Travel insurance credit cards

Compare credit cards with complimentary insurance for domestic and overseas travel including your luggage and car rental.

By Verified by David Boyd   |   Updated 11 Sep 2024

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Comparing of 11 travel insurance credit cards

Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard

Interstate flight inconvenience

Yes

International travel insurance

Yes

Personal item theft cover

Yes

Annual fee

$69.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Experience 0% p.a. interest on balance transfers for 12 months (with a 2% BT fee, then 12.99% p.a.).
  • 0% p.a. for 12 months on purchases (reverting to 12.99% p.a.).
  • Benefit from up to 55 interest-free days.
  • Offer exclusively for new customers within a specified period. Additional charges, along with terms and conditions, apply.

Pros

  • 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 12 months.
  • 0% p.a. for 12 months on purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees. Plus, complimentary overseas travel insurance for you and your family.

Cons

  • There is no rewards program on this card.
  • There is a 2% BT fee.
Qantas Premier Platinum Credit Card

Interstate flight inconvenience

Yes

International travel insurance

Yes

Personal item theft cover

No

Annual fee

$349.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Earn up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points. Receive 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 or more on eligible purchases within 3 months from card approval. Plus an additional 30,000 bonus points if you have not earned Qantas Points with a credit card in the last 12 months. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Enjoy 0% on Balance Transfer for 12 months with no Balance Transfer fee. Reverts to Cash Advance rate, thereafter. No interest-free days apply on retail purchases while you have a balance transfer.
  • Save with the reduced annual fee of $349 p.a. for the first year. An ongoing annual fee of $399 p.a. applies in the 2nd year.

Pros

  • Earn up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points when you meet the criteria.
  • 0% p.a. for 12 months on balance transfers.
  • Additional savings with the $349 first-year annual fee.
  • Comes with complimentary travel insurance.

Cons

  • The annual fee increases to $399 p.a. after the initial year.
NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card

Interstate flight inconvenience

No

International travel insurance

Yes

Personal item theft cover

N/A

Annual fee

$295.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Gain up to 120,000 bonus Qantas Points. Acquire 90,000 bonus points upon spending $3,000 within the initial 60 days from account approval date and an additional 30,000 bonus points upon maintaining your card open for over 12 months. Terms and conditions apply.
  • Benefit from 0% on balance transfers for 12 months with a 3% Balance Transfer Fee.
  • First-year annual fee reduced to $295 p.a. from $395 p.a. (saving you $100).

Pros

  • Complimentary Qantas Frequent Flyer membership fee valued at $99.50.
  • Six complimentary insurances when you make an eligible purchase.
  • Earn 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent on everyday purchases up to $5,000 per statement period then 0.05 pts per $1 spent thereafter (capped at $20,000).

Cons

  • Annual fee of $395 p.a. is quite high.
Westpac Altitude Black Credit Card (Altitude)

Interstate flight inconvenience

Yes

International travel insurance

Yes

Personal item theft cover

Yes

Annual fee

$150.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Earn up to 150,000 bonus Altitude Points. Receive 100,000 Altitude bonus points by spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within 120 days of card approval. Additionally, get 50,000 points after your first eligible purchase in year 2. Exclusions apply.
  • Initial $150 p.a. annual fee ($295 p.a. thereafter), applicable to new cardholders only.
  • Earn 6 Altitude points per $1 on Qantas, Jetstar, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates flights bought in Australia, subject to eligibility criteria.

Pros

  • Earn up to 150,000 bonus Altitude Points when you meet the criteria.
  • Additional savings with the $150 first-year annual fee ($295 p.a. thereafter).
  • Earn 1.25 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases
  • Get 2 complimentary lounge passes each year with Priority Pass.

Cons

  • The high annual fee of $295 p.a. after the initial year.
Westpac Altitude Platinum Credit Card (Qantas)

Interstate flight inconvenience

No

International travel insurance

Yes

Personal item theft cover

Yes

Annual fee

$119.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Receive up to 80,000 bonus Qantas Points. Acquire 60,000 Qantas Points in the first year upon spending $4k+ on eligible purchases within the initial 90 days from new card approval, and an additional 20,000 points after your first eligible purchase in the second year..
  • Initial $119 p.a. annual fee followed by $175 p.a. thereafter (Plus a $75 Qantas Rewards opt-in annual fee).
  • Earn 0.5 Qantas points per $1 spent on eligible purchases.

Pros

  • Receive up to 80,000 bonus Qantas Points when you meet the criteria.
  • Additional savings with the $119 first-year annual fee ($175 p.a. thereafter).
  • Comes with complimentary insurance covers which include overseas medical and purchase security.

Cons

  • Only up to 45 days interest-free on purchases.
BankSA Amplify Signature Credit Card (Amplify)

Interstate flight inconvenience

No

International travel insurance

Yes

Personal item theft cover

No

Annual fee

$199.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Earn up to 150,000 Bonus Amplify Rewards Points over 2 years when you spend $12,000 on eligible purchases within the first 12 months from card approval.
  • $199 p.a. annual fee for the first year ($295 p.a. annual fee thereafter).
  • Includes complimentary overseas travel insurance for up to 6 months

Pros

  • Enjoy 2 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits each year when you enroll in Priority Pass.
  • The 150,000 bonus Amplify Rewards Points.
  • $199 p.a. annual fee for the first year ($295 p.a. annual fee thereafter).
  • Includes complimentary overseas travel insurance for up to 6 months

Cons

  • After the initial year, the annual fee is $295 p.a.
  • There is no promotional balance transfer offer at the moment.
Bank of Melbourne Amplify Platinum Credit Card (Qantas)

Interstate flight inconvenience

No

International travel insurance

Yes

Personal item theft cover

No

Annual fee

$99.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Up to 50,000 bonus Qantas Points earned upon spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 90 days from card approval. Exclusions apply.
  • Pay an annual fee of $99 for the first year ($124 thereafter).
  • Earn 0.5 points per $1 spent (uncapped).

Pros

  • The 50,000 bonus Qantas Points.
  • Discounted annual fee on the first year.
  • Complimentary travel and purchase insurance.

Cons

  • Points earning rate of 0.5 points is lower than others.
Bank of Melbourne Amplify Signature Credit Card (Amplify)

Apply by 30 November 2024

Bank of Melbourne Amplify Signature Credit Card (Amplify)

Interstate flight inconvenience

No

International travel insurance

Yes

Personal item theft cover

No

Annual fee

$199.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Receive up to 150,000 bonus Amplify Points when you apply by 30 November 2024, get approved, and spend $12,000 on eligible purchases within the first 12 months of card approval. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Discounted first-year annual fee of $199.
  • Includes complimentary overseas travel insurance for up to 6 months

Pros

  • The 150,000 bonus Amplify Rewards Points.
  • Enjoy 2 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits each year when you enroll in Priority Pass.
  • Discounted first-year annual fee of $199.
  • Includes complimentary overseas travel insurance for up to 6 months

Cons

  • There is no promotional balance transfer offer at the moment.
  • After the initial year, the annual fee reverts to $295 p.a.
St.George Amplify Platinum Credit Card (Qantas)

Apply by 30 November 2024

St.George Amplify Platinum Credit Card (Qantas)

Interstate flight inconvenience

Yes

International travel insurance

Yes

Personal item theft cover

Yes

Annual fee

$99.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Up to 50,000 bonus Qantas Points earned upon spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 90 days from card approval. Exclusions apply.
  • Pay an annual fee of $99 for the first year ($124 thereafter).
  • Earn 0.5 points per $1 spent (uncapped).

Pros

  • The 50,000 bonus Qantas Points.
  • Discounted annual fee on the first year.
  • Complimentary travel and purchase insurance.

Cons

  • Points earning rate of 0.5 points is lower than others.
Bendigo Bank Qantas Platinum Credit Card

Interstate flight inconvenience

Yes

International travel insurance

Yes

Personal item theft cover

No

Annual fee

$149.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Earn 0.6 Qantas Points per $1 spent.
  • 180 days of comprehensive travel insurance.
  • Includes extended warranty on covered purchases and 90-day purchase protection on stolen or accidentally damaged purchases (conditions apply).

Pros

  • Earn 0.6 Qantas Points per $1 spent.
  • Free Qantas Frequent Flyer membership.
  • 180 days of comprehensive travel insurance.
  • Up to 55 days interest-free.

Cons

  • There is no introductory balance transfer offer or purchase rate offer.
  • The 20,000 cap on reward earnings per statement period.
  • ATO spend does not earn points.
HSBC Platinum Credit Card

Interstate flight inconvenience

No

International travel insurance

Yes

Personal item theft cover

Yes

Annual fee

$0.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Avail of the 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 12 months with a 2% balance transfer fee.
  • Enjoy the first year with no annual fee, then it's $149 per year afterward.
  • Earn 2 Reward Plus points per $1 spent on overseas eligible purchases and 1 Reward Plus point per $1 spent for all other eligible purchases.
  • $6,000 minimum credit limit.

Pros

  • 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 12 months.
  • $0 annual fee for the first year.
  • Enjoy 2 airport lounge passes every year.
  • Benefit from HSBC Instant Savings with exclusive dining and shopping discounts.
  • Includes complimentary travel and purchase protection insurance.
  • Choice of points transfer partners (Asia Miles, KrisFlyer, Velocity Frequent Flyer).

Cons

  • The balance transfer rate reverts to 21.99% p.a. after 12 months.
  • 2% balance transfer fee.
  • The 10,000 points cap per statement period.

Learn all about

  • Q&As

Do all credit cards have complimentary travel insurance cover?

No. The higher your annual fee, the more likely it is that your card will have travel insurance. Rewards points and frequent flyer points cards also tend to have travel insurance since many of the points redemption options involve travel. But cards with a lower, or zero, annual fee may not have any travel insurance benefits.

What is covered by my credit card travel insurance policy?

You will need to read the details in the product information booklet (either a printed copy or a downloaded PDF file) to find out exactly what is covered, and what the payout limits and conditions are. Some of the items commonly covered are:

  • Emergency medical expenses while travelling overseas
  • Loss, theft and damage cover for luggage and other personal belongings
  • Compensation for unavoidable trip cancellation or missed connections
  • Compensation for delay, e.g. delayed flights
  • Car rental insurance excess waiver (mostly while overseas only, but some policies cover this in Australia as well)
  • Accidental death or permanent disability, loss of income
  • Personal liability while travelling

Who is covered by my credit card travel insurance policy?

Again, this varies from card to card. The primary cardholder is invariably covered if there is a travel insurance policy in place. The vast majority of policies (but not all of them) also cover the cardholder’s spouse and children when accompanying the cardholder, provided the policy activation conditions have been met for all persons travelling. Many cards also have cover for supplementary cardholders, which means that a spouse who is a supplementary cardholder is still covered, and children accompanying the spouse are still covered, when travelling without the primary cardholder. Accompanying extended family members, such as parents or siblings, would not be covered (unless they were a supplementary cardholder). Check the product disclosure statement to find out what your particular policy covers.

What is the maximum trip length allowed on my credit card travel insurance policy?

Although there is usually no limit on the number of trips covered in any year, there is a limit on each trip’s duration. For trips within Australia there is often a 14-day limit, and the trip must involve interstate air travel. Overseas trip cover generally allows for longer periods of cover, from 30 days to as long as six months. Once again, the insurance information booklet or product disclosure statement will have more information about this.

How do I activate my credit card travel insurance policy?

Most credit card travel insurance policies have some kind of activation condition, involving travel spending using the credit card. For domestic travel insurance (interstate flight inconvenience cover) you will usually have to pay the airfares in full for everyone needing to be covered. Overseas travel policy activation normally has either the same airfare payment condition, or a target amount (e.g. $500) to be spent using the card for the trip’s prepaid expenses (fares, accommodation, tour or activity costs, etc.) before departure. Rewards and frequent flyer points cards sometimes accept activation where the airfares were purchased with points.

Is the credit card issuer also the insurer behind the policy?

No. The card issuer will have made a master agreement with an insurance underwriter (e.g. ACE, Allianz, QBE) to provide cover for its cardholders.

How do I make a claim against my credit card travel insurance policy?

You will need to make a claim directly with the insurance underwriter, although your card issuer’s service centre will usually help you to get in touch with them if you don’t have the contact details with you while travelling. But it is a good idea to take the policy and insurer contact details with you (or have them available on your mobile device). The insurance underwriter’s product disclosure statement will often provide a list of emergency contact telephone numbers for popular overseas destinations. If you need to make a claim but do not need financial, legal or practical assistance through the policy while you are away, you can wait until you return home before you contact the insurer. Retain any paperwork that you will need to support your claim, and don’t wait too long: there will be a time limit after your return during which you must make your claim.

What credit card travel insurance options are available for over 65's?

Complimentary travel insurance coverage and age restrictions vary between the credit cards that offer this insurance. The age limit ranges from 50 to 90 but you would usually be covered if you are under 80 years old.

For your quick reference, you can easily compare the insurance provider, maximum age limit and general restrictions below:

  • American Express (Chubb): Up to 79 (You must be under 80 years of age and in a good state of health and be fit to travel to be eligible for this cover).
  • ANZ (Allianz): Up to 80. To be eligible you must be 80 years of age or under on the day you activated cover.
  • Bankwest (Cover-More): Overall age limit is 79, if you have asthma it is under 60, and if you have diabetes or glucose intolerance, then it is under 50.
  • Bank of Melbourne (Allianz): Up to 80 (This cover is only available to persons up to and including 80 years of age).
  • Citi (Allianz): Up to 79. Limited cover is available for people aged 80 or over but may require further steps to activate and may attract a premium charge.
  • HSBC (Allianz): Age limit is not outlined in the policy document.
  • NAB (QBE): Up to 90. You must be 90 years of age or under before the date of departure for your trip. Note that you will not be covered if you have to return to Australia due to the unforeseen death, accidental injury or illness of a relative over 80 years of age.
  • St.George (Allianz): Up to 80. This cover is only available to persons up to and including 80 years of age.
  • Virgin Money (Allianz): Age limit is not outlined in the policy document.
  • Westpac (Allianz): Up to 80. This cover is only available to persons up to and including 80 years of age.