Travelsure vs Southern Cross (travel insurance)

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gzt

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#97772 20-Feb-2012 12:11

Comparing travel insurance - Travelsure vs Southern Cross.

Southern Cross includes cancellation insurance by default and includes motorcycling under 200cc.

TravelSure does not have any requirement to use public hospital services, and the parent company is based in UK/Europe (destination). Also my agent has added cancellation insurance to the quote anyway.

Other than that I don't see any differences which concern me.

Prices are comparable at around NZ$200 for six weeks cover.

Despite using SC in the past, I'm tending towards Travelsure on the recommendation of my TA.

Did I miss anything?

keewee01

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#613555 23-Apr-2012 10:37

Rather than start a new thread for a similar topic I thought I's use this one - hope you don't mind gzt...

We're heading to the US later in the year on a family holiday and I've been looking at Travel Insurance. We're away for two-and-a-half weeks, multiple connecting flights (3) to get to our destination, and 3 again on the way home.

Our Travel Agent is pushing TravelSure heavily (I wonder why?

), but it is so much more than Southern Cross (and any of the others for that matter). Even took in the Southern Cross quote and they were able to shave another hundred plus dollars off the TravelSure price, but it is still hundreds of dollars more than any of the others.

Have also had a look at the schemes through FlyBuys and The Warehouse and they are both with IAG; and also Columbus Direct - which seems to have a very good reputation. And I have read up on the Consumer NZ website.

They all have a great number of similarities, but also glaring holes in them. But the holes or weaknesses in the policies are different between the various policies.

The big bonus of the TravelSure one is that for a little more you can have no excess - and that appeals because if you are having to claim at all then it saves you money instantly - rather than having to pay an excess on every single, individual item you end up claiming under a policy.

If the trip goes well then won't need to claim at all. But if it is a shocker (imagine if a flight was seriously held up (or cancelled) and bags went AWOL at same time (maybe they carried on to final destination on another flight) then that is all of a sudden multiple claims (emergency supplies, accommodation, etc) with an excess on each individual part of it!

So really, I want to find out from those who've traveled regularly - how have you got on with your travel insurance? Have you had to claim and how did you get on with the claim/s? Did you run into problem with your travel insurance? Is there any reason I shouldn't go with any particular company? Should I be worried about how much the excess's may cost/lose us?

Any other tips? Thanks heaps.

garvani

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#613572 23-Apr-2012 11:23

This is relevant to my interests, i would be keen to hear peoples thoughts on this too as i am off to Thailand for two weeks later in the year.

gzt

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#613574 23-Apr-2012 11:39

Don't mind at all. It has been a while since I went through the process of selecting this insurance. My agent told me Travelsure has only one excess per claim, rather than an excess per item. This is largely true.

In my case the price for TS and SC was about the same. I did talk about SC quite a lot when considering TS and that might have made some difference to the price I got, but I don't know really.

I chose Travelsure, but skipped the more expensive no excess option

The major factor in the decision was Travelsure is Europe based - and that's where I'm going. On the health side, the SC policy requires you to use a public hospital service where one is available - TS does not. More important for some countries than others, but remember you are transiting as well.

I'll dig out the docs and see if that jogs my memory further.

I purchased through my travel agent, Flight Centre.

I've never made a claim on travel insurance, maybe someone else will have experience about that part.

MurrayC

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#613576 23-Apr-2012 11:43

I've got a Daughter who is at university in Copenhagen. A month ago her iPhone was stolen from her as she was cycling to uni. Her travel insurance was with Southern Cross and their call centre staff in Auckland were very helpful and her claim was paid in less than 2 weeks. She was very happy with Southern Cross and extremely relieved as her iPhone was her 'lifeline'. The Danish Police were also of great assistance.

When the excrement hits the rotary oscillator you really want to know that your insurer is going to be there for you....

BTW the restore/sync option on iTunes when she connected her new iPhone meant that she was able to restore all her contacts, apps, pics etc easily and effortlessly.

Rickles

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#614344 24-Apr-2012 14:42

People,

Also check out your credit card ... many offer pretty full and comprehensive travel insurance when you pay for your travel bookings using the card.

For example, my card gives me full insurance on missed/cancelled connections, medical, property etc etc and with no requirement to actually use the card (premium built-in to annual fee, yes but amount of travel off sets that).
Other option is lesser grade of credit card that also provides full insurance provided you use card to pay for at least 50% of travel booked.

R.

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#614347 24-Apr-2012 14:48

Rickles: People,

Also check out your credit card ... many offer pretty full and comprehensive travel insurance when you pay for your travel bookings using the card.

For example, my card gives me full insurance on missed/cancelled connections, medical, property etc etc and with no requirement to actually use the card (premium built-in to annual fee, yes but amount of travel off sets that).
Other option is lesser grade of credit card that also provides full insurance provided you use card to pay for at least 50% of travel booked.

R.

same. My credit card gives me travel insurance too. Travel agenmt tried to sel me their cover, telling me the credit card ones are very poor (i.e. very low coverage) but I checked it out and the credit card coverage was actually MORE comprehensive than the travel agent one.
only problem was that by paying on credit card I incurred a 2%(?) fee, but even that was a lot less than the insurance wouldhave cost anyway

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geek4me

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#614395 24-Apr-2012 16:02

Note that some credit cards expect most e.g. >50% of the travel costs to be charged to it and be a Gold card to give the insurance cover. Some only cover you for up to 1 month. Bottom line is to check the fine print to ensure you really are covered via your credit card.

keewee01

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#614452 24-Apr-2012 17:04

I wasn't charging the travel to the credit card - so not an option.

Lias

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#614531 24-Apr-2012 20:13

Southern Cross is a non profit.. I'd generally trust them over for profits.

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