7 Credit Cards With the Best Travel Insurance Perks
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage
Unexpected circumstances arise. A family emergency, a sudden sickness, or bad weather can disrupt your trip plans. Many credit cards provide trip cancellation or interruption insurance, which returns non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses like flights, hotels, and tours. While the Chase Sapphire Reserve® goes up to the same amount, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, for instance, gives up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Capitated at $20,000 annually, the Platinum Card® from American Express offers up to $10,000 per trip. Read the fine print and be aware of coverage restrictions; often, just for particular, covered purposes, coverage applies just to expenses paid to the card. For instance, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card covers cancellals only for the cost of non-refundable ordinary carrier tickets, not other trip expenses; the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers trip cancellation up to $1,500, a far smaller maximum.
Trip Delay Reimbursement
One often occurring travel annoyance is flight delays. One in five flights were cancelled, and even more were delayed, according to a 2023 U.S. Department of Transportation analysis. If your flight is delayed for a notable time—usually six to twelve hours—trip delay reimbursement can help pay for food, lodging, and transportation. Offering up to $500 per ticket, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® kicks in following a six-hour delay; the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the United℠ Explorer Card have a 12-hour delay requirement for the same $500 per ticket compensation. Additionally, providing $500 after a six-hour delay is a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Crucially, you need to know the precise delay time required for coverage of your card.
Baggage Delay/Lost Luggage Insurance
Losing or delaying your bags may ruin even the most carefully thought-out trip. Many cards provide baggage delay insurance, which pays you back for necessary purchases, including clothes and toiletries, while you wait for your bags. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers five days worth up to $100 daily. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides the exact daily dosage throughout the same period. While some cards have fewer limits, the United Explorer Card only covers up to $100 a day for just three days. Both Sapphire cards reimburse up to $3,000 per traveller for lost or damaged luggage by the carrier. Other cards include the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, and United℠ Explorer Card, with baggage loss coverage.
Rental Car Insurance
Though coverage varies, many travel cards include rental car insurance. While some provide secondary coverage—paying out before your auto insurance—some offer primary coverage. For theft and collision damage, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card provides basic coverage up to $75,000, a significant benefit for people who wish to prevent possible rises in their auto insurance rates. Though it's secondary coverage, up to the automobile's actual cash worth, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers rental car insurance. Secondary coverage up to $75,000 is available from the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Platinum Card® from American Express. It's essential to know the particular kind of coverage, either primary or secondary.
Emergency Medical/Evacuation Coverage
Medical situations overseas can be quite expensive. Although many credit cards give limited travel accident insurance—that is, in the event of death or dismemberment—few provide thorough medical coverage. With a $50 deductible, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® stands out, providing up to $2,500 for dental and emergency medical expenditures and up to $100,000 for emergency evacuation and transportation. Though it's essential to plan this through American Express's Premium Global Assist Hotline, the Platinum Card® from American Express offers emergency evacuation and medical transport coverage. Most cards—including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, and others—do not cover emergency medical bills.
Travel Accident Insurance
Most of the cards listed provide some travel accident insurance, covering death or dismemberment on a shared carrier. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers up to $1,000,000 in coverage; the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card covers $500,000. Although other cards provide different degrees of coverage, this is a typical advantage of travel cards.
Cell Phone Protection
One less common but worthwhile advantage is cell phone protection. When you pay your monthly cell phone bill with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, a damaged or stolen phone is covered by up to $800 after a $50 deductible. Other travel cards discussed usually lack this kind of protection.
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Trip Cancellation/Interruption | Trip Delay | Baggage Delay | Lost/Damaged Luggage | Rental Car Insurance | Travel Accident Insurance | Emergency Evacuation & Transportation | Emergency Medical & Dental | Other Notable Travel Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $550 | $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip | $500 per ticket (6+ hour delay) | $100/day for 5 days (6+ hour delay) | $3,000 per passenger | Primary, up to $75,000 | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | $2,500 ($50 deductible) | Priority Pass Select membership, $300 annual travel credit |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | $695 | $10,000 per trip (Round trip purchase required) | $500 per Covered Trip (6+ hour delay, 2 claims/12 months) | $500 per trip (6+ hour delay, 2 claims/12 months) | $2,000 checked, $3,000 total | Secondary, up to $75,000 | $500,000 (Common Carrier) | No limit (if coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline) | Covered by Premium Global Assist Hotline | Extensive lounge access, various travel credits |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | $95 | $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip | $500 per ticket (12+ hour delay) | $100/day for 5 days (6+ hour delay) | $3,000 per passenger | Primary, up to actual cash value | $500,000 | Not covered | Not covered | $50 hotel credit, travel and purchase protections |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | $395 | $2,000 per person (Common Carrier) | $500 per ticket (6+ hour delay) | Not covered | $3,000 per passenger | Primary, up to $75,000 | $1,000,000 (Common Carrier) | Not covered | Not covered | Lounge access, travel credits, cell phone protection |
| United Club℠ Infinite Card | $525 | $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip | $500 per ticket (12+ hour delay) | $100/day for 3 days (6+ hour delay) | $3,000 per passenger | Primary, coverage varies | $500,000 | $100,000 | Not covered | United Club membership, free checked bags |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | $650 | $10,000 per trip | $500 per trip (Max $1,000/12 months) | $500 per trip (6+ hour delay, 2 claims/12 months) | $2,000 checked bag, $3,000 total | Secondary, up to $75,000 | $500,000 | Covered by Premium Global Assist Hotline | Covered by Premium Global Assist Hotline | Automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status, free night award |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | $95 | $5,000 per person, $10,000 per trip | $500 per ticket (12+ hour delay) | $100/day for 5 days | $3,000 per passenger | Primary (business rentals), Secondary (personal rentals) | $500,000 | Not covered | Not covered | No foreign transaction fees |
