Policies differ between credit card issuers, particularly regarding the length of the delay required before coverage kicks in. However, coverage is activated for all providers if an overnight stay is required. So, how do you use trip delay reimbursement on a credit card, and which cards offer the best version? Here's what you need to know.<\/p>\n
Page Contents<\/p>
- What Is Trip Delay Reimbursement and How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>
- Best Credit Cards That Offer Trip Delay Reimbursement<\/a>
- Best card for air travel: American Express Platinum Card\u00ae<\/sup><\/a><\/li>
- Best for comprehensive protection: Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae<\/sup><\/a><\/li>
- Best no-brainer premium travel card: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card<\/a><\/li>
- Best mid-tier option: Citi Strata Premier\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Overview of Credit Cards Offering Trip Delay Protection<\/a><\/li>
- How To File a Trip Delay Claim<\/a><\/li>
- Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n
What Is Trip Delay Reimbursement and How Does It Work?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Trip delay protection reimburses you for expenses incurred due to a delayed or canceled flight, train, bus \u2014 virtually any scheduled land, air, or sea-based transport \u2014 designed to take you directly from point A to point B.<\/p>\n
- \n
- How long of a delay is required?<\/strong> The minimum delay before coverage kicks in varies by provider. The best policies kick in after six hours, while others require a 12-hour delay.<\/li>\n
- How much is covered?<\/strong> Coverage can range from $300 to $500 per passenger per covered incident.<\/li>\n
- What's covered?<\/strong> Most trip delay policies cover meals, accommodation, and any personal necessities travelers may require due to the delay. Note that policies generally only cover costs while you wait and don't cover alternative transportation to your destination.<\/li>\n
- What types of delays are covered? <\/strong>While the coverage is different for each provider, covered delays can include:\n
- \n
- Equipment failure<\/li>\n
- Extreme weather and natural disasters<\/li>\n
- Lost or stolen passport or travel documents<\/li>\n
- Labor strikes<\/li>\n
- Unable to board because of overbooking<\/li>\n
- Hijacking or skyjacking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Your card's Guide to Benefits<\/a> details the exact policy for your card. It'll also explain whether you need to charge the full cost of your travel to the card to obtain coverage. Some cards require paying only a portion (for example, taxes and fees), with the rest covered by points or miles<\/a>. This can have a big impact on which card to choose.<\/p>\n
![\"Departure](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\")
Credit: JT Genter\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Best Credit Cards That Offer Trip Delay Reimbursement<\/span><\/h2>\n
Dozens of credit cards offer trip delay reimbursement. However, we are only including cards in our roundup that offer coverage that kicks in after a six-hour delay and reimburses you up to $500. Similarly, each card on this list should provide coverage whether you use your card to pay the full ticket amount or only the taxes and fees on your award redemption. However, always check your benefits guide for the most accurate information.<\/p>\n
Best card for air travel: American Express Platinum Card\u00ae<\/sup><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n\n\nAmerican Express Platinum Card\u00ae<\/sup><\/div>\n<\/div>\n How to Apply<\/a><\/div>\nRates & Fees<\/a>
(Terms apply)<\/span><\/div>\nWelcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nAs High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n American Express Platinum Card\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong>\nWelcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nAs High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/div>\nAnnual Fee:<\/strong>$895<\/b><\/div>\nShow more<\/a>Why We Like It<\/a>Highlights<\/a>Earning Rates<\/a>Cardholders can access more than 1,550 airport lounges worldwide, take advantage of up to $200 in annual airline fee credits, up to $209 in CLEAR+ credits, and TSA PreCheck\u00ae<\/sup> or Global Entry fee credits. The card also includes an annual hotel credit worth up to $600 on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts\u00ae<\/sup> or The Hotel Collection bookings (The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay), Hilton Honors\u2122 and Marriott Bonvoy\u00ae<\/sup> Gold Elite status, and a suite of benefits with Fine Hotels + Resorts\u00ae<\/sup>. Additional perks include $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership credit (with applicable sales taxes and Plus Ups not include), up to $300 in annual digital entertainment credits, up to $300 Equinox credits, and up to $200 annual Uber Cash and $120 Uber One Credit. Enrollment required for select American Express benefits.<\/div>\n\n\n- 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.<\/li>
- 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.<\/li>
- 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.<\/li>
- $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.<\/li>
- $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.<\/li>
- $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.<\/li>
- $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.<\/li>
- $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.<\/li>
- $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.<\/li>
- 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.<\/li>
- $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.<\/li>
- $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.<\/li>
- 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.<\/li>
- $895 annual fee.<\/li>
- Terms Apply.<\/li><\/ul><\/body><\/html>\n<\/div>
- \r\n
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel\u00ae<\/sup> (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).<\/li>\r\n
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel\u00ae<\/sup>.<\/li>\r\n
- Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts\u00ae<\/sup> and The Hotel Collection bookings.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel\u00ae<\/sup>.<\/li>\r\n
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel\u00ae<\/sup> (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).<\/li>\r\n
- How much is covered?<\/strong> Coverage can range from $300 to $500 per passenger per covered incident.<\/li>\n
- Best for comprehensive protection: Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae<\/sup><\/a><\/li>
- Best Credit Cards That Offer Trip Delay Reimbursement<\/a>
![\"Departure](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/American-Airlines-departure-board-with-delays-and-cancellations.jpg\")
![\"American](\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/e6901d88-1a35-4373-b3e1-9a2a445490a0.png\")
<\/div>\n