Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) has partnered with Blink Parametric to launch an Australian-first to help travellers when their flights are delayed.
TravelCare Delay Assist provides a real-time flight delay benefit for eligible Australian customers travelling internationally.
The launch marks a significant step in SCTI’s focus on making travel insurance more responsive and customer-led.
TravelCare Delay Assist uses Blink Parametric’s real-time flight monitoring to identify qualifying delays and contact eligible customers while they are travelling, without the need to submit a separate claim for the Delay Assist benefit.
TravelCare Delay Assist will be available with eligible International Comprehensive Single Trip policies purchased from July 1.
Once registered, eligible customers are contacted by email and SMS when a qualifying flight delay of two hours or more is identified.
They are then offered a choice of $40 digital vouchers for Uber, TripGift or Woolworths, which can be used while travelling or after the traveller returns home.
All other policy benefits remain in place for unexpected travel disruption or changes to a customer’s journey, subject to policy terms and conditions.
Carole Tokody, CEO at Southern Cross Travel Insurance, said the launch reflects SCTI’s broader focus on improving the customer experience at the moments when travellers need it the most.
“Travel disruption is one of the clearest examples of where customers want something simple and useful to alleviate stress. If we can take some of the sting out of those inconvenient moments, then we’re doing our job,” Ms Tokody said.
“TravelCare Delay Assist is a simple, useful benefit that reflects where travel insurance is heading. It’s more proactive, more responsive and more connected to the real experience of travel.”
SCTI’s analysis shows travel disruption remains a significant issue for Australian travellers.
Across 2023 to 2025, SCTI recorded 4,280 Australian delay-related claims, with more than $5 million paid out over the three-year period.
While claim volumes eased over that time, the average value of each claim rose by 22%, from $1,045 in 2023 to $1,282 in 2025.
