitable insurance cover for your award bookings?

I ended up buying a family policy through Southern Cross Travel Insurance. I hope it was the right move! It seemed to have good limits for what we wanted and it was reccomended to us, plus had good reviews. Time will tell but hopefully it wont be needed! Happy to update here if we do make any claims etc

 

[jbman]

In the same boat, looking at either Allianz or SCTI

Cheers

 

[exceladdict]

I made a claim on the ANZ bundled credit card travel insurance recently for a domestic trip where a bag was delayed (discussed a little bit in other threads). The flights were Qantas awards, we were eligible due to prepaid activities purchased on the card.

The claim was only $~300 but I have to say I was so impressed with the speed of the processing and ease of the whole experience. Very pleased.