Best Credit Cards With Trip Delay Insurance of June 2023

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The travel industry is intrinsically unpredictable. From inclement weather to mechanical issues to absent crew members, there are many reasons why your trip may not commence at its scheduled time of departure. And now with labor shortages and weather causing even more disruptions, your credit card’s travel insurance can be more valuable than ever.

Trip delay insurance covers you (and often family members traveling with you) for expenses like meals, transportation, lodging, medication, and toiletries. For example, if your flight is delayed by more than six hours, some travel rewards credit cards will reimburse you up to $500 in “reasonable expenses” such as:

• An Uber or other transportation from the airport to a hotel
• A one-night hotel reservation
• A meal at a nearby restaurant

I’ve (unfortunately) used this benefit a handful of times, and it’s saved me hundreds. Just note that you must use your qualifying card to pay for your fare — even if that means simply paying taxes and fees on an award flight.

Below are the best travel credit cards for trip delay insurance. Even if you don’t travel regularly, you should be using one of these cards to reserve your travel, because trip delay insurance will eventually come in handy.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Compare the Best Travel Credit Cards With Trip Delay Insurance

Best Credit Cards With Trip Delay Insurance

See our picks for the best credit cards »

Methodology: How we chose the best credit cards for trip delay insurance

Personal Finance Insider chose the top credit cards for trip delay insurance based on:

• The amount of money you’ll receive in the event of a delay
• The amount of time it takes for trip delay insurance to kick in

Many cards offer identical trip delay insurance, so we’ve also considered the overall value each credit card offers — from heightened welcome bonuses to ongoing benefits that handily offset each card’s annual fee.

To learn more about our methodology, read our post on how we rate credit cards at Insider.

Why you should trust our recommendations

Insider’s credit card editorial staff is separate from the business side of Insider. Our credit card reviews are not motivated by money. We will tell you truthfully if a card is good or poor. 

Trip Delay Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions

Best credit card for all-around travel protection

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the gold standard of trip delay insurance. After just six hours of delay — or any delay that requires an overnight stay — you’re eligible for up to $500 in covered expenses per ticket. You and those traveling with you (a spouse and dependent children under 22) are covered.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a $550 annual fee. Still, it’s a favorite among the travel community for its well-rounded offerings of top-tier travel coverages such as baggage delay insurance and primary car rental insurance. The card also provides excellent travel benefits, such as:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Insider estimates Chase Ultimate Rewards® points value to be 1.8 cents each, on average. That makes this bonus worth around $1,080 in travel. Read our guide to the best ways to use Chase points.

Best Capital One credit card for all-around travel protection

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is Capital One’s first premium credit card. It’s a Visa Infinite card (similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®), and benefits from extremely generous trip delay insurance***. You’ll get up to $500 per ticket in covered expenses after a delay of six hours or more. Those eligible for this insurance are your spouse and dependent children under age 22.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card incurs a $395 annual fee, but comes with benefits like:

This card currently offers 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s worth at least $1,275 in travel based on Insider’s valuation of Capital One miles — and much more if you know how to use Capital One transfer partners for fancy airplane seats and luxury hotels.

Best beginner credit card for travel protection

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best beginner travel credit card on the market because of its easy-to-use rewards, high-quality travel benefits, and manageable $95 annual fee. The card reimburses you for up to $500 per ticket for reasonable expenses when your flight is delayed by 12 hours or more, or if you’re required to stay overnight. Family members are covered — that is, your spouse/domestic partner and any dependent children under age 26.

You’ll also receive perks like:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That’s worth an average of $1,080 in travel, based on Insider’s points and miles valuations.

Best Hyatt credit card for travel protection

World of Hyatt Card

The World Of Hyatt Credit Card offers the same trip delay insurance you’ll find on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. If your travel plans are delayed more than 12 hours or require an overnight stay, you and your family (spouse/domestic partner and dependent children under age 26) can be reimbursed for necessary expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket. 

The card comes with an annual fee of $95, and also offers:

• Additional travel coverages (such as car rental insurance and baggage delay insurance)
• One free night at a Category 1 through 4 Hyatt hotel after each account anniversary (potentially worth hundreds of dollars)
• Another free night at a Category 1 through 4 Hyatt hotel after spending $15,000 in a calendar year
• Five elite night credits toward Hyatt elite status — and the ability to earn two additional credits for every $5,000 you spend in a calendar year
• Automatic Hyatt Discoverist elite status

If you’re a Hyatt enthusiast, this is an excellent card to consider. Its current welcome bonus is 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, and up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning with 2 points per dollar, up to $15,000, on purchases that normally earn 1 point in the first six months of account opening. That’s worth up to $900 in hotel stays, based on Insider’s valuations — but it’s not difficult to receive more value from them if you know the best ways to use Hyatt points.

Best United credit card for travel protection with a low annual fee

Chase United Explorer

With the United℠ Explorer Card, trip delay insurance will activate after a delay of 12 hours or more, or if your delay requires an overnight stay. You and your family will be covered for up to $500 per ticket for covered expenses.

The United℠ Explorer Card has such well-rounded benefits that we consider it to be one of the best travel cards on the market. For an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95, you’ll get perks like:

• Free first checked bag on United flights (you must pay with the card)
• Priority boarding with United
• Two United Club one-time passes after each cardmember anniversary
• NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• Improved award seat availability

This United card currently offers a limited-time elevated welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. That’s worth around $780 in flights, based on Insider’s valuations. Read our guide to using United miles to understand how powerful they can be.

Best Amex card for all-around travel protection

Amex Platinum

The Platinum Card® from American Express provides above-average trip delay insurance. When booking round-trip travel, coverage will kick in after just six hours of delay. You’ll be reimbursed for up to $500 in reasonable expenses per ticket for you and any family members traveling with you — that is, a spouse/domestic partner and unmarried dependent children up to age 19 (or full-time students at an accredited college or university under age 26).

You can use this benefit no more than twice per consecutive 12-month period.

The Amex Platinum charges an annual fee of $695 — a bit intimidating for many, but its ongoing benefits can easily offset that cost. Here are just a few annual statement credits that come with the card:

The Amex Platinum offers 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership. Insider values Amex Membership Rewards points at 1.8 cents each, on average. That means you can get about $1,440 in value from the 100,000-point bonus.

Best Marriott credit card for travel protection

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

When you book round-trip travel with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, trip delay insurance will trigger after a delay of six hours or more. You’re entitled to $500 in reasonable expenses per ticket for you and any family members traveling with you (spouse/domestic partner and unmarried dependent children up to age 19 or full-time students at an accredited college or university under age 26). You can file two claims per 12-month period.

This card charges an annual fee of $650 per year — but it’s worth the price tag for anyone who frequently stays with Marriott. You’ll get perks like:

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is offering one of its highest welcome bonuses ever: 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months and earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy through 1/31/24 (offer ends 8/9/23). Based on our valuation of Marriott points, that bonus is worth up to $1,400 in travel.

Best Hilton credit card for travel protection

Amex Hilton Honors Aspire Card

The American Express Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers trip delay insurance after a delay of six hours. You’ll get up to $500 in reasonable expenses per ticket for you and family members traveling with you (spouse/domestic partner, as well as unmarried dependent children up to age 19 or full-time students at an accredited college or university under age 26). Your travel must be round-trip. You can use this benefit up to twice per 12-month period.

This is one of the few cards that receive a full five-star review from Insider. Its benefits so dramatically outweigh its $450 annual fee that it’s worth keeping year after year:

• Free reward night award at any Hilton property worldwide (potentially worth $1,000+)
• Up to $250 annual credit valid at Hilton resorts
• Up to $250 annual airline incidental fee credit**
• Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership** (worth at least $429)
• Hilton Diamond elite status (the highest status you can earn)

Plus, the card offers 150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. Per Insider’s valuation of Hilton points, that’s worth $750 in Hilton hotel stays — though it’s possible to get quite a bit more value if you know the best ways to redeem Hilton points.

Best no annual fee credit card for travel protection

Marriott Bonvoy Bold

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is a no-annual-fee travel credit card with trip delay insurance that punches in the same weight class as many $95-annual-fee cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

If your trip is delayed by more than 12 hours, or requires an overnight stay, you and your immediate family are eligible for up to $500 per passenger in reasonable expenses. Family members include your spouse/domestic partner and any legally dependent children under the age of 26. You can only use the benefit once per person per covered trip.

For a no-annual-fee card, you’ll also receive great delayed baggage insurance: up to $100 per day (maximum of five days) once your bag is delayed more than six hours.

As for Marriott-centric benefits, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold’s only noteworthy benefit is 15 annual elite night credits — a big help toward achieving Marriott elite status. The card’s current elevated bonus is 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of account opening plus 50,000 bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® through 1/31/24. Per Insider’s valuations, that’s worth up to $700 in travel. Read our guide to redeeming Marriott points for secrets as to how you can get much more value from this bonus.