A guide to Virgin’s complimentary credit card travel insurance
Virgin’s High Flyer and Flyer credit cards come with a range of complimentary insurance options, including cover for travel if you have a Virgin High Flyer credit card. Provided by Allianz Global Assistance, this complimentary international travel insurance policy offers unlimited cover for medical expenses, lost, damaged or stolen personal or business belongings, cancelled travel arrangements, missed flights, personal legal expenses and rental vehicle excess charges.
Here we look at the features of Virgin’s credit card complimentary international travel insurance, including the benefit limits, eligibility requirements and travel extras you should know about before heading overseas. We’ve also included details of other complimentary insurance options you can get with eligible Virgin Money credit cards.
Which cards offer complimentary travel insurance?
| Credit Card | Includes complimentary travel insurance? |
|---|---|
| Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer credit card |
|
The Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer credit card offers complimentary international travel insurance, flight inconvenience insurance and transit accident insurance. It also comes with complimentary purchase cover, extended warranty insurance and a guaranteed pricing scheme.
While the High Flyer is the only Virgin Money credit card that offers international travel insurance, you can also take advantage of complimentary transit accident insurance with a Virgin Flyer credit card. As outlined below, this specific type of travel insurance provides you with cover for accidental death or injury whilst on a trip when you’re riding as a passenger or boarding/leaving a plane, tourist bus, train or ferry.
What are the eligibility requirements?
- Pay for your pre-booked, return overseas travel ticket with your Virgin High Flyer credit card to get up to six months complimentary international travel insurance. Cover is automatic from the date of departure on your travel ticket.
- This policy also offers coverage for your spouse and dependent children. To be eligible, they must also charge the cost of their tickets to your credit card and be travelling with your for the entire journey.
- Note that pre-existing medical conditions are not covered. You must apply for additional cover if you wish to include an existing medical condition within the policy benefits.
What is a pre-existing medical condition?
A pre-existing medical condition is defined as a condition you’re aware of before leaving on your trip, which you have received treatment or advice for in the past. Examples of pre-existing medical conditions as listed in the terms and conditions include mental disorders, anxiety, drug addiction and alcoholism.
How do I know if I’m covered and what I’m covered for?
1. Overseas travel and medical insurance. This policy gives you six months cover if you purchase an overseas return flight or 31 days cover if you’ve purchased an overseas one-way flight.
You’re covered for expenses including hospital and doctor’s costs, the cost of replacing your lost or stolen personal and business belongings, funeral expenses, legal liability expenses and the cost of making alternative travel arrangements if your plans change due to events out of your control.
2. Transit accident insurance. This policy covers you for injury or death when you’re riding in a passenger vehicle such as a plane, bus or ferry. Benefits cover the loss of senses and limbs as well as accidental death.
3. Rental vehicle excess cover. Cover for additional excess charges if you have an accident in a rental vehicle and you must make a claim under the rental vehicle insurance policy.
Who is considered a spouse?
A married or de facto partner who permanently resides with the cardholder.
Who is considered a dependent child?
Unmarried children up to the age of 18, or 21 if studying full time. A dependent child lives with the cardholder (when not at school) and is dependent on the cardholder for care.
How do I make a claim?
Claim details
Call Allianz Global Assistance on 1800 072 791 to claim a benefit under this policy. All claims must be made within 30 days of the completion of your journey.
You may be required to provide proof of cover and supporting documents including:
- Your credit card statement showing the purchase of your overseas travel ticket
- A copy of a police report, if you’re claiming for lost or stolen items
- Proof of ownership of lost, stolen or damaged items
- Flight itineraries and letters from carriers detailing delayed flights or unexpected events
Note: An excess in insurance is basically the amount you must pay towards any claim that you make.
What are the inclusions and exclusions of Virgin High Flyer complimentary travel insurance?
Included medical benefits
| Benefit | Policy limit (per person) | Excess |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and hospital expenses | Unlimited | $200 |
| Bed care patient expenses | $110 per day up to $13,000 per person and $16,000 per cardholder | $200 |
Cancellation and additional expenses
| Benefit | Policy limit (per person) | Excess |
|---|---|---|
| Cancellation of travel arrangements and other unexpected expenses | Unlimited | $200 |
| Travel agent’s cancellation fee | The lesser of $500 or 15% of the value of the agent’s package | $200 |
| Travel agent’s insolvency | Up to $5,000 per person or $12,000 for families | $200 |
Luggage and personal effects
| Benefit | Policy limit (per person) | Excess |
|---|---|---|
| Personal property and business effects | $16,000 per person up to $32,000 per family | $200 |
| Property left unattended in a motor vehicle | $250 per item up to $2,500 in total (business effects left unattended in a car are insured up to $3,000 in total) | $200 |
| Clothing and personal valuables | $5,000 | $200 |
| Portable electrical equipment and binoculars | $5,000 | $200 |
| Cameras and accessories | $5,000 | $200 |
| Laptop computers and equipment | $5,000 | $200 |
| Travellers cheques, travel documents, credit cards and cash | $600 per person up to $1,100 for families | $200 |
| Emergency replacement for clothes and toiletries | $500 per person up to $1,000 for families | $200 |
Extra travel cover
| Benefit | Policy limit (per person) | Excess |
|---|---|---|
| For alternative travel plans to get to a special event | Up to $2,500 | $200 |
| Resumption of journey following the death of a relative | $6,000 per person up to $12,000 for families | $200 |
| Travel delay – meal and accommodation costs if your flight is delayed by more than six hours | Up to $475 per person or $1,100 for families | $200 |
Rental vehicle expenses
| Benefit | Policy limit (per person) | Excess |
|---|---|---|
| Cover for excess charges from rental vehicle insurance claims | Up to $2,750 | $200 |
Accidental death, permanent disability and loss of income
| Benefit | Policy limit (per person) | Excess |
|---|---|---|
| Funeral expenses and repatriation to Australia | Up to $20,000 | $200 |
| Accidental death | $50,000 per cardholder, $20,000 per spouse, $5,000 per dependent child | $200 |
| Loss of income | $1,250 per week up to the value of $12,000 | $200 |
Personal liability and legal expenses
| Benefit | Policy limit (per person) | Excess |
|---|---|---|
| Legal liability | $2,500,000 | $200 |
Transit accident insurance
| Benefit | Sum insured | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Transit accident injury resulting in: | Cardholder | Spouse | Dependent child |
| Loss of life | $500,000 | $250,000 | $125,000 |
| Loss of both hands or both feet | $500,000 | $250,000 | $125,000 |
| Loss of one hand and one foot | $500,000 | $250,000 | $125,000 |
| Loss of sight in both eyes | $500,000 | $250,000 | $125,000 |
| Loss of sight in one eye and loss of one hand or foot | $500,000 | $250,000 | $125,000 |
| Loss of one hand or foot | $250,000 | $120,000 | $62,500 |
| Loss of sight in one eye | $250,000 | $120,000 | $62,500 |
Interstate flight inconvenience insurance
| Benefit | Limit |
|---|---|
| Flight delay of 4 hours or more | $80 per person up to $300 per account |
| Flight delay of 10 hours or more | $80 per person up to $300 per account |
| Loss of or damage to your personal and business effects | $750 per item up to $1,500 for the entire trip |
| Funeral expenses as a result of accidental death | $2,500 per person up to $7,000 if death is the result of injuries from a sudden physical force |
| Cancellation of interstate travel arrangements | Up to $3,000 if your travel plans are cancelled due to the death or injury of a travel companion, your home is destroyed, you must attend court or you’re retrenched |
| Rental vehicle excess | Up to $2,250 |
| Missed connection | Up to $80 per person or $300 when waiting up to 4 hours for a missed connecting flight |
Other Virgin Money complimentary insurance options
Depending on the Virgin Money credit card that you choose, you could also take advantage of a range of other complimentary insurance options.
Purchase cover
This insurance will replace lost, stolen or damaged items you’ve purchased with your Virgin High Flyer credit card anywhere in the world.
- You can claim up to $10,000 for jewellery, watches and fine art.
- This insurance is capped at $200,000 in 12 months per account.
- You must pay a $100 excess if you want to make a claim.
What types of purchases aren’t covered?
Covered purchases include business effects and personal items. The following items are excluded from cover:
- Items purchase for sale or for trade
- Animals and plant life
- Computer software and other non-tangible items
- Cash, gold, trading cards, lottery tickets, gambling items, travellers cheques and collectors items such as stamps or coins
- Perishable items
- Motorised vehicles
- Second-hand items
- Contraband
- Real estate and movable fixtures and fittings
Extended warranty
Extended warranty cover is a feature of the Virgin High Flyer credit card. This insurance automatically doubles the Australian manufacturer’s warranty up to one year. The extended warranty benefit is capped at $20,000 per 12 month period and the excess is $100.
Guaranteed Pricing Scheme
Guaranteed Pricing Scheme insurance will refund you the difference in price if you buy an item with your eligible Virgin credit card and you find the item on sale for a cheaper price later.
You have to make a claim within 60 days of purchasing the original item, it must be on sale within 25kms of the original place of purchase and the difference in price must be greater than $75. You also must pay a $100 excess if you want to make a claim.
If you have a Virgin High Flyer credit card, the complimentary insurance could be a convenient way to receive cover and cut costs when planning your next overseas trip. As the travel insurance only provides basic cover, it’s important to compare your options before you apply. As activities such as snow sports and rock climbing are not covered, you might want to compare comprehensive cover for more options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides this insurance policy?
Virgin’s complimentary travel insurance is provided by Allianz Global Assistance. Before May 2016, this insurance was provided by Zurich.
How do I contact the insurer?
Call Allianz Global Assistance on 1800 072 791 for questions about pre-existing medical conditions, benefits and information on making a claim. Call +61 7 3305 7499 if you’re overseas.
What are the policy exclusions?
The following policy exclusions apply:
- Pre-existing medical conditions are not covered unless you’ve sought prior approval.
- There is a $250 limit on claims for property left unattended in a motor vehicle.
- You’re not insured for travel booked against medical advice, medical tourism, if you’ve been told you’re terminally ill or if you don’t follow a travel advice warning from a government or official body.
What if I need to claim insurance for a date before 1 May 2016?
You have 30 days to contact the insurer following your return to Australia if you want to make a claim. If you have a claim from before 1 May 2016, you’re ineligible to claim a benefit.
