Travel Without Worry as Your Credit Card May Offer Travel Insurance?

By MaraRev On Oct 10, 2021

Simply when many individuals thought the pandemic was over, the COVID-19 delta variant has threatened fall and winter journey plans. However, if you happen to book a visit with a bank card that provides journey insurance coverage, you could recoup a few of your prices.

For instance, your card might present some protection in case your journey is canceled or disrupted, and it might cowl the price of delayed or misplaced baggage.

Normally, premium rewards playing cards — which usually cost an annual charge — present higher protection.

For example, your card may provide some coverage if your trip is canceled or disrupted, and it may cover the cost of delayed or lost luggage. In general, premium rewards cards — which typically charge an annual fee —provide better coverage.

According to Nick Ewen, travel rewards expert at The Points Guy, a consumer travel website, protections usually kick in when events that affect your trip are out of your control.

For example, suppose a flight delay caused you to miss a night in a hotel room that you reserved with an advance, non-refundable payment. If you paid for the room with a credit card that includes travel insurance, the card would more than likely cover your loss.

But if you decided you no longer wanted to go on the trip — perhaps because of concerns about COVID-19 — your card’s travel insurance probably wouldn’t cover your losses.

All cards are not created equal. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card (annual fee $550) offers cancellation/interruption coverage of up to $10,000 per person, for example, while the American Express Platinum card (annual fee $695 for new cardholders) provides up to $10,000 per trip.

Most travel insurance offered by credit cards is secondary to any coverage the airline or hotel provides. For example, if an airline pays you $2,000 to cover the cost of lost luggage and your credit card’s lost luggage coverage is limited to $2,000, your claim will be denied.

If your card’s lost luggage coverage exceeds that amount, you may receive the difference between $2,000 and the card’s coverage limit.

If you’re unsure of what kind of travel insurance your card provides, log on to your credit card account and read the benefits guide. The guide usually provides a toll-free number you can call if you have additional questions.

Or, if you find that your card doesn’t offer travel insurance or it has few benefits, consider shopping for one with better rewards.