Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it would not be moving forward with plans to require airlines to compensate passengers for extended delays.
While carriers operating in the U.S. must provide refunds for canceled flights, they're not required to compensate travelers for delays.
The proposal, introduced by the Biden administration in 2023, would have required carriers to pay $200 to $300 for domestic delays of at least three hours and up to $775 for longer waits.
In a document posted on Sept. 4, the White House stated that the USDOT planned to withdraw the proposal "consistent with department and administration priorities."
Trip delay protection: A little-known but valuable card benefit
The likelihood of a three-hour delay has quadrupled since 1990, according to an analysis of Bureau of Transportation Statistics data by the Substack Maximum Progress.
While the airlines aren't required to pay you for lost time, having a credit card with trip delay insurance can make a big difference. This perk allows you to be reimbursed for expenses relating to the delay, like meals, clothing, toiletries and even lodging.
Depending on the card, you'll need to be delayed by a minimum of six or twelve hours for the trip delay benefit to take effect. My favorite cards with trip delay protection are:
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
If you're a Marriott loyalist, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold credit card is an excellent way to accumulate Bonvoy points. And it's one of the few cards without an annual fee that offers trip delay protection. You'll need to be delayed by at least 12 hours for the benefit to kick in, but once it does, it has a generous $500 reimbursement cap.
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
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred has the same reimbursement rate as Marriott Bonvoy Bold ($500 for a 12-hour delay), and tacks on a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). However, it comes with additional travel protections, including up to $20,000 in trip cancellation/interruption insurance, as well as primary auto rental coverage.
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
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Trip delay benefits come standard with premium travel cards. However, I prefer the Capital One Venture X because its $500 reimbursement kicks in after six hours — and the card's $395 annual fee is lower than that of its high-end peers.
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
Credit card protection vs. travel insurance
While many cards have trip delay insurance, they don't come close to the three-hour window proposed by the DOT. If that appeals to you, look into travel insurance: Some policies, including Travel Insured International's Worldwide Trip Protector plan and Allianz Travel's OneTrip Premier plan, cover delays starting at the three-hour mark.
Travel insurance can offer another benefit your card can't: Simplicity. Many insurance providers will reimburse a certain amount, such as $100 per day, without receipts.
C&F Travel Insured International Travel Insurance
Policy highlights
Single-trip and multi-trip/annual policies and cruise insurance. Add-ons include Cancel for Any Reason coverage and a travel inconvenience benefit
Cancel For Any Reason coverage
Add-on to Worldwide Trip Protector Deluxe or Platinum plan that reimburses 75% of nonrefundable costs when purchased within 21 days of initial trip payment
Pre-existing condition waiver
Available if policy is purchased within 21 days of initial trip deposit.
Allianz Travel Insurance
Policy highlights
Single-trip and multi-trip/annual policies and a rental car plan. OneTrip Prime and Premier plans include coverage for one child 17 or younger when accompanying a covered adult.
Cancel For Any Reason coverage
Reimburses 80% of nonrefundable trip costs if you cancel at least 48 hours before departure.
Pre-existing condition waiver
Included if policy is purchased within 14 days of initial deposit
Read our review of Allianz Travel Insurance
Trip delay FAQs
How long must I be delayed before my card's trip delay protection kicks in?
The required length of delay depends on the credit card. Basic airline and travel cards require a delay of at least 12 hours before they'll compensate you. However, some premium travel cards only require a six-hour delay before coverage begins.
What does credit card trip delay protection cover?
Typically, cardholders are reimbursed for reasonable expenses relating to the delay, such as meals, lodging and toiletries. There is usually a daily or per-person maximum, typically ranging from $300 to $500.
What does credit card travel protection not include?
It's rare for credit cards to provide comprehensive coverage for medical care or evacuation. And while most travel insurance companies have policies that allow you to cancel for any reason or to be covered for pre-existing conditions, that benefit is typically not available through a credit card.
How do I get reimbursed for expenses relating to a delay?
Call your card servicer or visit its website for details on filing a claim. Hold onto any receipts and documentation from the airline and submit them as soon as possible to avoid missing the filing deadline.
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