An award ticket is an awkward object for a certificate of insurance. Nothing much was charged to the card except the taxes, and most travel coverage is written to attach to a fare that was charged. So the certificates deal with the problem head on: they extend their own definition of a paid fare to take in a points redemption, and then attach conditions to the extension.
Those conditions are the subject of this page. Every one of them was read from the issuer’s certificate of insurance, which is linked on each row below. This page reports what those documents say. It does not rank the cards and it is not insurance advice.
Do points bookings qualify for credit card travel insurance?
47 of the 59 cards on our roster publish an answer. 43 state that a booking paid through a points redemption can qualify. 2 state that a cost reduced by a points redemption is not a covered cost. 2 affirmatively exclude the coverage, with a quote from the document proving it. The remaining 12 state nothing we could confirm, which is not the same as a no.
So the yes and no column is not where the reader’s answer lives. The wording that extends coverage to a redemption usually reads like this.
“the full cost of the Covered Trip is charged to the Card or obtained through the redemption of points from the travel reward program.”
Cathay World Elite® Mastercard® – powered by Neo certificate of insurance
Read it again and the conditions are already there: the full cost, the Card, and the travel reward program rather than any travel reward program. 43 of these 47 certificates state at least one condition of that kind. They are reproduced word for word in the last column rather than summarised, because certificates in this area routinely give something in one clause and take part of it back in the next.
| Card | Points booking qualifies | Charge requirement | What the certificate requires |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve CardAmerican Express · certificate | Yes | 100% | applicable taxes must be charged to the Card if not paid with points; travel purchased with points from a reward program other than the Card reward program is not coveredCharge requirement: Flight and Baggage Delay, Hotel Burglary, Lost or Stolen Baggage and Car Rental Theft and Damage require the full fare charged to the Card; Purchase Protection requires at least a portion of the purchase price |
| American Express Aeroplan CardAmerican Express · certificate | Yes | 100% | only points from the Card reward program qualify; tickets or accommodations bought with points from another reward program are not coveredCharge requirement: 100% applies to the travel coverages; the Purchase Protection Plan requires at least a portion of the purchase price charged to the Card |
| American Express Aeroplan Reserve CardAmerican Express · certificate | Yes | 100% | points from the Card reward program qualify when applicable taxes are charged to the Card; points from any other reward program do not qualifyCharge requirement: 100% of the fare required for Flight and Baggage Delay & Hotel Burglary, Lost or Stolen Baggage and Car Rental Theft and Damage; Trip Interruption and Trip Delay pay when any portion of the prepaid travel arrangements is charged to the Card |
| American Express Business Edge CardAmerican Express · certificate | Yes | — | Membership Rewards Program points only; rentals paid with points from another reward program are not covered |
| American Express Business Gold Rewards CardAmerican Express · certificate | Yes | 100% | applies to Membership Rewards Program redemptions when applicable taxes are charged to the Card; points from another reward program do not qualifyCharge requirement: full fare defined as 100% of the airline ticket price or cost of accommodations including taxes charged to the Card |
| American Express Business Platinum CardAmerican Express · certificate | Yes | 100% | Membership Rewards Program points only; prepaid travel arrangements purchased with points from another reward program are not coveredCharge requirement: applies to Flight and Baggage Delay, Hotel Burglary and Lost or Stolen Baggage; Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption require only that a portion of the prepaid travel arrangements be charged to the Card |
| American Express Cobalt CardAmerican Express · certificate | Yes | 100% | Membership Rewards Program redemptions only; no coverage if booked with points from another reward programCharge requirement: applies to the flight, baggage and hotel coverages; emergency medical requires no charge to the Card |
| American Express Gold Rewards CardAmerican Express · certificate | Yes | 100% | Membership Rewards Program points only; travel bought with points from another reward program is excluded, and applicable taxes must be charged to the Card if not paid with Membership Rewards pointsCharge requirement: flight delay, baggage delay, hotel burglary, lost or stolen baggage and car rental require the full fare or full rental cost; trip cancellation and trip interruption attach when any portion of prepaid travel arrangements is charged |
| American Express Platinum CardAmerican Express · certificate | Yes | 100% | Membership Rewards Program only, with applicable taxes charged to the Card; bookings paid with points from another reward program are not coveredCharge requirement: full fare must be charged to the Card for flight and baggage delay, hotel burglary, lost or stolen baggage and car rental; trip interruption and trip delay require any portion of the prepaid travel arrangements charged to the Card |
| Marriott Bonvoy American Express CardAmerican Express · certificate | Yes | 100% | applicable taxes must be charged to the Card if not paid with points earned under the Card reward program; points from another reward program are not coveredCharge requirement: full fare of the airline ticket or accommodation must be charged to the Card; Purchase Protection requires at least a portion of the purchase price charged |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express CardAmerican Express · certificate | Yes | 100% | points from the Card reward program only; applicable taxes must be charged to the Card if not paid with those pointsCharge requirement: full fare requirement for the travel coverages; Purchase Protection covers only the portion of the purchase price charged to the Card |
| BMO Rewards Business MastercardBMO · certificate | Yes | — | any applicable taxes and fees must be charged to the credit card; a partial points redemption requires the balance on the card |
| BMO VIPorter MastercardBMO · certificate | Yes | — | where only part of the cost is paid with points the balance must be charged to the credit card |
| BMO VIPorter World Elite MastercardBMO · certificate | Yes | — | — |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business PlusCIBC · certificate | Yes | 75% | redemption of points from the card reward program qualifies under Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage, Common Carrier Accident, Flight Delay and Baggage, and Purchase SecurityCharge requirement: applies to the common carrier ticket price for Common Carrier Accident and for Flight Delay and Baggage; Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption reimburse only the portion of prepaid travel arrangements charged to the card |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa InfiniteCIBC · certificate | Yes | 75% | bookings paid with points from the card reward program qualify across the travel certificatesCharge requirement: applies to Common Carrier Accident and Flight Delay and Baggage; Trip Cancellation reimburses only the prepaid arrangements charged to the card |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite PrivilegeCIBC · certificate | Yes | 75% | cited to the certificate only; the issuer product summary does not address points redemptionsCharge requirement: applies to Common Carrier Accident and to Flight Delay and Baggage; Trip Cancellation reimburses only prepaid arrangements charged to the card, Car Rental requires the full rental cost, and Hotel Burglary requires any portion |
| CIBC Aventura Gold VisaCIBC · certificate | Yes | 75% | Charge requirement: applies to common carrier accident and flight delay and baggage insurance; car rental requires the full cost of the rental charged to the card; emergency medical states no charge requirement |
| CIBC Aventura Visa InfiniteCIBC · certificate | Yes | 75% | trip cancellation, trip interruption, common carrier accident, flight delay and baggage, car rental, hotel burglary and mobile device certificates each extend coverage to purchases obtained through the redemption of points from the card reward programCharge requirement: at least 75% of the common carrier ticket price for Common Carrier Accident and Flight Delay and Baggage Insurance; trip cancellation reimburses only prepaid arrangements charged to the card or redeemed with points; trip interruption requires any portion charged; emergency medical requires no charge to the card |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite PrivilegeCIBC · certificate | Yes | — | trips, fares, rentals, accommodation and purchases obtained through the redemption of points from the card reward program qualify |
| National Bank World Elite MastercardNational Bank · certificate | Yes | — | applies to purchase protection, extended warranty and vehicle rental; rewards points must be earned with the card Full stops dropped by the PDF font were restored in anything quoted here. |
| Cathay World Elite® Mastercard® – powered by NeoNeo Financial · certificate | Yes | — | points redeemed through the travel reward program associated with the Card qualify in place of a card charge |
| United® MileagePlus® Neo World Elite® Mastercard®Neo Financial · certificate | Yes | — | points redeemed through the travel reward program associated with the Card qualify in place of a card charge |
| More Rewards RBC VisaRBC · certificate | Not included | Not included | — |
| More Rewards RBC Visa InfiniteRBC · certificate | Not included | Not included | — |
| RBC Avion Visa Business CardRBC · certificate | Yes | — | Avion points redemptions qualify; any balance must be paid with the card |
| RBC Avion Visa InfiniteRBC · certificate | Yes | — | Avion points accepted for full payment; any balance must be charged to the card |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite PrivilegeRBC · certificate | Yes | — | trips paid in full or in part by rewards from any other frequent flyer program are excluded |
| RBC Avion Visa PlatinumRBC · certificate | Yes | — | where only part is paid with Avion points, the balance must be paid with the card |
| WestJet RBC MastercardRBC · certificate | Yes | — | if only a partial payment is made using WestJet points, the balance must be paid with the card |
| WestJet RBC World Elite MastercardRBC · certificate | Yes | — | trips paid in whole or part with rewards from any other frequent flyer program are excluded |
| WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for BusinessRBC · certificate | Yes | — | if only a partial payment is made using WestJet points, the balance must be paid with the card |
| Scotiabank Gold American ExpressScotiabank · certificate | Yes | 75% | Scene+ points cannot be used towards the purchase of a Mobile DeviceCharge requirement: applies to Eligible Expenses for Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption, to the delayed flight ticket for Flight Delay, and to the Ticket for Common Carrier Travel Accident; Lost and Delayed Luggage require the full fare charged |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa InfiniteScotiabank · certificate | Yes | 75% | Scene+ points count toward the charge requirement across all benefitsCharge requirement: rental car and Purchase Security require the entire cost or full Purchase Price charged to the Account and/or paid with Scene+ points |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business CardScotiabank · certificate | Yes | 75% | Scotia Rewards points may be used in place of, or together with, charges to the Account across the eligibility clausesCharge requirement: applies to Eligible Expenses and to the Common Carrier Ticket cost; Rental Car Collision/Loss Damage, Purchase Security, Extended Warranty, Hotel/Motel Burglary and Lost/Delayed Luggage require the full cost charged to the Account |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite PrivilegeScotiabank · certificate | Yes | — | eligible expenses may be charged to the account and/or paid with Scotiabank Scene+ points; amounts actually paid with Scene+ points are not themselves reimbursed |
| Scotiabank Platinum American ExpressScotiabank · certificate | Yes | 75% | Scene+ points cannot be used towards the purchase of a Mobile DeviceCharge requirement: applies to Eligible Expenses, Ticket cost and flight cost; the full Purchase Price must be charged for Purchase Security, Extended Warranty, Mobile Device and Hotel/Motel Burglary |
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit CardTangerine · certificate | No | — | certificate covers purchases only; Full Cost excludes cost reduced by redemption of reward points, store credits or gift cards |
| Tangerine Money-Back World MastercardTangerine · certificate | No | — | Full Cost excludes reductions from reward points redemption; free rental days earned through an airline point program remain eligible for rental car coverage |
| Tangerine Rewards World Elite MastercardTangerine · certificate | Yes | 75% | Scene+ points earned with the card count toward the Full Cost charge requirementCharge requirement: of the Full Cost of Eligible Expenses, charged to the Account and/or paid with Scene+ points |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Business CardTD · certificate | Yes | 75% | Aeroplan points redemption counts toward the charge requirementCharge requirement: common carrier travel accident and auto rental collision coverages instead require the full cost charged to the Account |
| TD Aeroplan Visa InfiniteTD · certificate | Yes | 75% | Aeroplan Points count toward the 75% charge requirement; where points cover part of the cost the balance must be charged to the AccountCharge requirement: auto rental and common carrier travel accident require the full fare charged to the Account and/or Aeroplan Points |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite PrivilegeTD · certificate | Yes | 75% | Aeroplan Points count toward the 75% requirement; no benefit is payable for the value of Aeroplan Points that are lost or wastedCharge requirement: charged to the Account and/or paid using Aeroplan Points; Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage instead requires the entire rental to be paid with the Card |
| TD Aeroplan Visa PlatinumTD · certificate | Yes | 75% | Aeroplan Points may pay all or part of the fare; any balance must be charged to the AccountCharge requirement: 75% of the ticket, purchase or room cost for baggage, flight/trip delay, purchase security, mobile device and hotel burglary; the travel accident certificate requires the full fare and the rental car certificate the entire rental charged to the Card |
| TD Business Travel Visa CardTD · certificate | Yes | — | — |
| TD First Class Travel Visa InfiniteTD · certificate | Yes | — | TD Rewards Points redemptions qualify for trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage, travel accident and auto rental coverage |
| TD Platinum Travel VisaTD · certificate | Yes | — | where TD Rewards Points cover only part of the fare, the balance must be charged to the Account |
How much of the trip has to be charged to the card?
24 of these certificates state a share of the trip cost that has to reach the card, and the figure splits two ways: 14 require 75% and 10 require 100%. The 14 at 75% come from CIBC, Scotiabank, TD and Tangerine. The 10 at 100% come from American Express. No issuer appears on both sides of the split, so the threshold tracks who wrote the certificate rather than what the card costs you.
Where the threshold sits below the full cost, the points redemption counts toward it. That is the sentence worth finding on your own certificate, because it is what lets an award ticket satisfy the requirement without a dollar of fare reaching the card.
“at least 75% of the cost paid (1) by charge to Your Account, (2) by redemption of Aeroplan points.”
TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card certificate of insurance
The threshold is also why a partly-paid booking needs care. Several certificates address the case where points cover only part of the cost and require the balance to be charged to the card. A points-plus-cash booking settled on a second card can therefore fall short of a threshold the same booking would have cleared.
Whose points count?
13 of the 47 certificates here restrict the extension to points from the card’s own reward program. Several go further and exclude any trip paid in whole or in part with rewards from another frequent flyer program. Those clauses sit on cards from American Express and RBC.
“Any trip that was paid in full or partially by travel rewards provided by any frequent flyer program, excluding the WestJet points program.”
WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for Business certificate of insurance
This is the condition most likely to catch a reader of a points site, because moving points between programs and booking wherever the seat is happens to be the whole skill. Under these clauses an award seat booked with the card’s own currency and the identical seat booked with points from somewhere else are two different objects. The certificate is describing where the points came from, not what was flown.
It also means the question has no general answer. “Full fare” is defined inside each certificate, so the same booking can qualify on one card in your wallet and not on another.
What about the taxes on an award ticket?
13 of these certificates name taxes in the clause that extends coverage to a points booking. The pattern does not vary: the points settle the fare, and the taxes and fees still have to be charged to the card.
“Full fare is extended to include airline tickets obtained through the redemption of points from the Card reward program when applicable taxes have been charged.”
American Express Aeroplan Card certificate of insurance
That is a single decision at the moment of booking, made in a field most people fill in without looking. Paying an award ticket’s taxes on a different card can leave the trip outside the certificate that would otherwise have covered it, and there is no way to repair it afterwards.
The cards that say no
2 of these certificates state that a cost reduced by a points redemption is not a covered cost. The wording is not about travel at all. It defines the Full Cost that a benefit is measured against, and that definition subtracts the points.
“does not include any reduced cost resulting from the redemption of store credits, gift cards, or reward points programs.”
Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard certificate of insurance
2 more publish an affirmative exclusion, each with a quote from the document behind it. Those 2 rows read “Not included” in the table above.
A dash in the table means something different and softer: the certificate states no figure or condition we could confirm on that point. So do the 12 cards that are absent from the table altogether, which say nothing about a points booking either way. Silence is not evidence, in either direction. On those the certificate is the only authority, and each card’s own page links it.
Frequently asked questions
Does credit card travel insurance cover flights booked with points?
On most Canadian cards, yes, and the certificate says so in as many words. 43 of the 59 cards checked here state that a booking paid through a points redemption can qualify, 2 state that a cost reduced by a points redemption is not a covered cost, 2 affirmatively exclude it with a quote from the document, and 12 state nothing we could confirm. The answer is rarely the difficult part. Every one of those certificates attaches conditions in the same clause, and the conditions are what decides a claim.
Do the taxes on an award ticket have to be charged to the credit card?
Some certificates say so in as many words. 13 of the 47 here name taxes in the clause that extends coverage to a points booking, and the pattern is the same each time: the points settle the fare, and the taxes and fees still have to reach the card. Paying an award ticket's taxes on a different card can put the booking outside the certificate that would otherwise have covered it. Check the wording on your own card before you choose which card to tap.
Does my card cover a flight booked with points from a different reward program?
Not on every card. 13 of the 47 certificates here state that only points from the card's own reward program qualify, and several go further and exclude any trip paid in whole or in part with rewards from another frequent flyer program. Those clauses appear on cards from American Express and RBC. An identical seat can therefore qualify on one card and not on another, because the certificate is describing where the points came from rather than what was booked.
How much of a trip has to be paid with the card for the insurance to apply?
24 of the certificates here state a share of the trip cost that has to reach the card: 14 require 75% and 10 require 100%. On the cards that set a threshold below the full cost, the points redemption itself counts toward it, so an award ticket can meet the requirement on its own. Where points cover only part of the cost, the certificates that address it require the balance to be charged to the card.