These 7 credit cards have travel insurance protections. Which one is right for you?
With spring among us and summer not too far ahead, the word “vacation” is top of mind. Choosing a getaway destination, fun excursions, cute outfits and counting down the days to relaxation are typically the most exciting parts of vacation planning. Planning for what could go wrong, however, isn’t as enticing.
While this aspect of vacay prep isn’t as fun, it is necessary, and the right credit card can help alleviate some stress that a potentially unfortunate event can cause. Understanding the full capacity of your credit card and what travel protections it provides is important to know before you book your trip. CNN recently examined seven credit cards and what their benefits are. Take a look at the details to determine which one is right for you.
Know the difference: Credit card travel protections vs travel insurance
CNN notes that a credit card’s offered travel protections aren’t the same as travel insurance. Travel protections that come with specific credit cards can help with specific issues that travelers may experience during a trip, while insurance is an overarching policy that covers a trip or series of trips. There are seven protections credit cards offer:
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Coverage for a trip due to cancellation prior or interruption during, due to illness, injury, weather or terrorist incident. Nonrefundable expenses related to the cancellation will be reimbursed, but exclusions do apply.
Trip delay: Coverage for a trip in the event of airline, bus, cruise ship, train delay due to reasons such as weather or technical issues. Out-of-pocket expenses related to the delay can be reimbursed.
Lost luggage reimbursement: Coverage for lost or damaged luggage.
Baggage delay reimbursement: Reimbursement for clothing, toiletries and other essentials purchased due to a delay in baggage arrival.
Rental car insurance: In the event that a rental car gets damaged during a trip, some credit cards can waive some of the more expensive insurance policies issued by car rental companies.
Travel accident insurance: In the event that you or, depending on the situation, an immediate family member experiences injury or death during a trip, your beneficiary can make a claim.
Emergency evacuation insurance: If you need to cut your trip early due to injury or sickness, medical services and transportation will be covered.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
CNN notes that this card is the only one of the seven that offers all seven types of coverage, as well as top-tier insurance and generous reimbursement. Trip delay coverage is where this card stands out most, as coverage kicks in as soon as transportation is delayed for six or more hours. Other cards don’t do so until a delay of 12 hours or more.
Chase Sapphire Reserve also covers up to $100,000 in medical services and transportation within its emergency evacuation and transportation insurance reimbursements. The card will also insure travelers up to $1 million in case of an accidental death or dismemberment.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
This card offers the most of the same travel insurance protections as its previously mentioned Chase Sapphire counterpart, but to a lesser extent. For travelers who still want a wide range of protections, but don’t want to pay a hefty annual fee, Chase Sapphire Preferred is a solid option. The annual fee comes up to $95 per year, compared to Chase Sapphire Reserve’s $550.
Trip delay insurance is the most prominent difference between the two cards, as transportation needs to be delayed at least 12 hours before reimbursement. There also isn’t emergency evacuation coverage. Trip cancellation and interruption coverage is on par with Chase Sapphire Reserve, however, as travelers can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip if a trip is canceled for an uncovered reason.
Best flexible rewards earnings: American Express Platinum
According to CNN, the American Express Platinum credit card – or Amex Platinum – has the same trip cancellation and interruption insurance as the two Chase cards, with one distinction: travelers can only be covered for up to $10,000 per trip, with a limit of $20,000 per card per consecutive 12 months. Trip delay insurance also comes with the Amex Platinum up to $500 per ticket for a delay of at least six hours.
If you’re a traveler who frequently rents cars during a trip, this detail is an important one. This card’s car rental insurance provides secondary insurance only, meaning that if any accident were to happen, a claim would need to be filed with your personal insurance company first before Amex Platinum’s insurance chimes in.
This card also has a higher annual fee, coming in at $695 per year, but it does come with luxury perks including airport lounge status, monthly Uber Cash credits, elite hotel status and more.
United Club Infinite Card
No, this card doesn’t have the most travel protections compared to others, but if you’re a frequent flyer with United Airlines, this might be the one for you. Trip cancellation, trip interruption and primary car rental insurance comes with the United Club Infinite Card, as well as trip delay reimbursement for 12 hour or more delays.
The card also offers baggage delay reimbursement up to $100 per day, if your goods are delayed more than six hours getting to your destination. A claim can also be submitted for the first three days, compared to cards that will reimburse travelers for up to five days.
Although not every travel protection previously listed is covered by the United Club Infinite Card, it does make up for it with other perks. Cardholders will receive a United Club membership, a $100 statement credit for Global Entry/TSA Precheck and two free checked bags. It also earns four miles per $1 spent on United purchases.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex has the same travel insurance protections as the previously listed Amex Platinum card, including lost luggage reimbursement, secondary car rental insurance and more.
Delta-specific perks include access to Delta Sky Clubs and Amex Centurion Lounges when flying with the airline, as well as available complimentary upgrades and a free checked bag on Delta flights.
Bank of America Premium Rewards
If you’re more concerned about what you can earn when you spend, this card is more your speed. It does come with basic travel protections including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, but the coverage comes in at $2,500 per person, which is noticeably lower than other cards. Depending on the trip, though, $2,500 may suffice.
Trip delay and lost baggage coverage is also offered, as well as emergency evacuation and secondary car rental insurance.
As for rewards, the Premium Reward Card warns two points per $1 spent on travel and dining, 1 point per $1 on other purchases and points can be redeemed for cash back at a rate of 1 cent per point. Those rates can also increase if you are part of Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program.
For business travelers: Ink Business Preferred
If you travel frequently for work and prefer to keep all work-related expenses on a business credit card, you might want to consider the Ink Business Preferred card.
CNN highlights that its coverage is comparable to that of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. The primary difference between the two, besides the annual fees (Ink Business Preferred comes in at $95 compared to Chase Sapphire’s whopping $550) is the reimbursement for canceled or interrupted trips: $10,000 per trip and $5,000 per person. Most cards cover double this amount, but unless you’re going on a luxurious business trip, this coverage should be adequate.
Final tips
As the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry. With any card you consider, and subsequently choose, reach out to the credit card company to get a full picture of the protections and benefits offered. It also wouldn’t hurt to compare the fine print with that of any travel insurance you purchase to further insure that you’re covered all around. For more information on any of the cards mentioned, head over to CNN for more details.
Roshae Hemmings is an arts and culture magazine journalist from St. Louis, MO. A graduate from the Missouri School of Journalism, Roshae has bylines in the Columbia Missourian, Vox Magazine and 5280 Magazine discussing topics ranging from pop culture, social justice and eat and drink. She is a foodie at heart and enjoys eating food as much as learning about the story behind it. When she’s not working on a story, Roshae enjoys cooking, watching and analyzing reality TV, and spending time with family and friends.
This story was originally published April 4, 2023 at 6:10 PM with the headline "These 7 credit cards have travel insurance protections. Which one is right for you?."