Best Credit Cards With Complimentary Travel Insurance Coverage (2024)
Several credit cards offer complimentary travel insurance. That is, on the condition that you charge your full flight fares to them. Which of them have the best travel insurance coverage and complement your everyday lifestyle? We analyse it in further detail below.
What You Need To Know About Complimentary Travel Insurance
Before embarking on your next adventure, it is always vital to consider your safety and be prepared for any unexpected emergencies like a global cyber outage, epidemic outbreak or natural disasters.
Your credit card can be a lifesaver during such situations as you can turn to it to pay for necessities or even emergency medical expenses overseas. While many credit cards offer complimentary travel coverage, is it really enough? Let's delve into the key benefits of such coverage and weigh the pros and cons, before making a decision.
How Credit Card Complimentary Travel Insurance Works?
Credit card complimentary travel insurance is quite a common perk offered by many credit card issuers in Singapore nowadays. Essentially, you get travel insurance coverage at no additional cost when you use your credit card to purchase specific travel components.
Here’s a general overview of how it works:
Eligibility and Activation
Coverage
Pros & Cons Of Complimentary Travel Coverage By Credit Cards
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
Significant cost savings as no separate purchase of a travel insurance plan is necessary, making it ideal for more wallet-friendly for travellers with basic needs. | Coverage may have limitations or exclusions as per the terms and conditions provided by the credit card; might not suffice for all needs. This may result in extra out-of-pocket expenses if coverage is insufficient during emergency situations. | |
Automatically activated when travel expenses are charged to the credit card and there's usually no need for separate purchase or application. | Coverage is predetermined by the credit card issuer, thus there is usually lesser flexibility for customisation, as insurance coverage is often not cater to individual preferences or specific needs. | |
Provided by reputable credit card companies with global networks. | The quality and extent of coverage is highly dependent on the credit card provider, and the claims process can be more cumbersome. |
Which Credit Cards Provide Complimentary Travel Insurance?
Citi PremierMiles Card
- Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.2 Miles
- All Foreign Currency Spend including Retail and Online
- S$1 = Up to 2.2 Miles
- Selected Online Hotel and Flight bookings
- S$1 = Up to 10 Miles
Enjoy an upsized 6,140 SmartPoints or S$300 Cash via PayNow, when you meet the spend criteria. T&Cs apply. PLUS stand a chance to win up to $7900 worth of Staycay, Shopping and Dining Vouchers! T&Cs apply.
Use 6,140 SmartPoints to redeem any product on our Rewards Store, including 15,000 KrisFlyer miles (redeemable for a one-way Economy Class Saver ticket to Bangkok on Singapore Airlines). Alternatively, purchase additional SmartPoints using cash, to redeem upsized rewards.
American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card
- Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.1 Miles
- Overseas Spend during June and December, with no cap
- S$1 = 2 Miles
- on Eligible Grab transactions, capped at $200 per calendar month
- S$1 = 3.1 Miles
American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card
- Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.2 Miles
- Overseas Spend
- S$1 = 2 Miles
- on Eligible Grab transaction, capped at $200 per month
- S$1 = 3.2 Miles
New to American Express Card Members can receive up to 38,000 KrisFlyer miles – enough to redeem a return trip to Taipei* on Singapore Airlines.
Existing American Express Card Members can receive up to 28,000 KrisFlyer miles. T&Cs apply.
CIMB Visa Infinite
- Unlimited cashback on Travel, Overseas & Online Spend in Foreign Currency
- 2%
- Min. spend per month
- S$2,000
- Cash Rebate cap
- Unlimited
CIMB Visa Signature
- Cash Back on Beauty & Wellness, Online Shopping, Groceries
- 10%
- Min. spend per month to qualify for the 10% Cash Back
- S$800
- Cash Back Cap per month
- S$100
DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card
- Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.3 Miles
- Overseas Spend (made in foreign currency)
- S$1 = 2.2 Miles
- on Online Travel Bookings
- S$1 = Up to 5 Miles
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DBS Vantage Visa Infinite Card
- Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.5 miles or 1.5% cashback
- Overseas Spend
- S$1 = 2.2 miles or 2.2% cashback
- when you pay the Card's Annual Fee
- 25,000 Bonus Miles
UOB PRVI VISA Miles Card
- Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.4 Miles
- Overseas Spend
- S$1 = 2.4 Miles
- Selected Online Hotel and Flight bookings
- S$1 = 6 Miles
UOB PRVI MASTERCARD Miles Card
- Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.4 Miles
- Overseas Spend
- S$1 = 2.4 Miles
- Selected Online Hotel and Flight bookings
- S$1 = 6 Miles
UOB PRVI Miles American Express Card
- Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.4 Miles
- Overseas Spend
- S$1 = 2.4 Miles
- Selected Online Hotel and Flight bookings
- S$1 = 6 Miles
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DCS CASHBACK Card
- on all eligible transactions
- Up to 5% Cash Rebate
- Airport Lounge Access and Insurance Coverage
- Complimentary
- Annual Principal Fee
- S$196.20 (inclusive of GST)
OCBC 365 Credit Card
- Cashback on Fuel Spends
- 6%
- Cashback on Everyday Dining
- 5%
- with min. spend of $1,600 per month
- Unlock up to $160 Cashback
Exclusive: Most Popular Credit Cards in Singapore
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Frequent Asked Questions
Do you get travel insurance with your credit card?
- Many credit cards provide some level of travel insurance coverage if you charge your full fares to them. Usually the best cards that provide travel insurance are air mile cards, such as Citi PremierMiles Visa, DBS Altitude, UOB PRVI Miles and AMEX KrisFlyer. There are two cashback cards in Singapore that provide travel insurance too: OCBC 365 and CIMB Visa Signature Credit Card.
Does travel insurance cover me if I cancel my flight?
- It depends on your policy. Look under the section "trip cancellation" to see if your travel insurance compensates when you cancel your flight. You will need to show proof of a valid cancellation reason: sickness, injury, death of either you, your family member, or travelling companion.
Does my credit card's complimentary travel insurance cover discounted flights?
- Usually yes, on the condition that you charge your full fares to the card.
