American Express Travel Delay Insurance: Coverage and Claim Process

American Express Travel Delay Insurance provides coverage for unexpected trip interruptions, allowing you to continue your journey with minimal disruption.

If your flight is delayed or cancelled, you can file a claim for reimbursement of eligible expenses, including meals and accommodations.

To be eligible for coverage, you must have purchased a trip using an American Express travel insurance plan, and your delay must be caused by a covered reason, such as weather or mechanical issues.

You can file a claim online or by phone, and American Express will review your claim and provide a decision within a few days.

American Express trip delay insurance can cover reasonable expenses that you incur as a result of your trip delay. These expenses may include meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal use items.

The maximum reimbursement amount varies depending on your card, but it can be up to $500 per eligible trip. You can also get $300 of coverage after a 12-hour delay with some cards.

To qualify for coverage, your trip must be round-trip, starting and ending at the same city. You can purchase one-way tickets, but the entire journey must be round-trip.

The insurance only kicks in when you're delayed due to one of four reasons: inclement weather, terrorist action or hijacking, equipment failure by the common carrier, or lost or stolen passports or travel documents.

Here are the types of delays that Amex trip delay insurance will cover:

As for who is covered, American Express trip delay insurance covers you and your family members when you book the entire round-trip cost of your eligible trip with your card.

Over 20 American Express cards offer some form of trip delay insurance protection, but the maximum reimbursement amount and minimum delay time vary depending on the card used.

The premium AmEx cards offer up to $500 in reimbursement per covered trip and require at least a six-hour delay. These cards include The Platinum Card from American Express, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, and several others.

If you have multiple AmEx cards, the applicable policy is based on which card was used to purchase the trip. So, if you book a round-trip flight with an American Express Green Card but also have a Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, you'll get up to $300 in reimbursements for delays over 12 hours.

You can get automatic travel protection benefits at no extra charge when you pay for airfare with the best travel insurance credit cards, including some American Express cards.

To qualify for coverage, you must book with a "Common Carrier", which just means you've booked an airline, a cruise ship, etc.

The following cards offer the premium tier of AmEx trip delay insurance, which has a benefit limit of $500 per delay and kicks in after a six-hour delay:

The following cards offer the standard tier of AmEx trip delay insurance, which has a benefit limit of $300 per delay and kicks in after a 12-hour delay:

You're eligible for American Express travel delay insurance if you book the entire round-trip cost of your trip with your card. This coverage extends to your spouse or domestic partner, dependent children under 19 (or 26 if they're full-time students), and traveling companions who make advance arrangements to travel with you.

To file a claim, start by calling the benefit administrator at 1-844-933-0648 within 60 days of your trip delay. You'll need to provide proof of your loss, which may include receipts, tickets, and a statement from the airline or common carrier explaining the reason for the delay.

Here's a breakdown of who's covered under Amex trip delay insurance:

The maximum reimbursement per trip is $500, regardless of the number of eligible travelers or delays. You'll need to furnish written proof of your loss within 180 days of the delay, although American Express can extend this deadline up to one year.

AmEx trip delay insurance covers you, your spouse or domestic partner, and qualifying children.

Your children are considered eligible if they are unmarried, dependent, and under 19 years old. However, if they're a full-time student at an accredited college or university, they can be covered until they're 26.

You don't need to be traveling with your family members for them to be eligible for coverage.

Your traveling companions are also eligible for coverage if they're traveling with you for all or part of your trip.

Here's a breakdown of who's considered a family member for AmEx trip delay insurance:

Note that AmEx trip delay coverage is capped per trip, not per eligible traveler or per delay.

You must begin your claim within 60 days of the date of your travel delay, or your claim might not be honored.

To start your claim, call the benefit administrator at 1-844-933-0648. They'll provide you with more information about how to provide proof of loss.

You'll need to provide documentation like receipts, tickets, and the reason for the delay. This proof must generally be filed within 180 days of your delay.

If you're unable to provide the required proof within 180 days, American Express can extend the deadline up to one year.

To file your claim, you'll likely need to fill out a claim form and provide the following:

The benefit administrator will review your trip delay claim and make a determination. If they determine that you have a valid claim, you will receive reimbursement for your expenses, up to the limit of coverage.

American Express trip delay insurance has some key limitations to keep in mind.

There is no provision for overnight delays, so if you're delayed overnight but the total delay is less than 12 hours, you won't receive reimbursement from the benefit.

Limits are per trip, not per passenger, so if you're traveling with eligible companions, your total benefit maximum is $300.

This means you and your companions will be cumulatively limited to $300 of expenses total, so be sure to factor that into your travel plans.

Traveling can be unpredictable, and delays or cancellations can be stressful. American Express travel delay insurance can provide peace of mind and financial protection.

You can purchase travel delay insurance at any time, but it's usually a good idea to buy it when you book your trip. This way, you're covered in case something goes wrong.

American Express offers a 72-hour delay benefit, which means you can get reimbursed for expenses like food and lodging if your flight is delayed by more than 12 hours. This can be a lifesaver if you're stuck waiting for a flight.

Travel protection is a crucial aspect of travel planning, and it's essential to understand what's covered and what's not. Credit card travel protection benefits can provide automatic travel protection at no extra charge, but the coverage varies significantly by card.

Chase and Amex offer fantastic features, while Citibank travel insurance is nonexistent. Enrollment is required for select benefits, and Amex stipulates that you must book with a "Common Carrier" to qualify for coverage.

The most popular cards with benefits a tier below the most premium cards include those that offer trip delay insurance. If your trip is delayed more than six hours for a covered reason, you'll get up to $500 for reasonable expenses.

Eligible reasons for compensation include equipment failure, inclement weather, lost travel documents, and hijacking. The period of round-trip travel may consist of roundtrip, one-way, or combinations of roundtrip and one-way tickets with Common Carrier(s).

Here are some key details about trip delay insurance:

It's essential to note that not all delays are covered, and reimbursements are capped per trip, not per traveler or per delay.

If your trip is delayed overnight, it's essential to have a plan in place. Get receipts for everything, as you'll need them to submit your claim later.

Save all receipts from expenses you want to be reimbursed, including itemized receipts for meals and hotel stays. Don't assume that the receipt you sign at the restaurant or the credit card receipt from the hotel will be enough.

To ensure you have all the necessary documentation, print a copy of your boarding pass, flight itinerary, and receipt. You can do this at an airport kiosk or ask an agent for assistance.

Having some documentation can help when you need to get a statement from the carrier about the delay. Take a photo of your flight to have a record of it.

Here are some essential documents to keep track of:

The American Express Platinum card is definitely worth considering for travel, especially with its 5x Amex Membership Rewards points on airfare purchased directly from airlines or from Amex Travel.

You'll also receive trip delay insurance, which can cover your expenses when your trip is delayed due to weather or other covered reasons.

This insurance can be a lifesaver, especially if you're planning a big trip.

The claims process for Amex trip delay insurance is surprisingly straightforward and low-hassle, making it a great feature to have.