Virgin Platinum high flyer no travel insurance

[flightaway]

Hi paulod

Just read your post. I am having similar issues with the high flyer card.

see my post under travel insurance

 

[Moopere]

I've just encountered the same with the High Flyer card.
Rang Zurich to check if I would be covered for my overseas trip. They said the flight out of and back in to Australia needs to be paid on the card to activate the insurance. I said that those flights had been booked using some points, with the cash component paid on the card, as well as all accommodation, other flights during the trip (including NRT-LAX paid in full on the card).... No dice.

tried to argue that the Tax Invoice from Virgin states "Total Fare and other charges: $xx " which is the cost of the flight paid on the card, nope, no cover.

I'm going to try ring back and think of a way to word it without mentioning "frequent flyer points" just not sure how yet!
Also I can't see anything in the T&C'S that relates to using points.

has anyone ever had any luck getting them to grant insurance in this scenario or am I dreaming?

I've had these conversations in the past myself. I ended up coming to the conclusion that the CSR's start to hear what they might consider 'tricky' talk and just start saying no to everything. The problem of course is that insurance is a serious business and one does like to be completely sure of ones cover before going on adventures.

If one was prepared to take the risk, and I'm not that one, but if you were, I reckon you'd be able to make it stick. These types of contracts have to be 'reasonable' if they make it to court. In the case quoted, you get an invoice and at the bottom of the invoice is stated the 'total' cost ... you pay that on your card and I reckon thats the reasonable test passed right there. Its not (or shouldnt be) up to the consumer to try and back calculate how the airline arrived at their 'total' cost on the invoice.

Having said that, this isn't the type of conversation you want to be having with your lawyer at home whilst you're stuck in a hospital overseas paying 10K a day.

I'm probably doing myself a disservice, as in not getting the best possible deal, but these days, if a contract is so convoluted that I can't see a clear direction then the product isn't for me. This goes for banks, credit cards, insurance, everything. For insurance, I don't want corner case cover, I want blanket cover for reasonable things I might be doing whilst away. If I were climbing Everest I'd probably get my solicitor to look over my insurance first

 

[psi999]

Very frustrating that loyalty means nothing here. Fly Virgin, have Virgin credit card, spend enough to earn points for an overseas trip - get shafted on the insurance.

While not virgin i recently discovered this was also the case for the JQ Platinum CC (QFF points).

Points + pay = no insurance which was rather annoying as i'd entirely booked an upcoming 3 week trip on this card before querying the insurance situation on redemption flights (my bad).

I canceled the card on the spot, two weeks before the annual fee was due (which i would have been happy to pay for the above 3-week insurance coverage).

 

[lovetravellingoz]

just reading about the westpac situation above... $500.. we had a friend in the same situation... also westpac, maybe it was a different card... anyway she had the same issue... total amount of the airfare had to be on the card.

Not correct with current Westpac Cards, if it is one of these:

• Black card;
• Platinum Plus card;
• Platinum A card;
• Platinum B card; and
• Gold card..

http://www.westpac.com.au/docs/pdf/pb/westpac_credit_card_comp_insurance_policy_after21Oct2012

Coverage with Westpac is activated by:

* spending $500 per person on travel/accommodation/tour etc costs associated with that trip
* possessing a travel ticket out of, and back to Australia. - This can be purchased, or can be obtained by points. If purchased it does not have to be on the Westpac card. You just need to spend a minimum of $500 pp as mentioned.




Also on FF Points

How we value travel tickets or
accommodation obtained by way of
redeeming reward/frequent flyer points


If the travel/accommodation provider or travel agent will
not refund the value of the component (or will only refund
a portion of the value) of the accommodation/transport
ticket which was obtained by redeeming reward/frequent
flyer points, we will refund the cost of the equivalent
accommodation/ transport ticket based on the quoted retail
price at the time the accommodation/transport ticket was
issued less the value of the portion of points refunded back
to you.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not correct with current Westpac Cards, if it is one of these:

I admit I'm a bit rusty on non-ANZ cards... this was a couple years ago - so it might have been another card not westpac.

the main difference was the full payment on the card vs the other types such as 250/500 spend for ANZ/Westpac as you point out.

 

[AdMEL]

Not correct with current Westpac Cards, if it is one of these:

• Black card;
• Platinum Plus card;
• Platinum A card;
• Platinum B card; and
• Gold card..

http://www.westpac.com.au/docs/pdf/pb/westpac_credit_card_comp_insurance_policy_after21Oct2012

Coverage with Westpac is activated by:

* spending $500 per person on travel/accommodation/tour etc costs associated with that trip
* possessing a travel ticket out of, and back to Australia. - This can be purchased, or can be obtained by points or purchased. If purchase it does not have to be on the Westpac card. You just need to spend a minimum of $500 as mentioned.




Also on FF Points

How we value travel tickets or
accommodation obtained by way of
redeeming reward/frequent flyer points


If the travel/accommodation provider or travel agent will
not refund the value of the component (or will only refund
a portion of the value) of the accommodation/transport
ticket which was obtained by redeeming reward/frequent
flyer points, we will refund the cost of the equivalent
accommodation/ transport ticket based on the quoted retail
price at the time the accommodation/transport ticket was
issued less the value of the portion of points refunded back
to you.

I admit I'm a bit rusty on non-ANZ cards... this was a couple years ago - so it might have been another card not westpac.

the main difference was the full payment on the card vs the other types such as 250/500 spend for ANZ/Westpac as you point out.

A few years ago, Westpac cards required the total return flight to be paid on the card.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A few years ago, Westpac cards required the total return flight to be paid on the card.

ah - that would explain it, thanks