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.
Have you ever wanted the ability to cancel your basic economy ticket booked directly with the airline and receive a partial refund to your original form of payment? Well, now you have that option. American Express offers Trip Cancel Guard, which gives you the ability to cancel or change flights for any reason and receive up to 75% reimbursement for nonrefundable flight costs.
As of October 15, 2025, Trip Cancel Guard has expanded coverage for tickets purchased on any platform. This includes booking directly with airlines or on third-party travel sites. The catch is that you must purchase Trip Cancel Guard within 30 days of purchasing your flight.
Here's everything you need to know about Amex's Trip Cancel Guard, and if it's worth using.
Page Contents
What Is Amex Trip Cancel Guard?
American Express Trip Cancel Guard is an optional add-on for eligible card members. You can purchase the protection when booking an eligible flight through Amex Travel® portal, or for flights booked elsewhere through the Trip Cancel Guard website. You must purchase coverage within 30 days of purchasing your flight, and it must be purchased at least five days before departure. Note that only flights above $300 per person are valid for coverage.
Once you've purchased coverage, you can cancel your flight up to two full calendar days before departure to receive up to 75% reimbursement for non-refundable flights. This benefit also allows you to receive reimbursement for any paid change or cancellation fees.
However, for coverage to kick in, you cannot be offered an airline credit or voucher. Trip Cancel Guard is only for non-refundable fares, so if you cancel your Delta flight for an eCredit, you won't receive anything from American Express.
Related: Airline Award Ticket Change and Cancellation Policies
How Much Does Amex Trip Cancel Guard Cost?
Here's what purchasing Trip Cancel Guard might look like in practice. I'm heading to the Winter Olympics in Milan in February 2026, and I still need to book my flight. I am considering the flight below from Mexico City (MEX) to Milan (LIN) with a layover in Paris (CDG) on Air France.
Related: How to Visit the Dolomites (2026 Winter Olympics Host Site) Using Points and Miles
For a premium economy ticket, I have three options:
- Premium Standard: $796, non-refundable
- Premium Flex: $952, refundable
- Premium Flex Extra SAF: $988, refundable
Thanks to Trip Cancel Guard, I can book the Premium Standard fare, but still be covered if I want to cancel or change my ticket. If I book directly with Air France and purchase Trip Cancel Guard separately, it'll cost $79.60. That's 10% of my ticket price.
Interestingly, booking a similar flight through Amex Travel would be slightly more expensive. I'd pay $822.36 for Premium Standard, but adding on the Trip Cancel Guard is cheaper at just $65.78 (8% of the flight cost).
Odds are, I'm not going to cancel my flight. The Winter Olympics are happening, and I'm going. However, with a Premium Standard ticket, Air France would charge $200 for flight changes, plus any applicable fare difference. I could pay as low as $65.78 to recover this change fee if I want to fly on a different day or at a different time.
How Does Trip Cancel Guard Compare?
There are plenty of trip insurance providers out there, so don't immediately purchase Trip Cancel Guard.
Related: The Best Credit Cards for Trip Interruption and Trip Cancellation Insurance
Faye Travel Insurance
Let's say I'd rather be covered by Faye, which offers a comprehensive set of coverage. I'd pay around $181 to be covered for a variety of line items, like emergency accident medical expenses and baggage delays. I'd also be covered for missed connections and trip cancellation for covered reasons.
In this case, I could purchase an add on to “cancel for any reason” for just $50.13, which will reimburse me for up to 75% of non-refundable trip expenses if canceled up to 48 hours before departure. This is remarkably similar to the Trip Cancel Guard, and would cover far more than just my flight. However, this isn't an option you can purchase separately; you need to add it on to a trip insurance plan.
Related: How To Cover Your Trip With Faye Travel Insurance: My Review and Experience
Capital One
Capital One offers something similar to cardholders. I could book the same flight through Capital One Travel but pay an extra $132 to cancel my flight for any reason. The difference? I can cancel my flight up to 3 hours before departure, and Capital One will refund me 90% of my base fare and taxes.
In this case, I'd get back $740 if I cancelled, compared to just $616.50 with American Express. Plus, I can cancel much closer to the flight. However, it's double the price, so you'll have to weigh the benefits against the cost.
Final Thoughts
Trip Cancel Guard provides Amex cardholders with an easy way to cancel nonrefundable flights. However, there are some important caveats. You'll only receive your refund if you aren't offered a flight credit when you cancel. Most airlines these days offer a flight credit for cancellations as long as you don't book a basic economy ticket.
So, that automatically reduces its utility by quite a lot. And if you do book a basic economy ticket, you're only eligible for Trip Cancel Guard if your flight costs $300 or more. In other words, this isn't a great option for most travelers.
You might be better off booking a third-party insurance like Faye and adding on a “cancel for any reason” feature to have the most comprehensive coverage. However, the opportunity to be reimbursed for change or cancellation fees, which several other providers do not offer, is a nice touch. Trip Cancel Guard is worth it if you think it'll save you money in the long run, but be sure to compare other options.
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.