The travel industry is, by its very nature, unpredictable. There are numerous reasons why a trip might not depart at the planned time. This includes bad weather conditions, mechanical problems and the scarcity of crew members.

Acknowledging the inevitability of these occurrences, it’s always wise to opt for a credit card that offers trip delay insurance. Below are six of the best personal and business cards that come with trip delay insurance.

Personal Cards With Trip Delay Insurance

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

When it comes to trip delay insurance coverage, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the industry standard. It provides up to $500 in compensation for each ticket for delays longer than six hours or necessitating an overnight stay. This card covers cardholders and their traveling companions, including spouses and dependent children under the age of 22.

Although the Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with an annual fee of $550, it remains one of the most favored cards within the travel community. This is mostly because of the all-around travel coverage it offers.

Along with its fantastic trip delay insurance, the card also provides members with terrific travel benefits and perks such as:

  • A generous welcome bonus
  • An annual travel credit of up to $300 that automatically reimburses you for the first $300 spent on travel expenses each year
  • 1:1 transfers to partners like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
    Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (includes restaurant access)
  • Purchase and return protections
  • Extended warranty
  • Primary car rental insurance
  • Baggage delay and luggage loss coverage
  • Travel medical emergency coverage
  • Luxury hotel benefits
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus application fee credit
  • DoorDash discounts

In addition to these benefits and perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can earn up to 10X Ultimate Reward points on these select purchases:

  • 10X points on car rentals, hotel and dining bookings
  • 10X points on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
  • 5X points on flight bookings through Ultimate Rewards travel portal
  • 3X points on other dining and travel bookings
  • 1X point on other purchases
trip delay insurance

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Card is the bank’s first premium travel card. This Visa Infinite card provides incredibly generous trip delay coverages and benefits for a yearly fee of $395.

Cardholders get up to $500 in covered expenses after a trip delay of more than six hours per ticket. Spouses and dependent children under 22 are also eligible for this insurance.

Here are some travel benefits that come with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Card:

  • A generous welcome bonus
  • $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
  • 10,000 bonus miles, which equal $100 in travel every year, starting from the first anniversary
  • Unlimited access to more than 1,300 lounges as part of the Capital One Partner Lounge Network
  • Primary car rental insurance
  • Baggage delay and luggage loss coverage
  • Transfer points to travel partners like Emirates Skywards, British Airways Executive Club and Air France-KLM Flying Blue
  • Redeem points through other methods
  • $120 statement credit for Global Entry or up to $85 TSA PreCheck application fee
  • Travel accident insurance
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Purchase and return protection
  • Extended warranty

Through the Capital One rewards system, Venture X Rewards cardholders can also earn up to 10X miles as they spend on these selected purchases while traveling:

  • 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 5X miles for flights booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2X miles on all other purchases
  • 10X miles on Turo bookings (through May 16, 2023)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great beginner’s travel credit card option that offers reasonable trip delay insurance for a $95 annual fee. Card members are reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for trips delayed by at least 12 hours or if there’s a need for an overnight stay. Family members including spouses and dependent children can also enjoy this card’s delay coverage.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred also offers outstanding, well-rounded travel insurance along with high-quality travel benefits such as:

  • A generous welcome bonus
  • Primary car rental insurance
  • Travel accident coverage and assistance
  • Baggage delay and luggage loss coverage
  • 10% point bonus on every anniversary from account opening
  • 25% extra when redeeming for travel via Ultimate Rewards travel portal
  • An annual $50 hotel credit for portal bookings
  • Transfer points to airline and hotel partners such as British Airways Executive Club and World of Hyatt
  • Purchase protections
  • Extended warranty
  • Combined points from multiple Chase cards
  • No foreign transaction fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can earn up to 5X flexible Ultimate Rewards points on a variety of selected purchases:

  • 5X points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 3X points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries purchases
  • 2X points on other travel purchases
  • 1X point on other purchases
travel protection

The Platinum Card® from American Express

For an annual fee of $695 (see rates & fees), The Platinum Card® from American Express offers above-average trip delay insurance to its holders. It provides up to $500 in trip delay coverage for cardholders and their family members. This includes spouses and dependent children up to 19 or college students under 26.

The American Express trip delay insurance benefit can’t be used more than two consecutive times within 12 months.

Some travel benefits that come with the American Express Platinum are:

  • A generous welcome bonus
  • Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection
  • Up to $200 annual airline fee credit
  • Exclusive car rental status and benefits with Avis, Hertz and National Car Rental
  • Access to the international airline program
  • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck application fee
  • Access to American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts
  • No preset spending limits
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
  • Point transfer to partners such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Delta SkyMiles

The Amex Platinum card has an earning structure of up to 5X Membership Rewards points. Here are some rewards that can be earned:

  • 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on the first $500,000 spent per year, 1X after that)
  • 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
  • 1X point on all other purchases

Business Cards With Trip Delay Insurance

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is arguably the most valuable credit card any business owner can own. For an annual fee of $695 (see rates & fees), its top-notch trip delay insurance coverage offers up to $500 reimbursement for delays longer than six hours.

Not only does it provide excellent across-the-board travel insurance, but the benefits are also what make it top this category.

Here are some of the American Express Business Card’s travel benefits:

  • A generous welcome bonus
  • Point transfers to airline and hotel partners
  • Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection
  • Access to Fine Hotels + Resorts
  • Complimentary hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
  • 35% Pay With Points reimbursement for eligible flights booked through American Express Travel
  • Exclusive car rental status and benefits with Avis, Hertz and National Car Rental
  • Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits
  • Up to $200 annual airline fee credit
  • No preset spending limits
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

The American Express Business Platinum has a unique bonus rewards structure of up to 5X Membership Rewards points. You can earn points at the following rates:

  • 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
  • 1.5X points on eligible purchases in major business categories, as well as on purchases starting from $5,000 everywhere else, on up to $2 million per calendar year, 1X after that
  • 1X point on other purchases

United℠ Business Card

The United℠ Business Card is an inexpensive business credit card that offers remarkable trip delay insurance and airline benefits. For an annual fee of $99 (waived the first year), this card provides a $500 reimbursement on expenses incurred due to delays of 12 hours or more.

hotel to stay during trip delay

Here are some travel benefits that come with the United Business Card:

  • The opportunity to earn 25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases, up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year
  • Access to the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Fee-free employee cards
  • Priority boarding for cardholders and their traveling companions
  • Two complimentary United Club one-time passes per year
  • $100 travel credit after making seven United flight purchases of $100 or more each year
  • 25% statement credit on United in-flight purchases
  • Better Together bonus of 5,000 miles after every anniversary when United Business card holders also hold a personal United credit card

The United Business cardholders can also earn up to 2X United MileagePlus miles through these purchases:

  • 2X miles on United purchases such as dining, gas stations, local transportation and office supply stores.
  • 1X mile on all other purchases

Final Thoughts

Having a credit card that offers trip delay insurance is essential for those who travel a lot. However, it would also be smart to opt for a card that offers comprehensive travel coverage, including trip cancellation and interruption. Before choosing a credit card, you should be aware of what your preferences are and what card will best suit your needs.

 

Up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims 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.