Southern Cross Travel Insurance Reviews

Based on the good reviews I have been using SCTI for many trips. I recently had my first experience of making a claim for a flight cancellation that left me out of pocket. SCTI provided all the information I needed, assessed the claim within a week, and confirmed that the out of pocket expenses I had incurred would be refunded. Very happy overall and would recommend.

Terrible. We purchased SCTI insurance over a dozen times while travelling. However when unfortunately we actually needed to make a claim, they refused our legitimate claim based on shifting definitions of their policy wording. Don't bother, you are basically unprotected unless your circumstances fall exactly within their very narrow internal definition of a payable event. Their policy is designed to give you a false sense of protection.

Have used and claimed through SCTI for medical purposes before but as soon as it was for "luggage" different story.
My mother had the same issues (after I suggested she use them) not so impressed.
Still waiting for my claim to be processed... over 3wks later. Partners computer stopped working whilst o.s and now they are asking questions.
Not impressed

Obviously some clients have had issues however my experiences have been hassle-free. Typhoon hit Yokohama the day our cruise was due to return. Our return home was delayed by 3 days. Fully compensated for 5 star hotel, all meals, replacement flights, transfers (that we would have had to pay for if not delayed). 60% replacement on camera broken on a cruise. My daughter required medical treatment in St. Petersburg. All medical fees, pharmaceuticals, transport costs, extension of hotel accommodation by extra day (10 pm train departure) all with zero excess. A 75 yr old client and his partner were fully compensated for flights, cruise, accommodations & prepaid tours after requiring surgery for a thrombosis. $100 excess. As always fully read the PDS prior to purchasing and relying upon any insurance policy.

HEARTLESS, LACK OF EMPATHY, AND INSENSITIVE!!

I paid a total of A$596 for SCTI travel insurance for the period of March 28th 2017 to the 1st if November 2017. I departed my home town of Yinnar, Australia March 29th to return to to my working holiday in Whistler, Canada.

It was the night of June 18th I received a call from my mother in Australia informing me that my Aunt had collapsed to the ground out the front of her local church after attending her usual Sunday mass and had been severely hospitalized with a severe, completely unexpected brain aneurysm.

I immediately knew the severity of the situation and how important time is in a situation involving bleeding to the brain. I proceeded to ring SCTI to seek assistance regarding flying back to Australia as time was of upmost importance. After using a pay phone to call and request a call back to my mobile as I didn't have overseas calling enabled. I waited 20 minutes and nothing. Called again, they told me someone tried to call me, but still nothing.....

Half an hour later, finally I receive a call. I speak to a young gentlemen. He provides little sympathy and empathy and states to me that according to their policy an Aunt isn't recognized as a 'RELEVANT' family member - BUT - I could submit a claim as they are assessed on a base to base situations. I book my flight and departed Vancouver on the 19th of June.

The morning of Wednesday the 21st of June the hospital turned off the life support. Unfortunately I didn't make it home in time to say goodbye, I did make the funeral.

A week later I ring SCTI and update them on the situation. I put forward my claim to have my flight either reimbursed or even partly compensated. They reply with an email refusing my claim, no refund or reimbursement and added to that they inform me that the remainder of my travel insurance (4 months) was now void and useless.

Could not be more disappointed with the service and professionalism. Absolutely pathetic

Never had any problem with a claim use them all the time thank you will always use scti for every trip

After being forced to send sensitive documents to this company after a death in the family, our simple claim for now wasted plain tickets was denied. It would have cost me less stress and money if I'd just thrown my money into the ocean.

Their website failed and had an error message when I was trying to take out the policy, so I had to fill it all in again. Annoying.

Otherwise, everything was great.

I especially liked that they tell you to just keep the paperwork and don't worry about filing the claim until after your holiday. You don't want to be interrupting your holiday to file an insurance claim.

Unfortunately our kid got sick and had to see a doctor in the US. $700 US!!!

Made the claim online when we got home, was relatively easy and quick.

Claim paid about a week later. Very relieved. Will use Southern Cross again.

Have never made a claim thankfully as I've never lost anything overseas. But unfortunately on the last trip to Bali I mama hard to lose both my camera and headphones of a boat in one go.

As soon as I was back from my holiday I got in contact with southern cross and they were absolutely perfect to deal with from the get go. They helped me all the way through the claim and transparent with what they needed. All in all I would never go with another insurer purely for the fact I don't need to. An absolute pleasure to deal with

My wife and I traveled around Japan a year ago, to and from Australia. We took out Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) before leaving. The day before we were due to fly home from Osaka, we were in Fukui, and a huge storm hit the coast. The next day we expected to take a train to Osaka, but all rail-lines were cut, so we had to stay an extra night in a hotel (approx $100), and re-book our flight (which cost about $300 penalty). The following day the rail-lines were clear and we got to Osaka then home. I claimed for the hotel (not for a meal) and the airfare, and SCTI paid up promptly. Note, I was careful to get Japan Rail to give me a notification of the storm damage and closure of rails (it was in Japanese but I presume SCTI have interpreters). I sent SCTI the receipts, the rail notification (I did not claim for the rail fare, as Japan Rail changed our prior booking at no cost), and the train and air flight details and receipt for the cost of flight re-booking.
I think it was important to keep all documents so SCTI could see I was not 'scamming' them. They seem quite cooperative.

Ignore some of the horrible reviews on here. I was snowboarding in Canada Feb of 2016 and broke a couple of my vertebrae after coming off a jump. Unable to call out on my phone, my boyfriend called up SCTI and gave them my Canada phone number who then proceeded to call me. They were prompt and professional. Helped me claim all my hospital expenses, lost travel and even upgraded me to business class for my flight home as I was unable to sit upright for extended periods of time. I'm about to do a year long trip to Europe and am definitely going to book my travel insurance through them.

Like most travel insurers they refuse all claims of a medical nature in the first instance , they openly breach DDA legislation, in the hope you wont push the claim. Avoid