Flight delays of more than six hours can add up quickly in terms of food and accommodation costs; here’s where trip delay insurance from credit cards comes into play.
The best cards offering this benefit vary, covering expenses related to transportation, food and hotels as well as more general expenses like delays of 6+ hours or overnight stays. Our picks provide up to $500 of coverage per ticket after such delays/stays have taken place.
Expense Reimbursement
Flight delay insurance policies reimburse travelers for expenses such as food, lodging and transportation if their flight is delayed for six or more hours. Cardholders typically can submit claims online or over the phone if their card offers this feature.
Travel insurance experts agree that credit cards with trip delay coverage can be invaluable assets in your travel wallet, yet it’s essential to learn about how these benefits operate and which cards offer them before settling on one.
Credit cards that offer this perk typically define “covered travelers” as the principal cardholder, their spouse and dependent children. Some cards, like Amex Platinum and Capital One Venture X provide up to $500 coverage per trip booked using these cards while others such as Chase Sapphire Reserve only permit two claims annually – something important to bear in mind if using this perk on multiple trips.
Emergency Assistance
Flight delays don’t have to be major disruptions; however, they can wreak havoc with your travel plans and alter obligations at your destination. Travel delay insurance provides coverage when such disruptions arises – although policy limits and amounts vary accordingly.
Most credit cards that offer this benefit cover airfare as well as trains, buses and passenger boats; to be eligible for reimbursement a delay must last at least the amount of time specified on your card (for example six hours), caused by inclement weather or civil unrest or loss of travel documents.
Top cards offering this benefit typically provide trip delay reimbursement of up to $500 per ticket; this amount may be subject to time or other limits; for instance, United Club Infinite Credit Card covers out-of-pocket expenses like hotel rooms and meals up to $100 daily after an airport delay exceeding six hours for up to three consecutive days after such delays have occurred.
Trip Cancellation
Most credit cards with trip delay insurance provide up to $500 in coverage per ticket for expenses incurred while being delayed on an airplane, turning what can otherwise be an uncomfortable and frustrating experience into something enjoyable – such as staying the night in a hotel and getting reimbursed for food and other eligible expenses. This benefit generally covers both cardholder and all travel companions traveling together with them; however, specific time limits and coverage amounts may differ based on your card issuer.
While not the most frequent benefit, extended warranty protection can still be helpful. We advise reviewing each of your cards’ detailed policies to understand who and what is covered; Chase defines a covered person as cardholders (including spouses or domestic partners and dependent children under 26), spouses/domestic partners/children aged 26 or below (for instance) while other issuers define covered people more broadly; some require 12 hours delay before qualifying for reimbursement and expenses must have been purchased with the card in order to be reimbursed back.
Trip Delay
Credit card policies offer travelers who must cancel or postpone a trip coverage that reimburses prepaid expenses, such as flight tickets. Each policy determines how much coverage is offered per day before coverage kicks in.
Imagine this: your son becomes sick just days before your planned family vacation and requires medical treatment that won’t clear up in time to catch his flight. Under this coverage, reimbursement could be provided for any new trip arrangements necessary due to illness in your child’s case or any expenses incurred as a result of illness.
American Express Platinum, Capital One Venture X and Chase Sapphire Reserve cards are three of the premier travel cards that offer trip delay insurance, typically covering trip delays over $500 and offering other great travel perks like purchase protection, extended warranty protection, no foreign transaction fees and fee-free authorized user cards.
