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Travel disruptions are stressful enough without having to worry about the potential extra expenses associated with catching a later flight.
Depending on what credit card you used to pay for the trip, you may be protected. Many of the best travel credit cards come with built-in trip delay insurance. This coverage reimburses the cardholder when a trip is delayed — regardless of whether the delay was within the travel provider's control — and covers expenses such as meals, hotels, toiletries and transportation. And it doesn't only apply to delayed flights — all sorts of land, water and air bookings qualify.
If you'd like to know more about this benefit, CNBC Select has the details on how this travel protection works and the best credit cards to get for trip delay insurance.
Best credit cards for trip delay insurance
Best for delay coverage
- American Express Platinum Card®
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees)
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Best for low (or no) annual fee
Best for businesses
Best for delay coverage
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $288 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
Highlights
- 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
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
For the most comprehensive trip delay protection, you'll need a premium credit card. The *trip delay insurance that comes with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express Platinum and Capital One Venture X cards applies to eligible delays of as little as six hours. That's half the time it takes to qualify for the trip delay coverage available with many other travel credit cards.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: You can be reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for reasonable expenses resulting from a covered delay of six hours or more, or a delay that requires an overnight stay. Coverage applies to the cardholder, spouse and children under 26 years old.
- Platinum Card® from American Express: Cardholders and eligible family members, can be reimbursed up to $500 per covered trip (up to two claims per 12 months). Eligible family members include spouses and domestic partners and unmarried dependent children up to 19 years old (under 26 years old for full-time college students). Coverage applies to an eligible trip that is delayed more than six hours. Terms apply. (Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.)
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: You can be reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for reasonable expenses resulting from a covered delay of six hours or more, or a delay that requires an overnight stay. Coverage applies to the cardholder, spouse and dependent children under 22 years old.
Best for low (or no) annual fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card has basic benefits and no annual fee, which makes it ideal if you occasionally stay with Marriott and don't need premium perks.
Rewards
- Earn up to 14X total points for every $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
- Earn 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services.
- Earn 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
You don't need a rewards credit card loaded with luxury perks (and a big annual fee) in order to have access to trip delay insurance. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a reasonable $95 annual fee and comes stocked with all sorts of travel protections, including a trip delay benefit. And the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card comes with trip delay insurance and no annual fee.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: You can be reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for reasonable expenses resulting from a covered delay of 12 hours or more, or a delay that requires an overnight stay. Coverage applies to the cardholder, spouse and dependent children under 26 years old.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: You can be reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for reasonable expenses resulting from a covered delay of 12 hours or more, or a delay that requires an overnight stay.
Best for businesses
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is an excellent business card with useful benefits, valuable rewards and a generous welcome bonus.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Go further when you book with Chase TravelSM. Enjoy competitive rates, seamless booking and premium benefits.
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Receive complimentary access to DashPass by DoorDash.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a premium business card loaded with statement credit offers for business services and travel that help justify its steep annual fee.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
- See how you can unlock over $4,000 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
- Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
- Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton for Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Gift cards are not an eligible purchase. Benefit enrollment required.
- Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
- Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
- Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
- Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
- Enroll and get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business* on the Business Platinum Card. *Subject to auto-renewal.
- Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
- Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
- Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
- 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
- 1X points on other eligible purchases
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
To qualify for a small business credit card, you need to run a small business, side hustle or have a freelance gig. The quality of your trip delay coverage depends on which business travel credit card you have. The Chase Ink Business Preferred has a lower $95 annual fee, but its trip delay insurance only kicks in after a delay of 12+ hours (or an overnight stay). The American Express Business Platinum card has more robust coverage that applies for delays of 6+ hours, but it has a higher $895 annual fee (see rates and fees).
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: You can be reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for reasonable expenses resulting from a covered delay of 12 hours or more, or a delay that requires an overnight stay. Coverage applies to the cardholder, spouse and children under 22 years old.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Cardholders and eligible family members, can be reimbursed up to $500 per covered trip (up to two claims per 12 months). Eligible family members include spouses and domestic partners and unmarried dependent children up to 19 years old (under 26 years old for full-time college students). Coverage applies to an eligible trip that is delayed more than six hours. Terms apply.
How trip delay reimbursement works
Credit card trip delay insurance reimburses you for eligible expenses you incur when a covered delay occurs on a trip you paid for (all of or part of the trip, depending on the coverage) with a card that has this benefit. This includes award travel when you pay with the points associated with that specific card. Your booking just needs to be operated by a "common carrier" to qualify, which includes commercial airlines, trains, cruises and buses. The only major exceptions are local buses and trains, as well as rental vehicles.
You'll typically be reimbursed up to a certain amount per ticket and the coverage applies to the cardholder, spouse or domestic partner and eligible dependents. You can be reimbursed for reasonable expenses that aren't covered by the travel provider or other insurance, including lodging, meals, medications and toiletries. However, this type of coverage won't reimburse you for prepaid expenses.
Trip delay coverage only applies to covered delays. Covered delay reasons include anything from inclement weather to mechanical issues to system outages. In order to be reimbursed for extra expenses, the delay typically must require an overnight stay or be at least 6 hours or 12 hours long (depending on the card). In addition, any delay due to a covered hazard that was made known or was public prior to departure is not eligible for coverage.
How to file a trip delay claim
Whenever you have a qualifying trip delay, you'll want to be on top of collecting all of the right documentation.
The first step is to call your card issuer to have them put you in touch with a trip delay insurance benefits administrator. The benefits administrator can provide you with a detailed list of exactly what you need to submit when you file a claim. You'll typically need the following:
- Proof the trip was charged to your card
- Receipts for the additional expenses
- Documentation from the travel provider with the reason for the delay
- A copy of your ticket or original itinerary
Be sure to ask how long you have to file a claim and submit the necessary documentation. You'll typically have to contact the claims administrator within 30 to 60 days and submit your documentation within 100 to 180 days depending on the card issuer.
FAQs
What is the difference between trip interruption and trip delay insurance?
Trip delay coverage only covers costs from temporary setbacks, whereas trip interruption insurance covers unused prepaid expenses if you have to end your trip early. Trip interruption insurance may also reimburse you for additional travel you need to book.
How do I prove my flight delay for insurance?
When you file a trip delay claim you will need documentation of the delay, such as your original boarding pass and the boarding pass showing the new departure time. You'll also want a statement of delay form from the travel provider that details the reason for the delay because you'll need to be able to prove it was a covered delay.
What is covered by trip delay insurance?
Trip delay insurance reimburses you for reasonable expenses you incur during a covered delay up to the maximum coverage amount. Covered expenses typically include meals, lodging, toiletries and medication.
Bottom line
Depending on what credit card you have, you may not need to pay extra for travel insurance. Some credit cards have built-in protections such as trip delay insurance. When you pay for your travel with a credit card that has trip delay insurance, you're automatically protected. That means you can be reimbursed for eligible expenses if your travel is delayed.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel credit cards.
Read more
Our methodology
To determine which cards are best for trip delay protection benefits, CNBC Select analyzed over 230 of the most popular credit cards available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including: rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is for the consumer to redeem points.
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For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
For rates and fees of the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
*For the American Express products listed on this page, the maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
