Chase Trip Delay Reimbursement: What to know
Quick insights
- Trip delay reimbursement is a coverage that may reimburse you for eligible expenses when your trip is delayed for eligible reasons.
- The type of coverage that Chase offers is called “Trip Delay Reimbursement,” which is a complimentary cardmember benefit that comes with some of its credit cards.
- It’s different from Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, which usually compensates you when you have to cancel a trip or end it before you planned.
You always hope to arrive on time when you take a trip, but that’s not always possible. Trip delay insurance may help the next time your vacation is delayed. This coverage may be offered as a benefit with some travel rewards credit cards, including a few cards offered by Chase.
This article will cover how Trip Delay Reimbursement—the trip delay insurance provided through some Chase credit cards—may help your next trip go as smoothly as possible.
What is trip delay insurance?
Trip delay insurance—a type of travel insurance—may reimburse you for eligible expenses that arise when your trip is delayed for certain reasons. This coverage could compensate you for purchases, such as hotel stays, meals, medication and toiletries. Your policy may not list every covered expense, but typically, you may find you get reimbursed for any “reasonable expenses.”
Please note that trip delay insurance is different from Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, which may compensate you for any prepaid, non-refundable travel reservations when you need to cancel a trip or end it early.
Travelers typically get trip delay insurance through their credit card or frequent flyer program, or they can purchase it through a travel insurance company.
How Chase Trip Delay Reimbursement works
Trip Delay Reimbursement is a complimentary cardmember benefit that may be available with Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit cards. You don’t need to do anything to activate this benefit.
The coverage applies as long as you purchase at least a portion of the cost of eligible transportation with your Chase Sapphire card. In addition to trips paid for with your card, you’re also eligible for coverage if you book travel with your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.
When your trip is delayed for a covered reason for more than 12 hours, you and any immediate family members may be eligible for up to $500 per eligible person per trip. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers are eligible after only a six-hour delay. Common carrier delays that require an overnight stay may also be covered.
Before your Chase Sapphire Trip Delay Reimbursement applies, please note that any coverage you have through the “common carrier” (the airline, cruise line, etc.) or primary personal insurance policy should be exhausted first.
What’s included with Chase Trip Delay Reimbursement
Your Trip Delay Reimbursement may reimburse you for the following items:
- Lodging
- Meals
- Toiletries
- Medication
- Other reasonable expenses
The coverage may apply when your trip is delayed for a covered reason, such as an equipment failure, inclement weather or strike.
Benefits of credit cards with travel insurance
Knowing that you may be covered by trip delay insurance in the event your trip is delayed may give you peace of mind when traveling. Booking last-minute hotel rooms, food and other necessities while you wait may not be as stressful as they would otherwise.
If your next trip doesn’t go as expected and you have paid with your Sapphire card, you have other travel protections you can rely on. Chase Sapphire travel insurance and purchase protections include:
- Auto Rental Coverage
- Baggage Delay Insurance
- Extended Warranty Protection
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement
- Purchase Protection
- Roadside Assistance
- Travel Accident Insurance
- Travel and Emergency Assistance
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
- Trip Delay Reimbursement
Chase Sapphire pairs these travel and purchase protections with traveler-friendly rewards, perks and more. Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred may be the right travel rewards credit cards for you. Please note that both Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred cards have an annual fee.
Filing a Chase Sapphire Trip Delay Reimbursement claim
When your trip is delayed, you’ll need to notify the Benefit Administrator within 60 days. Contact information is provided in the Guide to Benefits for your credit card. You may be asked questions when you call, and then the Benefit Administrator will send you a claim form to complete and request any relevant documentation.
You could be asked to provide:
- File a claim
- Trip itinerary (original and updated) or common carrier ticket
- Credit card statement showing common carrier fare purchase
- Documentation of any other eligible payment methods used to book ticket
- Statement from common carrier regarding the reason for the delay
- Copies of itemized receipts for claimed expenses
It’s possible you’ll be asked to provide additional documentation.
In summary
When a delay in your travel itinerary results in unexpected expenses, your trip delay insurance may reimburse you. Chase Sapphire cardmembers may get Trip Delay Reimbursement, a form of trip delay insurance, as a complimentary cardmember benefit, alongside a range of other travel insurance benefits. Trip delay insurance typically differs from Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance. See your Guide to Benefits for full coverage details and check all the terms and conditions that apply.