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Credit cards often get a lot of flack for their high interest rates and how easy they make it to slip into debt. But while, yes, credit cards can be difficult to manage responsibly, when you don’t carry a balance, you get a lot of benefits.
For example, did you know your credit card might cover lost or stolen luggage? This means that even if you don’t have travel insurance, should your bag go missing on a trip, you could still get reimbursed.
Erika Recommends
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Popular travel card with baggage delay and loss coverage. - The Platinum Card® from American Express
Premium travel card with lost luggage reimbursement.* - Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Solid travel rewards plus baggage delay and loss coverage.
What Credit Card Baggage Protection Covers
It’s not a guarantee that your credit card comes with baggage protection, but many credit cards (even those without annual fees) offer this benefit.
Before you buy travel insurance, see what type of baggage protection your credit card comes with, like:
- Lost luggage reimbursement: Compensation for lost, stolen, or damaged checked and carry-on baggage
- Baggage delay coverage: Reimbursement for buying essentials like clothes and toiletries when your luggage is delayed
- Theft protection for belongings: Coverage for stolen personal items while traveling (usually with premium cards)
Best Credit Cards for Lost and Stolen Luggage Coverage
If you’re considering applying for a new credit card and you love to travel, setting your sights on a credit card with ample lost and stolen luggage protection is a smart move.
Before we dive in, it’s important to note that in order to take advantage of your credit card travel coverage, you need to book your trip using that card.
Best for short trips
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Rewards Rate
- 10x points on hotel stays and car rentals through Chase Travel℠
- 10x points on dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 5x points on flights booked through Chase Travel℠ (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
- 3x points on restaurants and travel
- 1x points on everything else
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$550
If your checked or carry-on bags are lost or damaged by the airline, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® covers you for up to $3,000 per passenger, including immediate family members.
For delayed baggage, you’ll get up to $100 per day for five days to cover essential purchases like toiletries and clothing if your luggage is delayed more than six hours.
With that much coverage, you can feel secure checking a bag for quick trips, since you won’t be stranded without essentials if the airline loses your bag.
These protections, combined with trip cancellation, delay coverage, and emergency assistance, make the Reserve (and its sister card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card), a strong choice for frequent travelers looking for peace of mind.
Best for stress-free travel
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Rewards Rate
- 5X on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. 1x thereafter
- 5x on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
- 1x on all other spending
Welcome Offer
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months
Annual Fee
$695 (rates and fees)
With The Platinum Card® from American Express, you receive up to $2,000 for checked bags and a total of $3,000 for both checked and carry-on baggage if your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged.*
But the card isn’t just great for baggage protection — it can enhance your travels from start to finish since you also get premium travel perks like access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.
The card also includes a $199 CLEAR® Plus credit and reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, making security lines faster and more convenient.**
Best for rewards
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Annual Fee
$395
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card covers up to $3,000 per covered trip ($2,000 for New York residents).
If your bags are delayed for more than six hours, you can also be reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for essentials.
In addition to baggage protection, the card comes with enticing travel perks such as trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel accident insurance, and an auto rental collision damage waiver.
While this card does come with an annual fee, we’ve seen worse and if you want to earn rewards, a card with an annual fee is typically the best way to do so.
With solid travel perks like airport lounge access, trip delay coverage, and a generous welcome bonus, it’s a solid option if you want to maximize travel rewards without overspending on an annual fee.
Credit Card vs. Travel Insurance: Which One Do You Need?
Sometimes your credit card comes with enough travel protections to give you the confidence to hit the road without buying a travel insurance policy. But be careful here.
Travel insurance typically offers broader coverage. So, while credit card protection may be enough for short trips or domestic travel, if you’re traveling abroad or for extended periods, a travel insurance policy can help protect you better.
Also, credit card protection is secondary, meaning that it only covers what the airline or your other travel insurance (if you have it) won’t cover. Airlines are required to compensate you for lost or delayed baggage, so your insurance and credit card are for anything beyond that amount.
How To File a Claim for Lost or Stolen Luggage Through Your Credit Card
Losing your luggage is never fun, even if you eventually get it back.
Thankfully, if you booked your trip with a credit card, you may be able to use the card’s baggage protection benefits to help you out.
To ensure a smooth claims process, follow these steps:
- Report the loss immediately. Notify the airline as soon as possible and request a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) or written confirmation of the loss.
- Contact your credit card issuer. Call your credit card’s benefits administrator or visit your card’s claims website to initiate the process. Most issuers require claims to be filed within 20 to 90 days of the incident, so it’s best to do this right away.
- Gather required documentation. Be prepared to provide key documentation to the credit card issuer like the airline’s loss/damage report, proof of travel (such as your boarding pass, itinerary, or a receipt showing you paid with your card), receipts for lost or damaged items, and claim denial or reimbursement details from the airline, if they provided partial compensation.
- Submit the claim. Ensure you complete all forms accurately and submit them before the deadline to prevent claim denial.
Was there an issue with your flight?
We read the fine print so you don't have to! Take our Flight Rights Quiz to learn more about the compensation the airline may owe you if your flight was delayed or canceled!
FAQs About Credit Card Benefits for Lost or Stolen Luggage
How do I know if my credit card offers lost luggage protection?
If your credit card offers lost luggage protection, you can find this in your credit card’s benefits guide. Many issuers also make this information publicly available on their website.
Pay close attention to key details such as coverage limits, exclusions, and claim deadlines to ensure you understand what’s included.
Can I use credit card coverage if my airline already compensated me?
Having multiple resources at your disposal during a travel disaster is never a bad thing. Typically you can still use your credit card coverage if the airline didn’t fully reimburse you for your losses.
Most credit card policies act as secondary coverage, meaning they cover losses beyond what the airline reimburses. If the airline provides partial compensation, your credit card may cover the remaining eligible amount up to your policy’s limit.
Does my card cover items stolen from my hotel or rental car?
More often than not, lost luggage protection only applies to items lost, damaged, or stolen while in transit with a common carrier (airlines, trains, buses, or ships).
However, some premium credit cards offer separate theft protection for personal belongings stolen from hotels or rental cars.
Check your card’s purchase protection or travel insurance benefits to see if you have additional coverage for theft outside of baggage claims.
Are there exclusions in credit card baggage coverage I should know about?
Credit card baggage protection typically excludes cash, electronics, jewelry, and high-value items like cameras or designer handbags. Some policies also limit coverage per item and may require original receipts for reimbursement.
Read the fine print in your benefits guide to understand specific exclusions and avoid future claim denials.
TL;DR: Should I Get a Credit Card With Luggage Protection?
Getting away is good for the soul, but lost luggage can turn a dream vacation into a travel nightmare in a matter of minutes.
Credit card benefits can provide valuable protection for lost or stolen luggage, but it’s important you understand coverage limits and the claims process.
Keep documentation of everything, and consider buying a separate travel insurance policy if you want extra security.
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* Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
** Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
