who takes out travel insurance for trans Tasman or domestic travel

[PineappleSkip]

I seem to be the odd one out here!

Not quite. I've never taken out a Ti policy for domestic. For medical there's medicare and PHI. For accommodation I normally book flexible and othersise wear the risk of cancelation costs. For medivac, wel I'd probably wear the cost, but it would be similar risk if I drove to a distant town. How many here take out domestic TI for a driving holiday?

Cheers skip

 

[Quickstatus]

medivac

Domestic medical evac is not covered by Medicare. However ambulance cover should cover road ambos and recognised air retrieval services such as the RFDS.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Domestic medical evac is not covered by Medicare.

That's why I said I'd wear the cost, if needs be and if it cost. BTW as a resident of Qld I'm covered for ambos nationally, but not sure how far that will stretch

Cheers skip

 

[Quickstatus]

not sure how far that will stretch

All ambos, RFDS, westpac life saver, Careflight etc, SES rescue. NETS, RACQ rescue

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Umm. did you read the link I posted? Prior to 2020 Qantas had a specific policy covering "delays outside their control" that provided delayed passengers with one night accommodation. I posted a screenshot showing their policy from the Web Archive.

Oh! that’s embarrassing… completely missed that!! (And apologies JohnK as well!)

Away from home airport, ok. That vaguely rings a bell now I see the link you posted.

But… Im not sure i disagree with removing that as a benefit to pax. Not really something an airline should have to cover.

 

[Human]

I book everything on my AmEx Platinum Charge and rely on its insurance cover for domestic and most international trips.

The one exception was very recently for an upcoming trip this Summer: I booked a hotel at a non-refundable, pay-in-advance rate in the Top End during the wet/cyclone season and from reading the AmEx fine print was not 100% convinced that AmEx would cover any cancellation due to weather. So I paid something like $30 for a basic domestic TI policy for that one trip.

 

[hys]

I had to use the travel insurance recently from my CC, and was quite surprised by the difference between the cards.

Had an airline move a flight a day later, but this would not work for me as I had hotel bookings, meeting and onward travel plans. So had to book a last minute flight with another provider.

Commbank - had complimentary didn't even need to spend on their card and excess was only $250

I was also entitled to use Citibank, as I had booked flights through them but the excess was higher $400.

 

[JohnK]

I wasn’t referring to “airlines” I was referring to Qantas specifically. Various airlines might well never have covered it before Covid, and some might still (for weather delays). Qantas stopped. What changed during covid? They started losing shed loads of money and some one had a KPI to find ways of cutting costs. This one was an easy one.

The problem with Covid was airlines got it totally wrong.

Keep frontline staff and fire all executive staff to ensure smooth running of the airline. When things are back on track then hire some executives. Anyone can do the executive job as it requires very little skill and airlines don't lose money.

I still think airlines should be responsible for any delay as I've explained a few times in this thread. Passengers do not control weather and will not be in control nor know where the aircraft is coming from.

e.g. aircraft is in MEL and weather delays departure for 2-3 hours and arrives into SYD late. Then unable to depart SYD due to curfew. Passenger covers cost of delay including accommodation?

e.g. aircraft is in MEL and weather delays departure for 2-3 hours but now crew is out of hours and unable to depart for SYD as no replacement crew can be found. Passenger in SYD covers cost of delay including accommodation?

e.g. fog in MEL delays aircraft in morning for 2-3 hours and after 3-4 legs they are not able to make up much time and last flight of the night is cancelled so cannot depart for SYD. Passenger in SYD covers cost of delay including accommodation?

There are lots of similar scenarios and I'm sure airlines can find a few more scenarios and not deal with covering costs of delay. Expecting passenger to be fully covered is not the right expectation.

 

[RB]

The problem with Covid was airlines got it totally wrong.

Keep frontline staff and fire all executive staff to ensure smooth running of the airline. When things are back on track then hire some executives. Anyone can do the executive job as it requires very little skill and airlines don't lose money.

I still think airlines should be responsible for any delay as I've explained a few times in this thread. Passengers do not control weather and will not be in control nor know where the aircraft is coming from.

e.g. aircraft is in MEL and weather delays departure for 2-3 hours and arrives into SYD late. Then unable to depart SYD due to curfew. Passenger covers cost of delay including accommodation?

e.g. aircraft is in MEL and weather delays departure for 2-3 hours but now crew is out of hours and unable to depart for SYD as no replacement crew can be found. Passenger in SYD covers cost of delay including accommodation?

e.g. fog in MEL delays aircraft in morning for 2-3 hours and after 3-4 legs they are not able to make up much time and last flight of the night is cancelled so cannot depart for SYD. Passenger in SYD covers cost of delay including accommodation?

There are lots of similar scenarios and I'm sure airlines can find a few more scenarios and not deal with covering costs of delay. Expecting passenger to be fully covered is not the right expectation.

I am not sure you would enjoy paying the new ticket prices if we were to implement all the changes you have been suggesting on various threads

 

[Cynicor]

My 3YO broke his leg yesterday, 6 weeks in a cast and non weight bearing. Trip in 12 days to my brother’s wedding so I might be happy I have insurance coverage.

 

[Cossie]

We tend to, but I’m a worrywart and figure it’s not a huge sum in the overall scheme of things.

 

[JohnK]

I am not sure you would enjoy paying the new ticket prices if we were to implement all the changes you have been suggesting on various threads

Which changes? Are you keeping track because I've forgotten?

By the way pre-Covid I used to be able to purchase return to BKK between $750-$900 and at peak times it was $1100-$1200. Trying to book return flight for Jun/Jul 2024 and it's currently $1200 on SQ and not sure what it costs on Qantas.

So I think I'm already paying that premium you mention and you're suggesting I should pay more?

Here's a tip to airlines. Reduce executive salaries first before looking at any other cost reductions. It's a great start.

 

[nlagalle]

I still think airlines should be responsible for any delay as I've explained a few times in this thread. Passengers do not control weather and will not be in control nor know where the aircraft is coming from.

You’re kidding right???

 

[Gladstone Tim]

The predominant reason I take TI for domestic trips is the rental car excess coverage. Always a better price than through the car rental company. Have used TI domestically when in Victoria, where my brother -in-law was. We were visiting from QLD. He passed away unexpectedly. TI covered extending the accommodation and flight changes.

 

[Jacques Vert]

The predominant reason I take TI for domestic trips is the rental car excess coverage. Always a better price than through the car rental company.

There are a few credit cards that include domestic rental car excess insurance including +1's NAB Signiture Visa. We never take the excess insurance through the rental company.

 

[UP4014]

Never worried about domestic, international is don't leave home without it (although I have never needed to make a claim, it's for the 'big one' if required).

 

[Stealthflyer]

I thought CC Insurance was international only?

I always have cc insurance and also a paid TI for international trips (including NZ) but never bother to buy a policy for domestic.

I have paid private health insurance so if injured or ill on a domestic trip am fully covered for medical anyway (plus Medicare safety net below that).

Apart from airfare don't really have any prepaid expenses for domestic, so not much to lose if I can't travel as planned.

I'd always have enough savings or points to get another domestic flight home, or an extra hotel night. Any work travel is insured.

In hundreds of domestic trips I've never had any unexpected out of pockets (no extra nights, injury) so think I'm well ahead, the savings of not buying a domestic policy over the years will fund another hotel night if ever needed.

FYI if they call westpac helicopter to extract you (say you fall off a cliff in the blue mountains or get swept out to sea in a rip) that is charitable not billed. I would not expect family to stay on if I was in a regional hospital, it's very unlikely they would have been travelling with me anyway.

Only reason for domestic insurance would be if you are hiring a car and don't take out the rental insurance, but irrelevant to me.

My CC insurance counts Tasmania as “overseas”. As a Tasmanian, I think this is hilarious, but also I’ll take it.

 

[serfty]

For me TI is a must for international; CC insurance for health issues is a grey area since I take standard medications (pretty common for those over 60). As a result I may or may not be covered by CC insurance so take no chances. (Generally after undergoing an online assessment which for the most part adds no premium.)

 

[dajop]

But… Im not sure i disagree with removing that as a benefit to pax. Not really something an airline should have to cover.

I guess it gets to the market segment in which the airline is playing and the premium it gets away with charging.

Those of us with long memories would remember all the articles about Jetstar passengers being delayed overnight due to bad weather, meaning passengers were stuck "sleeping on the airport floor" (except at SYD where they were stuck sleeping on the footpath outside the terminal). Meanwhile Qantas passengers were shipped off to a hotel. At the time I'm pretty sure the (typical) AFF response was "you get what you pay for" and "if you don't want to be stuck, then fly Qantas not Jetstar". Now that advantage of QF is gone. I guess Jetstar paved the way for it to be acceptable.

 

[JohnK]

You’re kidding right???

Why would I be kidding? I've explained my reasoning. Much easier ways for airline to save costs starting with executive salaries and number of executives employed.