Brisbane floods: can credit card travel insurance help?

People suffering the effects of the Brisbane floods -- including those travelling out of Brisbane -- may have some coverage under credit card travel insurances that they can claim on.

Stand-alone travel insurers have already said they will generally cover flood victims, as long as they purchased their policy in advance of the beginning of the floods.

Credit card travel insurance covers people with gold or platinum credit cards who purchased some or all of their travel on their credit card. Gold credit cards typically only cover international travel, while platinum cards add another layer of insurance for interstate flights.

How the cover stacks up between the major banks:

NAB credit card travel insurance

NAB Gold cards: You are covered for the non-refundable portion of cancelled international travel costs if a relative, business partner or travelling companion unexpectedly dies, or for any other unforeseeable circumstances outside your control. You are not covered for domestic flights (unless part of an international itinerary.) [Read our full review of NAB Gold card insurance]

NAB Platinum cards: You are covered for the non-refundable portion of cancelled international travel costs if a relative, business partner or travelling companion unexpectedly dies, or for any other unforeseeable circumstances outside your control. You are also covered for cancellation of domestic travel arrangements if "your normal residence in Australia is totally destroyed but not as a result of an terrorist act." (If your home was razed by the floods, or you could get a certification that your flooded home needs to be rebuilt, this might apply.) However, you are not covered for domestic flight cancellations due to "a change of plans because you or your travelling companion change your mind and decide not to proceed with your original journey." [Read our full review of NAB Platinum card insurance]

ANZ credit card travel insurance

ANZ platinum cards: If you're travelling overseas, you're covered for reasonable costs to get you back home to Brisbane if your home was destroyed by flood. You're also covered for cancellation of interstate travel costs if a relative has died unexpectedly, or if your home is totally destroyed. (If your home was razed by the floods, or you could get a certification that your flooded home needs to be rebuilt, this might apply.) [Read our full review of ANZ credit card travel insurance]

ANZ does not currently provide gold cards.

Westpac credit card travel insurance

Westpac Platinum cards: You are covered for the non-refundable portion of travel cancellation costs due to a natural disaster at your destination, or home city. You're also covered for cancellation of interstate travel costs if a relative has died unexpectedly, or if your home is totally destroyed. (If your home was razed by the floods, or you could get a certification that your flooded home needs to be rebuilt, this might apply.) [Read our full review of Westpac Platinum card travel insurance]

Westpac gold cards: You have unlimited cover for the non-refundable component of an international trip cancellation due to natural disaster at your destination or home city (though travel agent cancellation fees are limited to the lesser of A$500 or 15% of the value of the travel.) You are not covered for domestic trips. [Read our full review of Westpac gold card travel insurance]

Commonwealth Bank credit card travel insurance

CBA Platinum cards: You are covered for the non-refundable portion of travel cancellation costs due to a natural disaster at your destination, or home city. You're also covered for cancellation of interstate travel costs if a relative has died unexpectedly, or if your home is totally destroyed. (If your home was razed by the floods, or you could get a certification that your flooded home needs to be rebuilt, this might apply.) [Read our full review of Commonwealth Bank Platinum card travel insurance]

CBA Gold cards: You are covered for the non-refundable portion of travel cancellation costs due to a natural disaster at your destination, or home city. You are not covered for interstate trips (unless part of an international itinerary) [Read our full review of Commonwealth Bank Gold card travel insurance]

St George credit card travel insurance

St George platinum cards: You have unlimited cover for the non-refundable component of an international trip cancellation due to natural disaster at your destination or home city (though travel agent cancellation fees are limited to the lesser of A$500 or 15% of the value of the travel.) You're also covered for cancellation of interstate travel costs if a relative has died unexpectedly, or if your home is totally destroyed. (If your home was razed by the floods, or you could get a certification that your flooded home needs to be rebuilt, this might apply.) [Read our full review of St George Platinum card travel insurance]

American Express credit card travel insurance

American Express Platinum Edge cards: You are covered for the non-refundable portion of cancelled travel costs if a relative, business partner or travelling companion unexpectedly dies, or for any other unforeseeable circumstances outside your control. [Read our full review of American Express Platinum Edge card travel insurance]

Have you been knocked back by a credit card travel insurer?

If you believe you have been treated unfairly by the provider of your credit card's travel insurance policy, we may be able to help work with the insurer to address your complaint. Please email [email protected] with details such as the circumstances of your claim, your credit card provider and type of card, and your name and business hours phone number.

danwarne