Which Credit Cards Have the Best Flight Delay Insurance? [2024] Which Credit Cards Have the Best Flight Delay Insurance? [2024]

Which Credit Cards Have the Best Flight Delay Insurance? [2024]

Jess FarleyRyan Smith
by Jess Farley and Ryan Smith
April 10, 2024
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Scanning photos of fellow award travelers reclining in first and business class, often paying just cents on the dollar for their seats, it’s easy to forget that some of the best money-saving tips for travel have nothing to do with collecting points and miles.

Nearly every rewards card features ancillary benefits ranging from purchase protection and extended warranty coverage to roadside assistance and a slew of different travel insurance perks. One of the most valuable (and widely used) of these benefits is trip delay reimbursement, which can cover your expenses in the event of a delayed or canceled flight.

Policies differ between credit card issuers — particularly regarding the length of the delay required before the coverage kicks in — although the coverage is activated for all providers if an overnight stay is required. So how do you use trip delay reimbursement on a credit card and which cards offer the best version? let us show you.

What Is Trip Delay Reimbursement and How Does It Work?

Trip delay protection reimburses you for expenses incurred due to a delayed or canceled flight, train, bus — virtually any land, air, or sea-based transport — designed to take you directly from point A to point B.

The length of the delay before coverage kicks in varies by provider, typically ranging between six and 12 hours, with policies providing up to $500 per person for a covered incident.

Most trip delay policies cover meals and accommodation, along with any personal necessities that travelers may require due to the delay. While the coverage is different for each provider, covered delays can include:

  • Equipment failure
  • Extreme weather and natural disasters
  • Lost or stolen passport or travel documents
  • Labor strikes
  • Unable to board because of overbooking
  • Hijacking or skyjacking

Both the covered events and the length of the delay before coverage kicks in vary widely between providers. Before choosing which card to use when booking travel, read the Guide to Benefits for each of your cards to see which offers the best protection.

It’s important to note which cards require you to put the entire cost of the travel on the card to obtain coverage. Others require paying just a portion (for example taxes and fees with the rest covered by points or miles). This can have a big impact on which card to choose.

Credit Cards Offering Trip Delay Protection

The cards listed below aren’t the only cards offering trip delay reimbursement as a benefit. However, they represent the cards offering what we see as the best coverage, providing better-than-average protection and plenty of value overall.

Citi historically had the top spot in these lists with the Citi Prestige® Card coverage kicking in after just a three-hour delay. However, in 2019, Citi dropped trip delay coverage on all of its rewards cards, including premium cards like the Prestige Card. That leaves the policies on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and [CC_AIN_PrettyLink_FullName slug=ChaseRitz] in the top spot, which both cover delays of six or more hours.

At the beginning of 2020, Amex also added trip delay cover to some of its premium travel cards. Amex Trip Delay coverage is split into two tiers, with ultra-premium cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express receiving the highest level of protection and mid-tier cards receiving second-tier coverage.

Credit CardMinimum Delay RequiredMax Amount CoveredAnnual Fee
Chase Sapphire Reserve®6 hours$500$550
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card6 hours$500$395
Capital One Venture X Business6 hours$500$395
The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card6 hours$500$450
The Platinum Card® from American Express6 hours$500$695 (Rates & Fees)
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express6 hours$500$695 (Rates & Fees)
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card6 hours$500$650 (Rates & Fees)
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card6 hours$500$650 (Rates & Fees)
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card6 hours$500$550
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card6 hours$500$650(Rates & Fees)
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®6 hours$500$595
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card12 hours$500$95
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card12 hours$500$95
Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card12 hours$500$0 intro annual fee for the First Year, then $85
United℠ Explorer Card12 hours$500$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
The Hyatt Credit Card12 hours$500$75
The World of Hyatt Credit Card12 hours$500$95
United Club℠ Infinite Card12 hours$500$525
United MileagePlus® Club Card12 hours$500$450
United℠ Business Card12 hours$500$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99
United℠ Explorer Business Card12 hours$500$95
Marriott Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card12 hours$500$0 intro annual fee for the First Year, then $99
American Express® Green Card12 hours$300$150
American Express® Gold Card12 hours$300$250 (Rates & Fees)
American Express® Business Gold Card12 hours$300$375(Rates & Fees)
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card12 hours$300$350(Rates & Fees)
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card12 hours$300$350(Rates & Fees)

Want to know your policy but can’t find the Guide to Benefits for your credit card? Check out our master list of credit card benefits guides.

How To File a Trip Delay Claim

To file a trip delay claim, you’ll need to submit:

  • Completed claim form
  • Copy of your account showing the fare paid
  • Copies of the travel tickets
  • Statement from the carrier indicating why travel was delayed
  • Receipts for all expenses
  • Any other documentation required by your card provider

Initial contact typically must be made within 60 days of the date of delay, with all requested documents returned within 120 to 180 days, depending on your provider. To initiate a trip delay claim, contact the relevant phone number below, or visit the listed website for your provider.

  • American Express: Call the Benefits Administrator on 1-844-933-0648 to open a claim.
  • Barclays: Visit MyCardBenefits.com or call 1-800-Mastercard to open a claim.
  • Chase: Head to eclaimsline.com or call the Benefit Administrator at 1-804-281-5772 for information to file a claim.

Final Thoughts

Trip delay reimbursement is one of the most valuable benefits offered by credit card providers, covering you for expenses incurred due to transport delays and cancellations. Each credit provider offers different coverage; you must look at the details of each card to figure out which is best for your scenario.

Echoing reviews of other ancillary benefits we’ve covered, Chase currently takes out the top spot for trip delay coverage with a policy covering delays of six hours or more that covers the entire family.

For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), American Express® Business Gold Card (Rates & Fees), American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), and The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)

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