Flight delayed or canceled? Here are the best credit cards with trip delay reimbursement

Things can go wrong when you're traveling. As carriers try to keep up with booming demand while dealing with staffing shortages and weather headaches, there are many flight related issues.

If you used the right credit card for your trip, you may be able to get reimbursed.

There are travel credit cards that allow you to earn bonuses from various categories of purchases. There are a number of perks that can be valuable to have in the current travel universe.

When things go wrong, trip delay protection can save the day.

Some cards have a benefit to help you navigate trip delays.

The best trip delay protection credit cards of 2022

What is credit card trip delay protection?

You book a flight through an airline's major hub, but your first segment is delayed and you miss your connecting flight, only to discover that the next available flight isn't for several hours or even until the next morning It can be days before you can get to your destination.

If the delay is within the control of the airline, they will provide food vouchers and overnight accommodations, but they may not always cover all the expenses you will incur during a delay.

You are usually on your own for weather-related delays.

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If your flight is delayed or canceled, what should you do?

You can keep money in your pocket by using the trip delay protection offered by some credit cards. This protection ensures that you won't be responsible for additional expenses if you have a lengthy trip delay. If you paid for your travel with an eligible card, you may be eligible for reimbursement after the fact.

According to the card's benefits, here is an example of what this means.

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 won't be able to book a room at the Four Seasons, so you'll have to pay for room service, and expect to be reimbursed. All cards that offer this coverage impose a limit per ticket, person or trip, so be sure to read the benefits of your card.

The coverage only kicks in after you get compensation from the airline. If an airline gives food vouchers during a long delay, you can't ask for reimbursement. If you have to book a hotel room at your own expense, you should be able to get trip delay reimbursement.

There are credit cards that offer trip cancellation.

Comparison of the best cards with trip delay protection

Eligibility and benefits vary by card. There are terms and conditions. For more information, visit american express.com/benefits guide. The policies are written by New Hampshire Insurance Company.

This is a benefit that is offered by many cards. Review the detailed policies for the card in your wallet to make sure you understand what is and is not covered. Amex provides benefit guides on its website for all of its cards that provide trip delay protection, but some of them aren't included because they provide less coverage.

The reader mistake story was related to my trip delay coverage.

Common limitations of trip delay reimbursement

The trip delay protection offered by some credit cards can be very useful, but it may not cover you all the time. Important aspects to remember are listed here.

It is possible that your credit card's travel insurance won't cover you.

You must pay for at least part of the ticket using the card with coverage (but some have stricter requirements)

It's possible that you could charge taxes and fees on an award ticket and be eligible for coverage. Other cards require you to pay the full cost of the trip with the card.

All or a portion of a common carrier fare must be charged to your credit card account and/or rewards programs associated with your account. Amex cards with this benefit note state that you must charge the full amount of a covered trip to your eligible card or in combination with your eligible card and accumulated points on your eligible card.

Capital One says you need to use your account to purchase either a portion or the entire cost of your fare.

Your delay must exceed a set amount of time

A delay of at least six or 12 hours is required for most cards. During a forced overnight stay, some cards will allow for reimbursement.

The delay must be for a covered reason

If you miss a flight due to something other than sleep or traffic, you aren't eligible for reimbursement.

The coverage may only cover particular family members

When you purchase a portion of your common carrier fare with a Chase card, it usually covers you, your spouse/domestic partner and your legally dependent children under the age of 26.

Amex cards with this benefit generally cover you, your spouse/domestic partner, unmarried dependent child up to age 19 if a full-time student at an accredited college or university, and companions who are traveling with you or your family.

Only you, your spouse and dependent children under the age of 22 can be covered by Capital One.

Who is insured by your credit card?

There may be a maximum number of claims you can file per 12-month period

American Express limits you to two claims per year.

Round-trip travel may be required

A covered trip is a round-trip travel to one or more destinations other than an eligible traveler's city of residence. A round-trip travel may include a combination of tickets with common carriers.

How to file a claim

The first thing to do if you have a delay that resulted in unexpected expenses is to call and start the claim process.

You can call the customer service number on the back of your card. You have to call a benefits administrator for Amex and Capital One.

You have to initiate the claim within 60 days. Capital One requires claims to be submitted within a certain period of time.

Depending on the card and your situation, the exact requirements will vary, but you will probably need to complete and/or provide the following.

• Completed and signed claim form, which will usually be provided by the benefits administrator when you initiate the claim.
• Original and updated travel itinerary and/or the common carrier ticket.
• Credit card account statement (showing the last four or five digits of the account number) reflecting the charge for the common carrier ticket (unless the travel itinerary reflects the last four digits of your account number as payment method).
• If more than one payment method was used, you must provide documentation as to the additional currency, voucher, rewards programs or other payment method used.
• Statement from the common carrier that the trip was delayed and explaining the reason for the delay.
• Copies of itemized receipts (Chase may only require itemized receipts for food expenses and expenses of $50 or more per eligible traveler).

The benefits administrator could ask for additional documentation related to the delay and expenses you incurred, so be prepared to gather anything and everything that could aid your case.

When a trip is delayed, what card should I use?

Bottom line

When things go awry, some credit cards can offer benefits that can save the day.

If you have ever been the victim of a lengthy delay and had to pay for it, it can come in handy. Hopefully, this post will give you an idea of what to expect when you do use it.

You can find more information on credit card travel protections.

Click here to find rates and fees of the Amex Platinum. Click here to find the Delta Reserve's rates and fees. Click here to find the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant's rates and fees.

Additional reporting was done by Emily Thompson.