Credit cards that cover baggage delays
Quick insights
- Baggage delay reimbursement is a type of coverage that may reimburse you for any essential items you purchase while you wait for your bags to arrive.
- Several Chase credit cards come with complimentary travel benefits, including Baggage Delay Insurance and Lost Luggage Reimbursement.
- Because most carriers are required to compensate you for baggage delays, you’ll need to first file a claim with them before any baggage insurance applies.
If an airline loses your luggage or your bags are delayed, it can put a damper on your trip. Baggage insurance could potentially cover you when this happens. Some travel rewards credit cards—including a few options from Chase—may come with travel protection benefits, which typically includes coverage for lost luggage or baggage delays.
Here’s what to know about credit cards with baggage delay insurance.
What is baggage delay insurance?
As you wait for the airline or cruise line to locate your bags, you may need important items, such as toiletries, clothing and phone chargers. Baggage delay insurance may reimburse you for essential personal items you need to purchase as a result of the delay.
You can purchase this coverage as part of a comprehensive travel insurance policy, or it may come with your credit card as a complimentary cardmember benefit. Generally, you need to purchase some or all of the carrier’s fare with that card for the coverage to apply.
What’s covered by baggage delay insurance
The coverage can, for example, reimburse you up to $100 per day for essential items for a maximum of three to five days. What counts as a “delay” may vary based on your policy. A delay is usually defined as at least six hours, but it could be as long as 12 hours.
Your policy likely won’t provide an exhaustive list of covered items, but you may find that reasonable incidental expenses like clothing and toiletries often get reimbursed. Policies may explicitly exclude certain items, such as jewelry, contact lenses, hearing aids, electronic equipment and more, so make sure you read all the terms and conditions.
If you have this coverage through your credit card, your family members may be able to get baggage delay insurance when you purchase their fare with that card.
To find specific details on what’s covered by your baggage delay insurance, see your travel insurance policy or documentation, in the case of a Chase card, see your credit card’s Guide to Benefits.
Chase credit cards with Baggage Delay Insurance
These Chase credit cards, among several others, offer Baggage Delay Insurance:
The Baggage Delay Insurance for the specific cards listed above offers a reimbursement of up to $100 a day for a maximum of five days so that you may purchase essential personal items as you wait for your bags. As long as you pay for some of the fare with your eligible Chase credit card, the coverage applies to you and your family members. Please consult the Guide to Benefits for each credit card for the terms and details.
In addition to their travel protection benefits, each of these Chase credit cards comes with the opportunity to earn rewards on qualifying purchases, but they also come with an annual fee.
Benefits of baggage delay insurance and other travel protections
It may be reassuring to know that you have this coverage on your next trip. Baggage delay insurance through a credit card is usually offered with other travel-related benefits designed to give travelers peace of mind when they’re away from home.
Here are some examples of the travel protection benefits that may come with a credit card:
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Baggage delay insurance
- Travel accident insurance
- Travel and emergency assistance
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Trip delay reimbursement
Credit cards with travel benefits usually offer rewards, perks and more designed to be traveler friendly.
Filing a claim for baggage delay reimbursement
The process for filing a claim for baggage delay reimbursement may vary across credit card issuers. Because carriers are usually required to compensate passengers for baggage delays, you’ll likely need to file a claim with them first. If your claim with the carrier is rejected or the settlement does not meet your needs, you may be able to get reimbursement through your baggage delay insurance provided with your credit card.
To file the claim for reimbursement in the case of a Chase card, you’ll first need to contact your Benefit Administrator within 20 days of the date your baggage was delayed. You can find their contact information in your Guide to Benefits or by contacting the phone number on the back of your credit card.
Then you’ll need to submit the requested documentation within 90 days of the baggage delay or as soon as reasonably possible.
Here are some documents you may be asked to provide:
- Travel itinerary
- Written confirmation of baggage delay from carrier
- Credit card statement with the charge for the carrier’s fare
- Copy of settlement or denial from carrier
- Copies of receipts for purchases of essential items
It’s possible more documents will be requested.
In summary
You can get baggage delay insurance as a benefit with Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Ink Business Preferred credit cards. The benefit allows you to get reimbursed up to a maximum amount for essential personal items you purchase while you wait for your delayed bags to arrive. This is one of many travel benefits you may get with these credit cards.
