All your cards likely come with benefits and rewards. You might not even be aware of the different features included in the card packages, which is a major disadvantage for claiming these benefits. Whether you fly weekly or once a year – delays are likely to influence your trip at least once.
There are many reasons why your flight could be delayed. There are several credit cards that offer trip delay coverage, which is a great benefit that can prevent stress for frequent flyers. In this article, we will discuss some credit cards that are set up to cover you for delayed flights and trips.
- What Is Trip Delay Coverage?
- In Simpler Terms…
- What Do You Need to Do?
- Does Your Card Offer This Perk?
- Does the Coverage Apply to Travel Companions?
- Does This Work for Award Travel?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How to File a Claim
- How to Check Your Terms and Conditions
What Is Trip Delay Coverage?
In order to use this feature, you will first need to understand what it is.
In short, trip delay coverage can be used to reimburse travelers in order to cover basic expenses, including hotel stays, car rental, etc.
Most reimbursement policies will give you up to $500 per person if the delay surpasses a certain amount of time.
This money can only be incurred on a one-time basis and if your trip is delayed by a covered hazard. Most credit card companies will list the scenarios covered on their official websites.
Definition
For this reason, if your credit card does include trip delay coverage, it is highly recommended that you do your research beforehand.
To be eligible for trip delay coverage, you will need to purchase either the entire cost or a portion of your Common Carrier fare.
Your coverage will be in excess of any expenses paid by a third party, including insurance companies.
In Simpler Terms…
Your reasonable expenses will be covered, including meals, accommodation, toiletries, and medication. However, as we have already mentioned, this perk can only be used once per trip.
In other words, if you are taking multiple flights and more than one is delayed, you will only be able to apply for trip delay coverage once.
A covered trip means that you have paid for the entire trip using the credit card in question.
In order for this trip to be covered, it will have to be under 365 days in length, and you will have to return to your permanent residence at the end of it.
Term Definitions
It is important to note that this type of coverage does not only apply to flights.
You will be able to apply for a reimbursement on a delay on different types of common carriers, including land, water, or air conveyance.
What Do You Need To Do?
The first thing that you will need to do in order to apply for this money is save all your receipts for expenses incurred.
There are different tools that can be used in order to do this, making the process much quicker and less complicated.
On top of this, you will need to file the claim within the required time frame. For most cards, this is around 60 days. With that being said, the sooner you apply, the better.
It is important to check the list of covered hazards before applying, as if your situation is not included on the list, you will not receive any reimbursement.
Ask For A Military Excuse
When applying for reimbursement, the insurance company is likely to ask for proof of the delay.
Because of this, it is highly recommended that you ask the documentation agent for some sort of military excuse.
This can then be used to ensure that your application is approved.
Does Your Card Offer This Perk?
Now that you know exactly what trip delay coverage is and how it works, you may be wondering whether or not the perk is covered on your credit card.
Most card issuers don’t broadcast the list of benefits included with their credit cards.
For this reason, you may not even be aware that you have access to this feature.
Some cards include different packages and come with a number of additional benefits. Below, we will discuss 7 different cards that include this feature.
$500 Benefit Active After 6 Hours
You will be able to apply for trip delay coverage if you own any of the following cards.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve card
- Business Platinum Card from American Express
- Platinum card from American Express
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve card from American Express
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business card from American Express
- Hilton Honors American Express card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card
Does the Coverage Apply to Travel Companions?
One massive question that you may have is whether or not this perk includes travel companions.
In general, this feature can be used for you and your immediate family members who are traveling with you. In other words, you will receive a maximum of $500 for every member of your family.
On top of this, you will receive money for every passenger whose travel ticket was purchased using the credit card in question.
The amount of money that you will receive depends on your situation and the type of card that you own.
Visit the American Express Website for More
If you are looking for more information regarding the trip delay coverage on your card, be sure to visit the American Express website.
Here, they will go into more detail regarding the different terms and conditions of your contract.
Does This Work for Award Travel?
The basic answer would be yes. But, of course, there are a few things to consider.
There are a number of terms to take note of before applying for your reimbursement while on an award trip.
Some companies require that part of the travel experience be paid using your account.
For this reason, you should be able to get away with booking an award through a specific portal and covering the fees and taxes with the card in question.
Your Taxes
On top of this, many companies require that you pay for all travel taxes using your credit card.
For more information regarding these conditions, be sure to visit your bank website.
Frequently Asked Questions
One question that many clients have is whether or not this reimbursement will cover expenses not paid for using the credit card.
Again, this depends on the type of card and contract that you own.
Some cards do not specify that your additional expenses, such as hotel stays, need to be paid for using the card in order to receive that cash back.
If you already have travel insurance, you will want to go through them first.
Do You Need to Clear in Advance with Your Credit Card?
With a travel insurance company, you will receive money back for additional expenses that were paid with any card.
As long as you file your claim within the 60-day time frame, you will not be required to clear it in advance.
On top of this, be sure to save all of your receipts.
How to File a Claim
To go about filing a claim, be sure to visit the Card Benefit Services website.
This page is fairly straightforward and will guide you through the application process.
It is very important that you have your credit card number and the necessary supporting paperwork ready before filing for your reimbursement.
The process of receiving your cash back can take a while, so be sure to get started with filing as soon as possible.
Visit the American Express Website for More
It is highly recommended that you visit the official American Express website before applying for a reimbursement.
Here, you will find out more about the application process.
How to Check Your Terms and Conditions
As we have already mentioned, it is highly recommended that you research the terms and conditions of applying for your cash back.
There are a number of ways in which you can do this.
On top of this, it is important to note that many companies change their terms and conditions regularly, meaning that you should make an effort to keep up with these updates.
You can view your most updated list of conditions through the Citi website. Once on the page, simply log into your account and scroll down to ‘Terms & Conditions’.
The Changing of Terms and Conditions
The process is very similar for American Express and Chase credit cards.
Some companies change their terms and conditions up to once a month.
For this reason, it is highly recommended that you view the list before each and every trip.
Summary
There are a number of credit cards that include trip delay coverage benefits. If you travel often, it is highly recommended that you look for a card that offers this perk.
In short, trip delay coverage will ensure that you do not have to spend money on expenses caused by travel delays. This includes air, water, or land means of travel. For more information, be sure to visit the official American Express, Citi, or Chase website.