Trip Delays vs. Cancellations vs. Interruptions: What’s Covered?

  • Trip delay coverage reimburses costs like meals, hotels, and transportation during significant delays.
  • Cancellation coverage protects prepaid, nonrefundable expenses when you can’t travel.
  • Interruption coverage reimburses expenses if your trip is cut short due to an emergency.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Delays, cancellations, and interruptions can derail your travel plans, but the right coverage ensures you’re protected financially and logistically.

Before heading off on your next adventure, consider what travel insurance policy or protections you need to cover the most common travel risks. 

Here’s what’s covered and how to claim reimbursement if things go wrong.

. . .

What Is Trip Delay Coverage?

Your flights and travel plans might be delayed for many reasons — everything from bad weather to problems with an aircraft or scheduling issues.

Trip or travel delay coverage allows you to claim reimbursement for the unused part of your prepaid expenses (minus any refund you get) and additional costs you might incur.

Coverage depends on the length of your delay and must be the result of a covered reason, such as: 

  • Bad weather
  • Mechanical issues
  • Unannounced strikes
  • Natural disasters
  • Terrorism
  • Quarantining
  •  Lost or stolen passports, money, or other travel documents
  • A traffic accident where you’re not directly involved

In the U.S., airlines are required to rebook you if there’s a significant delay or refund you if they can’t or if you choose not to take the rebooking. But that’s all they’re legally required to do, which is where trip delay coverage comes in.

If you need to stay in a hotel overnight because your flight was delayed until the next morning due to a snowstorm and the airline won’t cover the room cost, you could claim that expense through your insurance.

RELATED: Flight Delay Compensation: What You’re Entitled to and How To Get It

How to claim trip delay coverage

During a delay, keep all your receipts for any expenses that might be covered, like meals, accommodation, or transportation. Remember, there will be a limit to what you can claim — this will be in your policy’s fine print.

To get reimbursed, you’ll also need to provide proof of the delay in the form of documents from your airline or transport provider when you submit your claim.

Some policies require you to inform them about an interruption within a certain amount of time after the delay, so read the policy’s terms and conditions carefully so you don’t miss the window.

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. . .

What Is Trip Cancellation Coverage?

No one likes having to cancel a trip — especially if you’re going to be left out of pocket. 

Trip cancellation insurance provides coverage from the day after you purchase your plan up until your scheduled departure date.

This coverage will reimburse you up to 100% of your prepaid, nonrefundable costs like flights, hotel bookings, cruise bookings, tours, rental cars, and event tickets if you cancel for unforeseen reasons.

The most common reasons covered in policies include:

  • Medical emergencies, such as sudden illness, injury, or death to you, your travel companions, or a family member
  • Weather, including natural disasters, bad weather, or other documented severe weather events at your destination or departure point
  • Terrorist attack that occurs near a city on your travel itinerary
  • Financial circumstances of an airline or cruise line causing them to cease operations
  • Work commitments, such as an unexpected work emergency, vacation time revoked, or involuntary termination of employment
  • Covid-19 outbreak (or another declared pandemic) in the lead-up to a trip
  • Jury duty obligations

This type of coverage is particularly useful if you have a lot of high-cost nonrefundable bookings, if it’s a long holiday, or if you’re traveling in a large group.

However, trip cancellation coverage will not protect you if you’re canceling because of a change of mind or foreseeable events that have been announced, like:

  • An airline strike
  • Upcoming storm
  • Pre-existing medical conditions
  • Pregnancy
  • Acts of war
  • Criminality

How to claim trip cancellation coverage

Depending on the cause of the cancellation, you will need paperwork to prove it was for a covered reason. This might include:

  • A doctor’s note
  • Death certificate
  • Proof of an event causing the cancellation

Once you’ve gathered everything together, visit your insurance provider’s website or call them to file your claim as soon as possible.  

What Is Trip Interruption Coverage?

Trip interruption coverage differs from trip cancellation coverage as it provides cover while you’re traveling. 

If you need to end your trip early for a covered reason, you can claim reimbursement for any unused, nonrefundable trip costs.

Some plans will also cover additional expenses you have trying to get home or to continue the trip.

Covered reasons for trip interruption include:

  • Family emergencies
  • Natural disasters
  • Mandatory evacuations

How to claim trip interruption coverage

Perhaps a loved one back home is ill and you need to get to them, or you find yourself in an unprecedented tropical storm. Keep a record of the cause of the interruption to help your claim, including medical reports and official notices.

Save receipts for the additional expenses you might have to pay, such as new flights or accommodations.

Fill out the claim form on your insurer’s website and upload your documentation and receipts.

Tips for Choosing the Right Coverage

Whether you want a policy that covers just one of these aspects or all three (delay, cancellation, and interruption) depends on what level of risk you’re comfortable with when booking a trip.

In many cases, all three of these may be included together in a comprehensive travel policy that also includes medical coverage and delayed baggage coverage.

Assess your travel risks

Not all coverage is equal or suitable for your trip so think about where you’re going. 

Consider your holiday destination and the time of year you’re traveling — for example, you’ll want to make sure you’re covered if traveling to a tropical location during hurricane season.

Factor in the type of holiday you’re going on, too. Is it a cruise, a holiday filled with guided tours, or a more low-key poolside vibe?

This will determine whether you need more robust coverage or a basic plan option.

Compare policies for flexibility

Look for policies with minimal exclusions and generous coverage limits. You want to ensure you have the basics covered before deciding if you need any extra coverage.

Keep in mind insurance rates can vary depending on:

  • Length of trip
  • Your age
  • Trip costs
  • Location

Not all travel insurance plans include cancellation coverage, and exclusions, eligibility, and reimbursement limits can all differ. Check the policy’s fine print to see a full list of covered reasons to cancel or interrupt a trip.

If you want even more comprehensive protection for your trip, you can add on cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage. You can add this coverage to get 50-75% reimbursement for prepaid, nonrefundable costs if you cancel for reasons not covered by the standard policy. 

But keep in mind that this will increase your premium by 40-50%, so consider whether it’s worth it for your trip.

Shop around for quotes from a few different companies to find the best match for your needs, likely travel risks, and budget. You can use an online platform like VisitorsCoverage to find a plan that’s right for you.

 

Use credit card protections

Some credit cards offer complimentary delay and cancellation benefits when you use the card to book your trip.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers trip delay reimbursement if a carrier is delayed more than 12 hours or you require an overnight stay, along with cancellation and interruption insurance for covered situations.

Or if you pay for a return trip with the more premium The Platinum Card® from American Express, coverage kicks in after a delay of only six hours.*

Check if you already have some protection through your card benefits before filling any gaps with travel insurance policies.

COMPARE: Best Credit Cards With Travel Insurance

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rewards Rate
  • 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
  • 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries
  • 2x on all other travel purchases
  • 1x on all other purchases
Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

Annual Fee

$95

. . .

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Rewards Rate
  • 5x points on directly booked flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel (up to $500,000)
  • 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)

. . .

FAQs About Coverage for Trip Delays, Cancellations, and Interruptions

Severe weather or a natural disaster causing unforeseen events like a mandatory evacuation, weather-related damage, or canceled events may be covered in your policy.

Weather events that are foreseen will generally not be covered, like if the National Weather Service issues a warning for a storm or hurricane before you book your trip. And you won’t be able to claim anything if you decide to cancel because it’s going to rain on your beach holiday.

Weather-related cancellation criteria will vary by plan, so read the policy details to make sure you know what’s included.

How long must a delay last before coverage applies?

Each policy will define what constitutes a delay differently. This could be three hours or 12 hours, so look at different plans to see what is considered a delay and get the best coverage for your trip.

Can I purchase interruption coverage separately from cancellation coverage?

Cancellation insurance is commonly included in all-inclusive travel or comprehensive insurance policies or is often bundled with interruption coverage in some plans.

If you’ve missed the boat on cancellation coverage, you can purchase interruption coverage separately to cover you while traveling.

Do credit card benefits offer the same protection as travel insurance?

While credit card benefits may provide you with coverage for trip cancellations and interruptions, you may still want to purchase travel insurance to give you medical coverage, or to have higher limits for reimbursement.

TL;DR: Insurance for Delays, Cancellations, and Interruptions

Being covered for delays, cancellations, and interruptions can give you peace of mind when your travel plans are disrupted. 

For example, if your flight is delayed or canceled due to a snowstorm, or you have to cut your trip short because of a family emergency, you can get reimbursed for the money you had to pay out of pocket or for any prepaid nonrefundable expenses.

Do your research and select a policy that provides the right balance of comprehensive protection tailored to your holiday. 

Bon voyage! 

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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.
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I'm an award-winning lawyer and personal finance expert featured in Inc. Magazine, CNBC, the Today Show, Business Insider and more. My mission is to make personal finance accessible for everyone. As the largest financial influencer in the world, I'm connected to a community of over 20 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. I'm also the host of the podcast Erika Taught Me. You might recognize me from my viral tagline, "I read the fine print so you don't have to!"

I'm a graduate of Georgetown Law, where I founded the Georgetown Law Entrepreneurship Club, and the University of Notre Dame. I discovered my passion for personal finance after realizing I was drowning in over $200,000 of student debt and needed to take action-ultimately paying off my student loans in under 2 years. I then spent years as a corporate lawyer representing Fortune 500 companies, but I quit because I realized I wanted to have an impact; I wanted to help real people and teach them that you can create a financial future for yourself.

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Our aim is to help you make financial decisions with confidence through our objective article content and reviews. Erika.com is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our aim is to help you make financial decisions with confidence through our objective article content and reviews. Erika.com is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our aim is to help you make financial decisions with confidence through our objective article content and reviews. Erika.com is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.