How much cover does credit card air accident insurance really offer? Here’s the fine print

Many credit cards today come with a travel perk that is complimentary air accident insurance offering financial protection to your nominee in the unfortunate event of an air mishap. But how dependable is this benefit? From eligibility rules to coverage limits that range from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore when it comes to air accident insurance, and what fine print could ground your claims. Do you know if your air accident insurance covers all family members? Read more

The HDFC Bank Infinia credit card offers air accident insurance exclusively to the primary cardholder, meaning family members are not covered under this benefit. The insurance coverage is valid only for the number of cards specified and is not extended to add-on cardholders. Similarly, under the Yatra SBI Card, the air accident insurance applies only to the primary cardholder, and is valid only if the flight tickets are booked using the Yatra SBI Card. This benefit is not applicable on corporate cards. Do you know if air accidents cover terrorism-related incidents?

Terrorism is specifically excluded under the policy, as per the HDFC Infinia credit card. Most of the cards do not cover acts of terrorism. However, it depends on the card. One should read the terms and conditions before buying a credit card.

Rohit Chhibbar, Chief Business Officer, Credit Cards, Paisabazaar, says: Most mid-range and premium credit cards, in association with an insurance provider, offer air accident insurance coverage as a complimentary feature wherein the card issuer provides financial protection to the beneficiaries of the insured in case of an air accident. Coverage is usually offered only to the primary cardholder and is applicable only if the flight ticket is purchased using the same credit card. Also, legal nominee or next of kin of the insured must report the incident within a specific timeframe, say 60 days, to be eligible for the claim. The nominee needs to duly fill the claim form and provide a death certificate and other necessary documents as the insurance company demands.

The coverage amount also varies from card to card. For instance, SBI Card ELITE offers coverage of up to Rs. 1 Crore, whereas HDFC Diners Club Black offers up to Rs. 2 Crore. Several travel-centric and premium cards like Yatra SBI Card, ICICI Emeralde Private, IDFC FIRST Wealth, American Express Platinum and IRCTC SBI Card Premier offer complimentary air accident cover, says Rohit Chhibbar.

Air Accident Cover With Credit Cards (June 2025)
The following credit cards cover death due to an air accident, provided that the ticket is purchased with the respective credit card and the card is in active status.
IndusInd Avios/Solitaire/Tiger/Pinnacle =Rs 25 Lakh
ICICI Rubyx =Rs 1 Crore
ICICI Sapphiro/Emeralde/Emeralde Private/Times Black Rs 3 Crore
HDFC Marriott Bonvoy= USD 12,500 (Rs 10.45 Lakh)
HDFC Diners Club Privilege-= SD 125,000 (Rs1.04 Crore)
HDFC Tata Neu Infinity/Regalia Gold= Rs 1 Crore
HDFC DCB/DCB Metal= USD 250,000 (Rs 2.06 Crore)
HDFC INFINIA= Rs 3 Crore
SBI KrisFlyer = Rs 1 Crore
SBI Aurum/KrisFlyer Apex= Rs 3.5 Crore
BOBCARD Eterna=1 Crore
IDFC Ashva/Mayura/Private =Rs 1 Crore
American Express Platinum Charge =Rs 5 Crore
Source: CARD INSIDER