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A flight delay, lost baggage, or canceled trip can be costly — but the right credit card can protect your budget.
While it’s still a good idea to buy travel insurance when you’re traveling abroad or for an extended trip, check out what protections your credit card offers first. You may already have coverage for trip cancellations, flight delays, lost baggage, and more.
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Types of Travel Protections Offered by Credit Cards
All credit cards have their own unique benefits and perks, but many offer some level of travel protection.
Your existing credit card may have some or all of these. Or if you’re looking for a new credit card, you may want to look for one that offers them.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Sometimes, trips simply don’t go according to plan. Maybe a snowstorm grounds all flights, and you can’t get to your destination. Or you get too sick to continue a trip and have to fly home early.
This is when trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance can come in handy.
These benefits cover the costs for any nonrefundable prepaid expenses that you’re missing out on, like tours, accommodations, or transportation.
Trip delay reimbursement
Trip delay insurance covers essential expenses you may need to deal with when your flight or other travel plans are delayed. Think — meals, transportation, and lodging.
It typically kicks in after a specified time frame, such as if your flight is delayed more than six hours.
READ MORE: Trip Delays vs. Cancellations vs. Interruptions: What’s Covered?
Lost, stolen, or delayed baggage protection
No baggage? No problem. With baggage protection, you receive compensation for lost, stolen, or delayed luggage.
This coverage is for both the luggage itself (if it goes missing entirely or is damaged) and any of your contents within it. This can help to ease the pricey burden of stocking up on essentials at the last minute when away from home.
Rental car insurance and collision damage waivers
Just as it sounds, rental car insurance covers you if your rental car is stolen or damaged.
This coverage can save you from having to purchase the rental company's expensive insurance.
Emergency medical and evacuation coverage
Emergency medical and evacuation coverage supports you when it matters most. Not only does it cover basic medical treatment if you get sick or injured, but it also helps in more extreme situations that require medical evacuation.
For example, let’s say you’re hiking in the Himalayas, but you slip and severely injure yourself to the point that you need to be airlifted to a hospital — an expensive situation. This coverage would reimburse some or all of those costs.
This type of insurance is typically included with more premium travel cards.
Erika Recommends
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Great travel rewards with robust coverage. - The Platinum Card® from American Express
Premium travel card with plenty of perks. - Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Popular travel card with good coverage.
Best Credit Cards With Travel Protections
If you don’t already have a trusty credit card with great travel protections, you may want to shop around for one before your next big trip.
Here are some standout credit cards with travel protections:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Offers extensive coverage, including trip cancellation/interruption and trip delay insurance, lost baggage protection, rental car insurance, emergency medical and dental benefit, and medical evacuation.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express – Includes trip cancellation/interruption and trip delay insurance, car rental coverage, and Global Assist Hotline for 24/7 medical and travel assistance.*
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Provides trip cancellation/interruption protection, rental car coverage, and travel accident insurance.
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
. . .
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)
. . .
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
. . .
How To Use Your Credit Card Travel Protections
Hopefully, you never have to actually use your credit card’s travel protections. But if you do end up in a sticky travel bind, here’s how to navigate the process efficiently and effectively.
- Book with the right card: When booking flights, accommodations, tours, and other nonrefundable costs, make sure you use the credit card that has travel protections. Premium credit cards offer better benefits, but also tend to come with an annual fee — but if you travel often, you may find that fee worth it.
- Keep necessary documentation: The claims filing process will go smoother when you’re organized. Keep receipts, cancellation notices, and proof of delay documentation.
- Understand claim limits and exclusions: Credit card travel protections come with reimbursement limits. They may also have exclusions for pre-existing conditions or high-risk activities.
- File your claim on time: Most credit card issuers have time limits on when you can file a claim. If disaster strikes, call your issuer right away. Ask about any claim deadlines and required paperwork so you can file the claim correctly the first time.
RELATED: When to Use Credit Card Coverage vs. Separate Travel Insurance
FAQs About Credit Card Travel Protections
Which travel credit card offers the best trip cancellation coverage?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are both great options for trip cancellation coverage, with up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip — so it’ll cover both you and your travel companion if you booked together on the same card.
How do I file a claim for a delayed or canceled flight?
Call your credit card issuer or check your card’s benefits guide to confirm coverage and claim deadlines.
Then, gather necessary documents such as your flight itinerary, proof of delay or cancellation from the airline, receipts for additional expenses, and proof of payment with your eligible card.
You can then submit the claim through your card issuer’s online portal or claims department.
Is rental car insurance from credit cards enough, or do I need extra coverage?
Before you book a rental car, compare your credit card’s insurance to the protections through the rental company. If there are any gaps, you may need to purchase a policy from the rental car agency.
TL;DR: Are Credit Cards With Travel Insurance Worth It?
Credit card travel protections can save you money and reduce your travel stress.
To avoid unnecessary travel drama, choose a card with strong travel benefits, make sure you understand its coverage limits, and keep receipts and documents so you can file your claim correctly.
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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.
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.
