Qantas Travel Insurance offers peace of mind whenever you’re out and about, travelling within Australia and overseas. It’s now revamped with some limited cover for coronavirus-related issues.
If you’re wondering about border closures, we’ll tell you right now: no travel insurance policy will cover you for being impacted by government-related border closures.
But if you do need medical cover overseas, car rental excess cover or trip cancellation and luggage protection cover around Australia, then these policies might still be useful.
We take you through everything you need to know, including what travel insurance cover is available and how you can earn points. For more general information, see our guide to Qantas Insurance as a whole.
Note: This is a factual guide to Qantas Insurance products. You should read the relevant PDS in detail and assess whether the cover and associated costs are appropriate for your personal circumstances.
What is Qantas Travel Insurance?
Underwritten by XL Insurance Company and managed by nib, Qantas Travel Insurance policies protect you from unforeseen circumstances when you’re travelling, either for leisure or work.
The costs arising from these situations, particularly when it involves overseas medical emergencies, can easily reach tens of thousands of dollars. Holding a comprehensive travel insurance policy is crucial when you’re travelling internationally.
What’s covered with Qantas Travel Insurance policies
As of March 2021, Qantas Travel Insurance currently offers only two different types of cover, in line with reduced travel demand domestically and internationally.
- Australian comprehensive: trip cancellation, luggage protection and some coronavirus-related events
- International comprehensive: overseas medical expenses, evacuation/repatriation, trip cancellation, luggage protection, and cover for some coronavirus-related events
Visit the Qantas Travel Insurance page to compare the different policies. A quick summary (for travellers up to 69 years of age) is below, taken from the PDS. There are separate documents for travellers above 70 years of age.
| Travel insurance (0-69 years of age) | Australian comprehensive | International comprehensive |
| Medical expenses incurred outside of Australia | n/a | Unlimited |
| Emergency dental expenses incurred outside Australia | n/a | Unlimited |
| Medical evacuation and repatriation | $10,000 | Unlimited |
| Cancellation or holiday deferment costs | $3,000 | Unlimited |
| Agent’s cancellation fees | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Loss of Qantas or reward points | Up to 1,000,000 Qantas Points only | Unlimited |
| Travel delay | $500 | $1,500 |
| Rental vehicle insurance excess | $8,000+ | $8,000+ |
| Luggage and personal effects | $3,000 (sub-limits apply) | $15,000 (sub-limits apply) |
| Personal liability | $300,000 | $3,000,000 |
| Coronavirus travel costs | $2,500 | $2,500 |
Coronavirus related events
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, some travel insurance policies now include limited cover for coronavirus-related scenarios. This includes:
- You or a travel companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 and have to cancel the trip
- A close relative or business partner in Australia is hospitalised or dies due to COVID-19 and you have to cancel the trip
- Your pre-booked accommodation is closed for cleaning following a confirmed case of COVID-19
- You are denied boarding due to be suspected of being infected with coronavirus
- You or a travel companion are confined to compulsory quarantine as a result of a diagnosis or close contact with a case of COVID-19
Note that cover for general border closure disruptions is not included with travel insurance policies.
Learn more about what travel insurance covers with coronavirus-related travel claims →
What is excluded from Qantas Travel Insurance?
Qantas Travel Insurance has a list of general exclusions that will apply across the board. In these cases, your policy may not provide you with any benefits, so it’s very important to know what to avoid.
Your policy won’t pay any benefits when:
- you know you will be unable to avoid close contact with a case of COVID-19 during your trip
- any general change of mind against travelling
- you are medically unfit to travel or travel against medical advice
- you fail to promptly rearrange your travel plans and incur extra costs
- any deliberate injuries, being intoxicated to alcohol or being intoxicated to a drug
- travelling to a country or region subject to a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning by the Australian government
These are just a guide, so be sure to check the PDS for the full list of exclusions and your obligations to ensure your cover remains valid.
How do I earn points with Qantas Travel Insurance?
Although there usually aren’t any sign-up bonuses with travel insurance policies, you can earn 1 Qantas Point per A$1 spent. This will usually be credited to you within 6 weeks of your trip departure.
How do I buy Qantas Travel Insurance?
- Visit the Qantas Travel Insurance website
- Choose your preferred cover and click ‘Get a Quote’
- Enter the required fields, including your trip details
- Login to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account when prompted to help pre-fill your data, if desired
- Your quote will be displayed, along with how many Qantas Points you could earn
- If you’re happy with your quote, click ‘Select’ to proceed with further option cover (such as snow sports), if needed
- Make payment and receive your policy documents.
How do I claim on Qantas Travel insurance?
It’s good to know what to do in case of unforeseen events. In case of an emergency, contact nib at:
- +61 3 8523 2800 from outside of Australia
- 1300 555 019 within Australia
- Email [email protected]
You can lodge a claim while overseas or when you’re back in Australia. You can download a claim form from the Qantas website and then email the completed form to the address above.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, in 2021, Qantas re-introduced a limited selection of travel insurance policies with COVID-19 cover.
Qantas travel insurance is underwritten by XL Insurance Company and managed by nib.
Every travel insurance company has its own merits and shortfalls. You should see which ones offer the policies that suit you the best.
Point Hacks is not affiliated with Qantas Travel Insurance.
Community