Writer: Aaron Crowe
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
Planning a vacation months ahead can be a smart way to save money, especially when you lock in airfare deals that may disappear as your trip gets closer. The downside is that you could lose most or all of that nonrefundable cost if you have to cancel because you get sick or face an unexpected emergency.
If you used a credit card to pay for your flight or hotel — which is how most reservations are made — you may already have coverage if your card includes travel insurance as a customer perk. If you’re like me, you’re probably wondering, ‘Wait, does my credit card have travel insurance?’ We’ll show you how to check for this valuable benefit below, and we’ll also share some of our favorite credit cards that include travel insurance.
Check Issuer Restrictions | Top Cards with Travel Insurance
Check the Restrictions With Your Issuer
Checking if your credit card provider offers trip cancellation insurance is pretty easy: Just call the customer service phone number on the back of your credit card and ask.
Credit cards can offer several kinds of travel insurance, and the benefits can differ quite a bit from one card to another. Many cards include basic secondary rental car collision coverage and travel accident insurance, while others add extras like lost luggage reimbursement and cellphone replacement. Some standout cards may also reimburse you for certain costs if your baggage is seriously delayed.
However, of all the travel insurance packages offered, one of the most valuable type when planning a trip is trip cancellation or interruption insurance. Like other benefits, the exact coverage of your trip cancellation/interruption insurance will vary by card, but most will reimburse up to $10,000 in nonrefundable travel expenses if you have to cancel or cut short your trip due to covered events.
Events that are considered to be covered under most plans include:
- death of an immediate family member
- serious illness or injury that prevents you from flying
- extreme weather
Of course, not every situation is covered. For example, some cards won’t cover you if a pre-existing condition flares up or your destination turns into a war zone, and qualifying weather events may be narrowly defined. You may also have to provide documentation from a medical professional in some cases.
Credit Cards With Travel Insurance
A few cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance for severe weather.
According to the Chase website, “If your trip is cancelled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.”
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Reserve® was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
- Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
Another option from Chase with trip cancellation insurance benefits is the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card, which offers the same insurance protection as the cards above.
Most of the higher limits for trip reimbursement are offered on Chase credit cards.
Only one Citi credit card — the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi — offers travel accident insurance as well as travel and emergency assistance.
Select American Express cards offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance on its credit cards. Terms vary by card. For example, The Platinum Card® offers trip cancellation insurance of up to $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card in a 12-consecutive-month period.
Read the Fine Print
Whichever credit card you use to pay for a flight, remember its travel insurance shouldn’t be a replacement for more comprehensive coverage you can buy yourself from a travel agent or travel insurance company. Read the fine print of your credit card’s travel coverage and make sure any exclusions are covered by your own policy.
Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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