Flight delays are inevitable if you’re a frequent traveler. Planes get held up by weather, mechanical, or personnel issues. But, provided you pay with the right card, you won’t have to rough it in the terminal or pay for an expensive airport hotel room during a long delay. If you hold a Chase travel rewards card, you likely have access to some of the best trip delay protection available.
While Chase’s Trip Delay coverage can take the financial sting out of unwanted delays, AwardWallet users often express confusion around the claims process. For example, who is covered? What delays and expenses will the coverage reimburse? And what do you need to do to submit a successful claim?
In this post, we’ll show you how to use the Trip Delay Reimbursement benefit offered by one of our favorite credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. However, the process is similar for other Chase cards with this benefit, though reimbursement maximums and other specifics vary.
What Delays Are Eligible for Chase Trip Delay Coverage?
Trip Delay Reimbursement differs slightly between cards. Generally, Chase requires just a portion of the travel cost to be charged to your card, meaning you can pay with points or miles, and you only need to cover the award fees & taxes with the card to qualify for coverage.
Chase Trip Delay Reimbursement benefit covers flight delays due to:
- Equipment failure
- Inclement weather
- Labor strikes
- Hijacking or skyjacking
Your claim will be denied if you miss your flight due to sleeping in, traffic, or are given advanced notice of the delay.
How Long of a Delay is Needed for Chase Trip Delay Coverage?
The coverage on the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card kicks in after a 6-hour delay or any delay that requires an overnight stay, which is standard among high-end travel rewards cards. Meanwhile, coverage on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, and other eligible Chase credit cards coverage starts after a 12-hour delay.