Best Credit Cards with Trip Delay Insurance
Trip delay insurance reimburses you for unexpected expenses when your flight is delayed, canceled, or interrupted — including meals, hotel stays, and transportation. Many premium credit cards include this coverage automatically when you purchase travel with the card.
What's Covered
- Trip delay: Reimbursement for meals, lodging, and transportation when your trip is delayed beyond a threshold (typically 6–12 hours).
- Trip cancellation: Coverage for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is canceled for a covered reason (illness, severe weather, jury duty, etc.).
- Trip interruption: Coverage if you need to return home early for a covered reason.
- Baggage delay: Some cards also cover the cost of essential items if your luggage is delayed.
Coverage Limits
Coverage varies significantly by card. Premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve offer up to $500 per ticket for trip delay and $10,000–$20,000 for trip cancellation. Mid-tier cards may offer $300 per ticket for delays. The delay threshold ranges from 6 hours (best) to 12 hours.
How to File a Claim
- Keep all receipts for expenses incurred during the delay.
- Get written documentation from the airline about the delay/ cancellation and the reason.
- File a claim with the card's benefits administrator within the required timeframe (usually 60–90 days).
- Submit receipts, travel itinerary, and credit card statement showing the travel purchase.
Why This Matters
Flight disruptions are increasingly common. In 2025, approximately 20% of U.S. flights were delayed or canceled. A single overnight delay at a major airport can easily cost $200–$400 for a hotel and meals. Having automatic trip delay coverage through your credit card means you don't have to worry about these surprise expenses.
Pro Tips
- Always book travel with a card that has trip protection — even if another card earns more points.
- Cards with a 6-hour delay threshold are much more useful than those requiring 12 hours.
- Some cards cover the cardholder's immediate family even if they didn't pay with the card.
Cards with Trip Delay / Cancellation Insurance
Reimbursement for expenses caused by trip delays, cancellations, or interruptions when travel is purchased with the card.
Sapphire Reserve for Business
Chase · $795 AFBusiness
Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening.
Business Platinum
Amex · $895 AFBusiness
Public application flows may show as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards points after $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months. The top amount appears variable/dynamic; verify the exact terms before applying. A 200,000-point NLL offer remains the conservative baseline to compare against.
Business Gold
Amex · $375 AFBusiness
Public application flows may show as high as 200,000 Membership Rewards points after $15,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months. The top amount appears variable/dynamic; verify the exact terms before applying. A 100,000-point NLL offer remains the conservative baseline to compare against.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Amex · $650 AF
Limited Time Offer: Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points plus a $250 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 09/30/26.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy
Amex · $250 AF
Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points plus a $150 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 09/30/26.
Platinum
Amex · $895 AF
Earn up to 175,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $12,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months.
Marriott Boundless
Chase · $95 AF
Earn 4 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening; each award is redeemable for a one-night stay at properties with a redemption level up to 50,000 points. Special offer through June 30, 2027: get up to $100 in statement credits after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases ($50 semi-annually).
World of Hyatt
Chase · $95 AF
Earn up to 75,000 Bonus Points: 45,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months of account opening, plus up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
Gold
Amex · $325 AF
Apply and find out your welcome offer, as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Atmos Rewards Summit
Bank of America · $395 AF
Limited-time online offer: earn 80,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $4,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days after account opening.
United Business Card
Chase · $150 AFBusiness
Earn up to 110,000 bonus miles + 2,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP): 100,000 bonus miles + 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 10,000 bonus miles after you add an employee card in the first 3 months.
Aeroplan
Chase · $95 AF
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Ink Business Preferred
Chase · $95 AFBusiness
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening.
Sapphire Preferred
Chase · $95 AF
Earn 75,000 bonus points after $5,000 spend in 3 months.
United Quest
Chase · $350 AF
Earn up to 70,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP): 60,000 bonus miles + 500 PQP after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 10,000 bonus miles after you add an authorized user in the first 3 months.
Delta Platinum
Amex · $350 AF
Apply and find out your welcome offer as high as 90,000 miles after you make $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Delta Reserve
Amex · $650 AF
Apply and find out your welcome offer as high as 100,000 miles after you make $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Strata Elite
Citi · $595 AF
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months.
Strata Premier
Citi · $95 AF
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
United Club Business
Chase · $695 AFBusiness
Earn up to 110,000 bonus miles + 2,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP): 100,000 bonus miles + 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 10,000 bonus miles after you add an employee card in the first 3 months.
United Explorer
Chase · $150 AF
Earn up to 60,000 bonus miles: 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 10,000 bonus miles after you add an authorized user in the first 3 months.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful
Chase · $250 AF
Earn 85,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
Delta Reserve Business
Amex · $650 AFBusiness
Special Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $12,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
SKYPASS Select Visa Signature
U.S. Bank · $450 AF
Earn 60,000 SKYPASS miles after spending $5,000 in the first 90 days.
Southwest Priority
Chase · $229 AF
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
Sapphire Reserve
Chase · $795 AF
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Hilton Aspire
Amex · $550 AF
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ink Business Premier
Chase · $195 AFBusiness
Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold
Chase · $0 AF
Earn 45,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening.
Hilton Surpass
Amex · $150 AF
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. The annual fee is $150 from the first year.
Premium Rewards Elite
Bank of America · $550 AF
Earn 75,000 bonus points ($750 value) after spending $5,000 in the first 90 days.
Delta Platinum Business
Amex · $350 AFBusiness
Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
AAdvantage Globe
Citi · $350 AF
Earn 60,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Altitude Connect
U.S. Bank · $0 AF
Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.
Freedom Rise
Chase · $0 AF
Limited-time offer: earn 3% cash back total on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, on up to $6,000 spent in the first 6 months from account opening; plus earn a $25 statement credit after setting up automatic payments in the first 3 months and remaining enrolled for at least 90 consecutive days.