No trip cancellation. This benefit is not included with this card. Prepaid flights, hotels and tours are not reimbursable if you cancel, and a non-refundable week in Tokyo for two commonly runs to several thousand dollars.
Flight Centre Mastercard: zero FX fees, but does it include any travel insurance?
Flight Centre·$50/year·Mastercard·None (no complimentary insurance)
0,0/5Independent review · verified October 2026
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Our Verdict · Travel Insurance
Our take on travel insurance for the Flight Centre Flight Centre Mastercard
Expert review · Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviews
No international transaction fee. No travel insurance either. Here's what that split means before you fly. So, you're in a clinic in Bali with a fever and the front desk wants payment up front: the Flight Centre Mastercard settles it with no international transaction fee, but does anything on the card pay you back? No. Most people assume a card built around Flight Centre bookings must carry some cover for the trip, yet Flight Centre Mastercard travel insurance does not exist, and ACC (the Accident Compensation Corporation) and the public health system pay nothing for treatment outside New Zealand. The fee saving is real. The cover is not. A standalone New Zealand travel policy usually covers overseas medical with no dollar cap, plus cancellation, delays and lost bags. If you book a trip on this card, buy that policy the same day; if you never travel overseas, the missing cover will never cost you a cent.
What works on travel
- No international transaction fee on overseas purchases (cash advances excluded): a bill in Sydney or Tokyo costs the converted amount and nothing more
- 1 Flight Centre Reward per $100 spent internationally, each Reward worth $1 off a later Flight Centre booking
- 2 Rewards per $150 spent at Flight Centre NZ, deducted automatically from Flight Centre bookings paid with the card
- Additional cardholders at no extra cost, so a travelling partner can carry their own card and earn Rewards
Where travel breaks down
- No overseas medical cover: ACC and the public health system pay nothing for treatment overseas, so a hospital bill abroad is yours
- No cancellation, delay or baggage cover, even on a trip booked through Flight Centre and paid with the card
- Rewards can only be redeemed at Flight Centre NZ, not directly with an airline or hotel
- $50 annual fee, billed as $25 every 6 months, with no travel cover attached to it
- Cash withdrawals overseas cost $3 at an ATM and are charged 26.99% p.a. interest
Our methodology
Every score is derived from official bank documents: terms and conditions, benefit guides, and claim procedures. No commercial relationship influences our ratings.
Travel Insurance · 20 guarantees
What does Flight Centre Flight Centre Mastercard Travel Insurance actually cover?
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No overseas medical cover. This benefit is not included with this card. All medical costs overseas are the cardholder's responsibility, because ACC and the public health system don't pay for treatment overseas, and a few nights in a Honolulu hospital commonly run to six figures.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No evacuation cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Evacuation and repatriation costs are entirely the cardholder's responsibility, and an air ambulance from Bali to New Zealand commonly costs six figures.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No emergency dental cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Emergency dental treatment overseas is out of pocket, because ACC and the public health system don't pay for treatment overseas.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No hospital cash allowance. This benefit is not included with this card. No daily allowance is paid during a hospital stay overseas, so the incidental costs of an admission are yours to cover.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No additional expenses cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Extra accommodation and transport after a disruption, such as a cyclone closing Nadi airport, are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No travel delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Meals, accommodation and transport during a long delay, such as an unplanned night in Sydney, are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No alternative transport. This benefit is not included with this card. The cost of alternative transport to reach a prepaid cruise, tour or event on time is out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No return home cover. This benefit is not included with this card. The cost of flying home after a family emergency, and of resuming the trip afterwards, is out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No luggage delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Clothes and toiletries bought while your bag is delayed, say on arrival in Rarotonga, are out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No luggage cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Replacement costs for lost or stolen bags and belongings are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No travel documents cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Replacing a lost passport or stolen cash overseas, including the extra travel to reach a consulate, is out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No liability cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Legal liability for injuring someone or damaging property overseas is uninsured, and claims of this kind commonly reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No accidental death cover. This benefit is not included with this card. No lump sum is paid to you or your estate if an accident on the trip causes death or permanent disablement.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No income protection. This benefit is not included with this card. Injured in Bali and off work for 8 weeks on your return, you get no income replacement from this card, and ACC weekly compensation only applies to injuries ACC covers.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No domestic cancellation. This benefit is not included with this card. Prepaid domestic flights and accommodation, such as a Queenstown ski week, are not reimbursable if you cancel.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No domestic delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Meals and accommodation during a delayed or cancelled domestic flight are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No domestic disruption cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Extra accommodation and transport after a disruption on a trip within New Zealand are out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No domestic luggage cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Lost or stolen luggage on a trip within New Zealand is not reimbursable through this card.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
No domestic bag delay. This benefit is not included with this card. Essentials bought while your bag is delayed on a domestic flight are out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so this situation is uninsured whatever the circumstances.
We source benefits from official card guides, but PDFs are sometimes hard to obtain or update. Spotted something off?
Coverage Radar
Where the Flight Centre Flight Centre Mastercard wins, where it loses
Coverage snapshot for this tab — click any layer to highlight its scores.
Trip cancellation: not covered by this card
Medical fees abroad: not covered by this card
Medical repatriation: not covered by this card
Compare
Flight Centre MastercardThis card0.0/5?
$50/yrWith travel insuranceIdeal
Complete coverage · 5.0 / 5Premium card avg.
$297 avg. annual feeClick a layer to highlight its scores on the radar.
Side-by-side comparison
How the Flight Centre Flight Centre Mastercard stacks up against the alternatives
Same 5 coverage dimensions, ranked head-to-head against the cards most Flight Centre Mastercard shoppers also consider.
| Card | This card Flight Centre Mastercard Flight Centre · $50/yr 0.0/5? | Visa Platinum Rewards ASB · $125/yr 3.2/5? | Platinum Card American Express · $850/yr 3.6/5? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Trip cancellation Per person, per trip cap | Not covered Cover this gap → | Unlimited All prepaid deposits, no dollar cap | $30,000 per person All prepaid travel, $30,000 cap | |
Emergency medical Hospital bills abroad | Not covered Cover this gap → | Unlimited Unlimited, ages 75 and under | $5,000,000 Capped $5,000,000, overseas only | |
Emergency evacuation Air ambulance + repatriation | Not covered Cover this gap → | Unlimited Included in unlimited medical | $5,000,000 Approved by Chubb Assistance | |
Trip delay trigger Hours before benefits kick in | Not covered Cover this gap → | 6h / $400 Trigger: more than 6 hours | 4h / $650 Trigger: 4 hours | |
Trip interruption Covered amount | Not covered Cover this gap → | Unlimited Unlimited, broad list of events | $5,000 per person Trip change during the trip |
StrongLimited / misleadingNot covered
Data verified against each card's Guide to Benefits, May 2026.
Cardholder reviews
What cardholders say about the Flight Centre Flight Centre Mastercard
Real experiences of spending overseas and redeeming Rewards 1 reviews
DA
DarkShadow (Geekzone)
Real FX savings, clunky Rewards redemption
I have this card. The exchange rate is the Mastercard rate which is pretty close to the mid-market rate. The savings you get are legit, especially if you go backpacking or on some other long trip. However, redeeming the rewards on this card can be frustrating. It can only be used for Flight Center and you have to deal with human travel agents and their idiosyncrasies.
Emergency · Card assistance line
How to contact Flight Centre Flight Centre Mastercard assistance?
Flight Centre Mastercard customer service
0800 500 450
Free call within New Zealand · 8.30am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday
Flight Centre Mastercard from overseas (no emergency assistance line)
+64 9 580 7365
International call · 8.30am to 6pm New Zealand time, Monday to Saturday
Benefit administrator: None: no complimentary insurance (card issued by Columbus Financial Services, humm group)
Claims & pre-authorizations
No insurance claim on the Flight Centre Mastercard: what to do instead
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Step 1: Buy a standalone travel policy before you leave New Zealand
The Flight Centre Mastercard has no complimentary travel insurance, so there is no policy to activate and no claims line to call, even for a trip booked through Flight Centre. Buy a standalone travel policy before departure, adding snow sports or rental excess cover if your trip needs them, and save that insurer's 24/7 emergency number in your phone before you fly.
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Step 2: Claim with your own travel insurer, not with Flight Centre Mastercard
If something goes wrong overseas, call your travel insurer's emergency line before treatment where you can, and keep itemised bills, receipts and any police or airline report. You can still pay with the Flight Centre Mastercard and avoid the international transaction fee, but the claim goes to the insurer that sold you the policy.
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Step 3: Card account problems go to humm, then to FSCL
For a problem with the card itself, call Flight Centre Mastercard on 0800 500 450 (+64 9 580 7365 from overseas) or write to the complaints team at Private Bag 94013, Auckland 2241. The issuer, Columbus Financial Services (humm group), aims to resolve complaints within 20 working days. If you are still unhappy, Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL), a free independent dispute resolution scheme, can review the complaint.
FAQ
What people ask about the Flight Centre Flight Centre Mastercard
- There is nothing to activate: the Flight Centre Mastercard does not come with complimentary travel insurance, even though it is marketed as a travel card. Paying for flights, hotels or a tour package with it earns Flight Centre Rewards (2 per $150 at Flight Centre NZ, 1 per $100 spent internationally), but it does not switch on any cover, because there is no policy wording (the insurer's full policy document) behind the card. Activating a new card only makes it ready to spend. If you are travelling overseas, buy a standalone travel policy before you leave New Zealand, since ACC and the public health system pay nothing for treatment overseas, and cancellation cover only protects you from the day the policy starts.
- Nobody, because the Flight Centre Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind. That applies to the primary cardholder and to any additional cardholders, who can be added at no extra cost and earn Rewards on their own spending. Holding the card gives a spouse, partner or child travelling with you no medical, cancellation or baggage cover, even when the whole family trip was booked through Flight Centre and paid with the card. If several of you are travelling, a standalone family or couple travel policy is the way to cover everyone, and it is worth checking that it includes every traveller's age and any planned activities, such as skiing or diving.
- No, the Flight Centre Mastercard does not reimburse rental car excess, whether you hire overseas or in New Zealand. The excess is the amount the rental company charges you after damage to or theft of a hire car, and on this card it stays entirely with you. Paying for a hire car abroad with the card does avoid an international transaction fee and earns 1 Flight Centre Reward per $100, but it adds no cover. Before you pick up the keys, choose between the hire company's excess-reduction option and a standalone rental excess policy, and compare the daily cost of the two over the length of your hire.
- You can't make an insurance claim on the Flight Centre Mastercard, because the card has no complimentary insurance and no insurer behind it. If you bought a standalone travel policy, the claim goes to that insurer: call its emergency line before treatment where you can, and keep itemised bills, receipts and any police or airline report. For a problem with the card account itself, such as a disputed charge, call Flight Centre Mastercard on 0800 500 450, or +64 9 580 7365 from overseas. Complaints are handled by the issuer, Columbus Financial Services (humm group). If you are still unhappy with the outcome, Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL), a free independent dispute resolution scheme, can review the complaint.
- Every insured situation, because the Flight Centre Mastercard has no complimentary insurance behind it. Overseas, that means no emergency medical or evacuation cover, no trip cancellation, no delay or luggage cover, and no rental car excess. Snow sports are out too, and at home the card offers no purchase protection, extended warranty or mobile phone cover. Medical is the gap that costs most: ACC and the public health system pay nothing for treatment overseas, so a stay in a Honolulu hospital is billed to you in full unless you bought a standalone travel policy first. Booking the trip through Flight Centre and paying with the card changes none of this.
- No, the Flight Centre Mastercard has no snow sports cover, and there is no add-on to buy through the card. A ski injury overseas, a mountain rescue, lost or damaged skis and an unused lift pass are all out of pocket, even if the whole ski package was booked at Flight Centre with the card. ACC does not pay for an injury treated overseas, so a fracture on a ski field in Japan quickly reaches five figures. If you are planning a snow trip abroad, buy a standalone travel policy with its snow sports option before you go, and check that it covers the runs you plan to ski, because off-piste skiing is often excluded.
- Yes. The Flight Centre Mastercard is a sensible card to spend with overseas, because it charges no international transaction fee on purchases and earns 1 Flight Centre Reward per $100 spent abroad. It includes no travel insurance at all, though, so there is no cover for medical bills, cancellation, delays or lost luggage. A standalone New Zealand travel policy usually covers overseas medical with no dollar cap. Buy it as soon as you book, because cancellation cover only protects you from the date the policy starts, and keep the card for what it does well: cheaper spending once you land.
- Up to 44 days on standard purchases, as long as you pay the closing balance in full by the due date. Any part of the balance left unpaid is charged the standard interest rate of 24.99% p.a. Separately, Long Term Finance deals at Flight Centre and other participating retailers can run interest free for months (Flight Centre advertises 6 months on bookings, with longer promotions from time to time), but the first Long Term Finance purchase carries a $55 establishment fee and each later one a $35 advance fee. Cash advances are charged 26.99% p.a. None of these finance options adds travel insurance to a trip you pay for this way.
- Call +64 9 580 7365 from overseas, or 0800 500 450 from within New Zealand. The lines are open 8.30am to 6pm New Zealand time, Monday to Saturday, and the same numbers handle a lost or stolen card: follow the voice prompts to cancel it. This is a card service line, not an emergency assistance line, because the Flight Centre Mastercard carries no travel insurance. For a medical emergency abroad, the number to call is the 24/7 line of your own travel insurer, so save it in your phone before you fly, next to the card's overseas number.
Not just Flight Centre
Other cards worth considering
Flight Centre Mastercard is a strong choice — but depending on what you prioritize, one of these may suit you better.
Low Rate Visa
ANZ
Warehouse Money Visa
Warehouse Money
Zero Visa
Kiwibank
CashBack Visa Platinum
ANZ
Not sure how card insurance works? Read our guide to credit card travel insurance