AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
Offers for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card are not available through this site. Some offers may have expired. Please see our card marketplace for available offers
Trip planning comes with plenty of excitement — but also plenty of risk. Flights get canceled, plans change, and emergencies happen. That’s where trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance can step in to help. If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees) or Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), you may already be covered for thousands of dollars in unexpected travel costs — automatically with no activation or extra purchase required.
In this guide, we’ll break down what’s covered, who qualifies, how the benefit works, and how to file a claim. Also, for those who have a small business, we'll include how the Chase Sapphire coverage compares to coverage from the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Page Contents
- What Does Chase Sapphire Trip Cancellation Insurance Cover?
- What Is Trip Interruption Insurance?
- Who Does the Chase Sapphire Trip Cancellation Cover?
- What Counts as a Covered Trip?
- What Counts as a Covered Loss?
- Chase Sapphire Trip Delay Insurance
- What Isn't Covered?
- How To File a Claim
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption
- Final Thoughts
What Does Chase Sapphire Trip Cancellation Insurance Cover?
Chase Sapphire trip cancellation insurance covers you and your immediate family members if a covered loss prevents you from traveling and causes you to cancel your travel plans. It provides reimbursement — up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per covered trip, with a maximum limit of $40,000 per 12-month period.
Take a look at this example: A family of four uses their card to pay for a trip that's canceled due to sickness, severe weather, or another covered situation. The cost of the trip was $6,000 per person for a total of $24,000. In this case, they would be reimbursed $20,000 since that is the maximum amount per trip.
Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred trip cancellation
There are two Chase Sapphire cards: the Sapphire Preferred and the Sapphire Reserve. Each offers Chase trip cancellation insurance. There are no differences between the two cards in terms of the type of trip cancellation insurance.
What Is Trip Interruption Insurance?
Chase Sapphire trip interruption insurance includes the same coverage amounts as the trip cancellation insurance but covers you during your trip instead of before it.
Simply put, Chase trip cancellation insurance covers you from the time you book your trip until the location and time of your departure. On the other hand, Chase trip interruption insurance covers you from the moment you depart until you return home.
Who Does the Chase Sapphire Trip Cancellation Cover?
This insurance covers the primary cardholder and their immediate family. Chase has a fairly broad definition of immediate family, which includes:
- Spouse or domestic partner and their parents
- Children (including stepchildren)
- Parents (including stepparents)
- Brothers and sisters
- Grandparents and grandchildren
- Aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews
- Legal guardians and wards
- Spouses and domestic partners of any of the people listed
Furthermore, the cardholder does not have to be present with the people traveling for the coverage to be in effect.
What Counts as a Covered Trip?
Chase defines a covered trip as a travel booking where any portion of the cost has been charged to the cardholder's account or where Chase Ultimate Rewards from the cardholder's account were redeemed for the booking.
Chase trip cancellation insurance covers you even if you only paid a small portion of the expense with your card. For example, if you use your Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve to pay for the taxes and fees on your award booking, even through a different program, that is enough to provide coverage.
What Counts as a Covered Loss?
Chase defines a covered loss as any of the following:
- Accidental bodily injury, loss of life, or sickness experienced by you, a traveling companion, or an immediate family member of you or a traveling companion.
- Severe weather that prevents a reasonable and prudent person from beginning or continuing on a covered trip.
- Named storm warning.
- Change in military orders for you, your spouse, or your domestic partner.
- A call to jury duty or receiving a subpoena from the courts, neither of which can be postponed or waived.
- Finding you or your traveling companion’s place of permanent residency to be uninhabitable due to being burglarized, or damaged from fire or flood.
- You or your traveling companion’s lodging accommodations become uninhabitable.
- Death or hospitalization of you or your travel companion's host at your destination.
- An organized strike affecting public transportation and causing you to miss either 20% of the trip's duration or the departure of a prepaid cruise or tour.
- Quarantine imposed by a physician for health reasons.
Additionally, these are specific to Chase trip cancellation insurance only:
- A terrorist incident within 25 miles of your home or destination within 30 days of your trip.
- A travel warning related to terrorism is issued in you or your traveling companion's city of residence within 10 days of your trip departure or at your destination within 30 days of your arrival.
These items are specific to Chase trip interruption insurance only:
- Terrorist incident within 25 miles of an airport, confirmed lodging, or host at a destination in your itinerary.
- Travel warning due to terrorism issued by a U.S. government agency within 25 miles of an airport, confirmed lodging, or host at your destination that's issued during your or your traveling companion's trip
What's not covered?
You'll notice the absence of any delays or cancellations by the carrier, travel agency, or tour operator (unless the cancellation is caused by severe weather or organized strikes). This means that missed connections and stays due to delays aren't covered. Neither is your travel provider's financial insolvency.
However, under certain circumstances, some costs associated with delays will be covered by another benefit called trip delay reimbursement, detailed in the Sapphire Preferred Benefits Guide.
Chase Sapphire Trip Delay Insurance
Another instance where trip delay might come into play is if your flight is canceled. Chase Sapphire flight cancellation insurance falls under Chase's trip delay protection. Trip delay kicks in after a delay of six hours for the Sapphire Reserve or 12 hours or a forced overnight stay for the Sapphire Preferred.
These delays would likely be the case with a canceled flight. You can claim up to $500 of “reasonable expenses” for each ticket purchased with your Sapphire card. Chase defines reasonable expenses as:
“Including meals, lodging, toiletries and medication. This benefit applies to reasonable expenses incurred during Your delay not otherwise covered by Your Common Carrier, another party, or Your primary personal insurance policy. You will be refunded the excess amount (up to the maximum) once all other reimbursement has been exhausted up to the limit of liability.”
You'll find more details in our post about Chase Sapphire Reserve travel and purchase insurance benefits. We also have an article covering how to file a flight delay claim with Chase.
What Isn't Covered?
The coverage is slightly different between the Chase Sapphire trip cancellation and Chase Sapphire trip interruption insurance protections. Here are the details.
Not covered by either:
- Change in your financial or business circumstances.
- Pre-existing conditions.
- Any accident, injury, or loss caused by attempting anything illegal, including street racing, any professional sport for which you are paid or receive a prize, suicide or self-harm, war, flying on a rocket-propelled aircraft, or where there are U.S. trade and economic sanctions in place.
- Any loss due to the voluntary surrender of unused vouchers, tickets, credits, coupons, or travel privileges.
- Travel arrangements that are scheduled to take place after the twenty-sixth (26th) week of pregnancy.
- Any loss for any trip booked while on a waiting list for specified medical treatment or losses related to trips you took for medical treatments.
- Disinclination to travel due to civil unrest, epidemic, or pandemic.
- Failure of you or your travel companion to obtain necessary visas, passports, or other documents required for travel.
Additional items not covered by trip cancellation:
- Areas with known terrorist activity.
Additional items not covered by trip interruption:
- Terrorist incidents or warnings within 25 miles of you or your travel companion's permanent residence, or the airport or lodging accommodations for your trip within 30 days of your original trip deposit.
- Travel arrangements that are canceled or changed by the carrier, travel agency, or tour operator unless due to severe weather or a strike.
It's important to note that we have summarized what is and isn't included, but we highly recommend you read the full list in the trip cancellation and trip interruption section of the Sapphire Preferred Benefits Guide and Sapphire Reserve Guide to Benefits.
How To File a Claim
To file a claim, you must contact the Benefit Administrator at 888-320-9961 within 20 days of the incident.
You will be asked a handful of questions so the administrator can send you the correct forms. After this, you'll need to gather the necessary documents to send in. Some documents that may be required are:
- Completed claim form.
- Copy of the travel itinerary.
- Confirmation of the reason for the trip cancellation or trip interruption — for example, medical documents, death certificate, or other documentation supporting a covered loss.
- Copy of the credit card statement showing the charge for prepaid travel arrangements for trip cancellation.
- Proof of expenses incurred due to a trip interruption.
- Copy of the cancellation or refund policies of the common carrier, tour operator, or travel supplier.
You can submit them to the following address:
Plan Administrator
Card Benefit Services
P.O. Box 72034
Richmond, VA 23255
You have 90 days (or a reasonable amount of time, no longer than one year) to submit your supporting documents. Details can be found in the claim information section of the benefits guide.
You can also file a claim online at www.eclaimsline.com.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption
The Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve are not the only Chase cards with trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance. The trip interruption and cancellation insurance offered by the Ink Preferred will cover up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip in prepaid or non-refundable travel expenses if a trip is canceled or cut short by a covered situation as per the Ink Preferred Benefits Guide (warning: PDF). Note that there is a $20,000 maximum per 12-month period.
The policy covers the cardholder, immediate family members, and employees of the company for which the Ink Preferred account is issued. It also covers trips purchased using Ultimate Rewards points from the account, which will be reimbursed at 1 cent per point.
Related: Best Credit Cards With Free Travel Insurance
Final Thoughts
We know it feels like a lot to take in, but understanding how the benefits work, what’s covered, and the claims process can save you thousands of dollars and a major headache down the road.
By understanding the Chase Sapphire trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance on your Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve, you may find that you're already covered without the need to spend anything extra on third-party insurance.
To learn more about these cards, check out our full Chase Sapphire Reserve review and Chase Sapphire Preferred review.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
These benefits all carry over onto the Ritz card as well, correct?
There are a lot of similarities, yes. You can find the benefits guide here https://creditcards.chase.com/marriott/cardmember/ritz-carlton/benefits
and our review here https://awardwallet.com/credit-cards/marriott-bonvoy/ritz-carlton-card/
And I wonder how easy or difficult it is to get paid on a claim. I know from using other premium credit cards you go to the same third party service. I have never had it easy to collect.
Unfortunately, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Persistence and having all of your documents super organized can help.
I was traveling in Venezuela and I arrived 1 hr 50 min before my flight, my ticket said arrive 2-4 hours before. At this airport there are not that many flights out of the country and all the security leave exactly at 9 am. It isn’t mentioned anywhere, so I had to buy another ticket for the next day. Would this be covered?
That’s a really niche case. I’d reach out to Chase’s benefits administrator to ask if they cover that.
If I miss my flight connection due to weather and need an overnight stay, will this be covered by Trip Delay insurance? If so, would this be true for tight connections which are considered legal connections by the carrier?
In the first case, yes, Chase’s trip insurance will cover it (on eligible cards). However, for tight connections that you miss due to the airline’s fault, you’re typically going to need to get the airline to cover your expenses.
For the CSR, “Covered Hazards” are: “equipment failure, inclement weather, strike and hijacking/skyjacking”
What about cancelling trip for June 8 th to Europe due to the virus?
I think the only answer is to submit a claim online or call and see.
My doctor recommends I cancel my travel plans to Hawaii due to the Corona virus outbreak. Though I don’t have the virus I do have a pre-existing condition (high blood pressure) that put me in the high risk pool. Will my trip cancellation benefit with Sapphire Reserve cover me?
Hey Ron, it’s been really hard to get a clear read on the exact policies. It seems like claims adjusters have a pretty wide scope for discretion. I’d absolutely file a claim and see what happens. Please keep us posted! It’s been hard to get good data points.
My father has cancer but is currently stable. I want to plan a family trip out of country. If I book airline tickets and hotels using the chase sapphire preferred card and last minute my father takes a turn for the worse and we can no longer travel, would that be covered by the trip cancellation policy or would it be considered pre-existing condition?
Is there an age limit for immediate family children on trip cancellation/interruption? If I book a trip using points outside of Ultimate Rewards, and pay the $5.60 security fee with the card, would my trip be covered? What if they additional expenses are put on another card?
I see that there is for trip delay, age 22. What if they are an authorized user on the card?
Thanks for your help! Hard understanding the best travel insurance now that Citi dropped everything.
Hey Matthew, authorized users should be covered regardless of age. I would definitely recommend looking at the full terms of the insurance policy to make sure you understand all the details.
If you pay the taxes of $5.60 on the card, the trip is covered. Here’s our list of card benefit guides: https://awardwallet.com/credit-cards/guide-to-benefits-list/
If you get sick in route to your next flight, does the trip interruption/cancellation benefit cover that?
I’m really not sure. I would imagine you’d have to make the case that a “prudent” person would not continue the trip. I would guess the claims examiner would want to see a doctor’s note advising you not to travel at the very least.
I reserved a hotel with a no cancellation provision on Chase sapphire reserve) My mother has just been pit into hospice. Can I cancel and file a claim if the hotel will not cancel. .
Sorry to hear about your mom. Not sure if a family medical emergency is a covered trip cancellation reason, but worth investigating (with Chase) for sure.
It is just a joke for Chase travel protection. Their system is really complicated and require you to upload a lot of documents. Then they will pretend stupid saying some of the document are missing but didn’t tell you what it is. If you keep calling them, they will ask you to upload the documents again and again. Eventually if they feel you are serious, they will give you $10 like dealing with a beggar
Traveling to FLL this weekend. Hurricane supposed to hit thats spot. Would i be able to cancel hotel, car and flights?
Hey Mike, severe weather is included in the list of covered reasons. The trip cancellation language describes the following as a Covered Loss: “Severe weather which prevents a reasonable and prudent person from beginning or continuing on a Covered Trip”
I’d recommend contacting the number on the back of your card to discuss the coverage and claim documentation requirements.
I’m glad someone had a better experience with them. I am still dealing with them almost 2 months later. They didn’t like how my doctor filled out the physician form that I waited a month to get back from him, and they don’t like that I don’t have any official cancellation letter from Frontier, since I was told we couldn’t go on the trip after we had already checked in and I couldn’t get through to Frontier to cancel, so we just didn’t show up. I can get them to tell me on the phone they could see we never checked in, but can’t send me anything official to that effect.
Just had a return flight canceled on me a few weeks back, got stranded overnight and sent to a different airport on my return – $160 for hotel and $140 for Uber to get home, since my car was elsewhere. I was asked for one additional document after my initial claim was filed, and then 3 days later I had a full refund of $300 in hand. Excellent customer service!
I keep the Chase Reserve strictly for peace of mind when it comes to things like this – glad to see they followed through on their end. Hardest part was getting a document from American Airlines about the canceled flight… other than that, smooth sailing. The card has paid for itself now with just one claim!
Hi Megan,
Why was your flight canceled? We are getting so screwed on canceled flights booked through Kiwi (ie they are not doing anything about that the flights are just gone and give us just outrageous options for rebooking) and are hoping to get *some* amount back as it was booked on Chase but not really feeling too confident…
Brianne
I completely tore my ACL and I’m waiting for surgery in May. I am not supposed to travel for about 3 months, my trip is scheduled for the end of June. I bought 5 one way tickets (myself, husband and 3 children) to New York and 5 one way return tickets that are non-refundable. WIll this be covered by Chase Freedom signature?
Without knowing the exact details, it’s hard to say. Your best bet is to contact the Benefit’s Administrator on 1-888-320-9961. They will ask you to supply proof of the injury and a letter from your doctor saying you can’t travel.
My girlfriend was in an accident, where she was hit from the side by another driver. Completely his fault. I paid for a vacation to hawaii for us using my CC points for the flights, and credit for the resort stay…
two questions if you don’t mind… She is not allowed to do ANY excursions – even biking or hiking… due to 3 herniated disks in her back…
She is not my immediate family but my girlfriend for 3 years now…
Would I be able to get reimbursed if I cancelled everything? Both the points and the money?
Thanks in advance, we would prefer to do the trip when we can actually do more than lay around in the resort or on the beach.
Please call Chase and speak to benefit services to receive an official answer. My understanding is that you would not be covered as you are not related.
They said, i have to show proof of domestic partnership with two forms of shared finances – my lease counts as we live together and are both on it. As does the the chase card as she is an authorized user of the card… So with those two items, she is covered, as well as me. according to the claims benefits person i spoke with.
Hey Jason, so sorry to hear about the accident. Really appreciate you following up with the data point on how Chase handled your claim. I’m sure this will be helpful for other readers. Happy holidays!
Hello, We have a trip coming up next week to overseas. I just returned from Europe last week and have severe sinusitis and ear infection. I don’t think I’d be able to travel next week with my 2 kids. I bought the tickets on Chase Business Preferred Ink. Do you think with a doctor’s note, I’d be able to get reimbursed for the trip through the trip cancellation insurance? Has anyone had any experience?
Thanks for your help.
Based on this info, you should be eligible. Call the number on the back of your card to speak with the benefits administrator for what required documentation they’ll need.
Horrible customer service. Will try anything to deny claims.
Will be interesting to see if this earthquake in Lombok will be covered. Cancelled Trip since only out $250 in cancellation of flights from USA.
Was flying into Denpasar (Bali) then was to take a boat to Gili Islands / Lombok but didn’t have anything else booked in advance.
Per Chase Benefits, earthquakes aren’t covered under the clause “Severe weather, which prevents a reasonable and prudent person from beginning or continuing on a Covered Trip” since earthquakes aren’t weather.
I used trip cancellation benefit and claim process was very simple. WE uploaded documents like doctors note, airline cancellation policy, Airbnb cancellation policy detailed itinerary and got full refund. Very happy to have this card.
Is it necessary to call and specifically cancel the flights that I can’t take due to a medical condition or is it the same if I don’t show up for the flight.
You *should* call, but are not required as I understand.
Does this insurance cover emergency flights home for illness?
Yes, but please read the terms in entirety to review your specific scenario.