Credit cards with travel insurance provide reimbursements for lost luggage, flight delays and trip cancellations, while also offering rental car damage waivers and pre-existing condition coverage.
Upgraded Points has compiled the leading travel rewards cards that offer comprehensive travel protections so that you can compare.
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card not only earns valuable rewards, but it also comes packed with top-tier travel benefits like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement and primary auto rental collision damage waiver coverage. Furthermore, this card provides 1:1 point transfers with various loyalty program partners and an annual 10% points bonus on spending during its anniversary year.
This card also comes equipped with an impressive, five-day baggage delay coverage plan that offers $100 per day in extra coverage when traveling on a common carrier – perfect for paying for extra airport meals, toiletries or anything else that might arise due to delays. Most cards only offer secondary baggage delay protection.
This credit card boasts no foreign transaction fees and offers an attractive welcome bonus (60,000 Ultimate Rewards points for spending $4,000 within three months), making its steep annual fee worth considering for some travelers. But make sure that its rewards structure, sign-up bonus and travel perks meet your budget constraints before applying.
2. American Express Platinum
American Express Platinum is an elite charge card with many benefits for luxury travelers, including complimentary elite status in hotel and car rental programs as well as several airport lounge benefits such as free entry and priority access.
The Platinum Card’s annual fee of $695 may seem high compared to other cards on the market, but for frequent travelers who understand its travel perks and credits – such as strategically planning airfare purchases to maximize Membership Rewards points – it could prove worthwhile.
This card also comes equipped with comprehensive trip delay and cancellation coverage that covers non-refundable expenses up to $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 annually, while also offering up to $100 statement credit every four years for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck membership and unique experiences. For more details regarding any consumer protections or unique experiences offered by this card please see its terms and conditions.
3. Discover it
Discover is known for providing one of the most extensive travel protections among credit cards, with up to $1 Million in trip cancellation coverage, luggage insurance and medical evacuation and repatriation benefits, among other perks.
Benefits of the card also include an industry-leading 2% cash back rate and free online FICO score, and it waives its first late payment fee as well as offering overnight card replacement should it ever become lost or stolen.
To qualify, a good credit score – typically 670 or higher – will be necessary. But approval may not come easily since banks consider more than your credit score when making their decisions about you. Discover cards offer no foreign transaction fee unlike some cards designed specifically for international travel; and they provide a 3% cash back rate at gas stations and restaurants, not to mention a co-branded NHL card as well as rewards cards targeted towards students building credit or repairing it.
4. Bank of America Travel Rewards
Bank of America Travel Rewards is an ideal card for fee-averse travelers who prefer flexible points without incurring an annual fee. This card offers a base rate of 1.5 points per dollar spent and rewards can be redeemed against eligible travel and dining charges as statement credits or applied as statement credits against eligible bills. Plus, its Visa Signature benefits provide roadside dispatch services, travel assistance services and emergency support should any issue arises during travel.
Points can be redeemed for travel and dining expenses of any kind, with each point worth one cent when used as statement credit. Furthermore, this card does not charge foreign transaction fees that could otherwise add significant costs when traveling overseas.
As is true with most travel cards, Bank of America Travel Rewards requires good to excellent credit to qualify. However, those with existing Bank of America accounts can take advantage of linking it directly with an eligible deposit account and taking advantage of features like Balance Connect overdraft protection.
