Despite what many travelers may believe, there is no federal law in the U.S. requiring airlines to provide passengers with compensation for a delayed flight. Even if an airline’s policy is to provide meals or lodging, it will rarely do so if the delay is due to weather or another factor it considers beyond its control.

Fortunately, many premium credit cards and travel insurance providers offer trip delay insurance, which can cover expenses like overnight accommodation and meals if your flight is significantly delayed.

Here's how trip delay insurance works and where you can get it.

What is trip delay insurance?

Trip delay insurance is protection against additional expenses you incur when your travel booked on a common carrier is delayed. Common carriers include airlines, ferry operators, passenger railroads and long-distance bus service.

However, not every delay is eligible for coverage under trip delay insurance. The policy’s terms will specify the length of the delay required before coverage kicks in, but many policies require a minimum delay of six to 12 hours — or an overnight stay.

Trip delay insurance offered by credit cards is generally considered secondary to other coverage you might receive, meaning that if your airline provides you with a hotel room or meals, you wouldn't be able to claim those things under your credit card’s trip delay insurance.

What does trip delay insurance cover?

Trip delay insurance policies differ, but typically they cover reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred due to a travel delay. Unlike airlines’ policies which cover delays under their control only, trip delay insurance also covers delays due to weather or other unforeseen events. Coverage is typically limited to a specific dollar amount per day or per trip.

Purchases that are often covered under trip delay insurance include:

Meals.

Lodging.

Medication.

Toiletries.

Transportation to and from your hotel.

Other personal use items.

Trip delay insurance via credit card

Many travelers already have trip delay insurance and don’t even know it. Check your credit card’s benefits to see if you’re already covered. Here are the policies and limits for those who hold certain American Express or Chase travel cards.

American Express

American Express offers trip delay insurance with most of its premium cards, including Centurion cards, Platinum cards, Gold cards and its high-tier co-branded hotel and airline credit cards. Here are some American Express travel cards that include trip delay insurance:

The Platinum Card® from American Express.

American Express® Gold Card.

American Express® Green Card.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

Terms apply.

American Express also includes trip delay protection on small-business, co-branded and corporate varieties of the above cards.

To be eligible for coverage, you must do the following:

Pay for your travel with your eligible American Express card.

Book a trip that starts and ends in the same city and is no longer than 365 days.

If you use points, certificates or vouchers, the cash component of the ticket must be paid for using your eligible card.

AmEx trip delay insurance also provides coverage for the cardholder’s family members and traveling companions when their travel is also booked using the cardholder’s eligible American Express card.

Coverage kicks in when your trip is delayed more than six hours. Eligible reimbursements include meals, lodging, toiletries, medication and other personal use items.

AmEx trip delay insurance coverage is limited to $500 per covered trip and two claims every 12 months. Terms apply.

Chase

Chase offers trip delay reimbursement on its premium Sapphire credit cards and several of its high-tier co-branded credit cards. Here is the list of travel cards offered by Chase that include trip delay insurance:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.

United Club℠ Business Card.

United Club℠ Infinite Card.

United℠ Explorer Card.

World of Hyatt Credit Card.

To be eligible for coverage, you must purchase your common carrier tickets with an eligible Chase card or with rewards earned on an eligible Chase card. Coverage is extended to the cardholder, their spouse or domestic partner and any dependent children younger than 22.

Unlike AmEx, Chase’s coverage doesn’t require travel to start and end in the same location, but your trip must still be shorter than 365 days.

You are eligible to claim reimbursement for expenses if your trip is delayed by more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay. Chase will reimburse for reasonable expenses including meals, lodging, toiletries, medication and other personal use items.

Chase trip delay reimbursement coverage is limited to $500 per covered trip.

Trip delay coverage via travel insurance

If the credit card you booked your trip with doesn’t offer trip delay protection or if you need additional coverage, you can purchase it as part of a travel insurance package.

Who is covered, what is covered and coverage amounts vary by plan and issuer. Also, not all travel insurance providers offer trip delay insurance, so be sure to review coverage details before making a purchase.

Here are three providers that offer travel insurance including trip delay protection.

Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz offers travel delay protection as part of many of its travel insurance packages. For example, the OneTrip Prime package includes coverage for expenses up to $800 per trip ($200 per day) and is effective once your trip is delayed by five hours or more.

Allianz coverage can also reimburse expenses if you miss your cruise or tour due to a covered delay. In addition to single-trip packages, Allianz offers annual travel insurance for the frequent traveler.

Berkshire Hathaway

Berkshire Hathaway offers per-trip insurance packages that include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, medical expense reimbursement, evacuation insurance and travel delay coverage.

Berkshire’s ExactCare Value plan includes $500 of travel delay insurance, but for those needing more protection, the ExactCare Extra plan provides up to $1,000 of protection.

Travelex

You may have seen Travelex currency exchange counters at major airports, but the company also provides travel insurance. All of Travelex’s travel insurance plans include trip delay protection, starting with $500 of coverage for the Travel Basic plan and going up to $2,000 for the Travel Select and Travel America plans.

You can also shop for providers and compare coverage plans with travel insurance search engines like InsureMyTrip or Squaremouth.

Frequently asked questionsDoes travel insurance pay for delays?

If your travel insurance policy includes trip delay coverage, then yes, you are eligible for compensation for expenses up to a certain amount accrued when your travel on a common carrier is delayed.

What is considered a trip delay?

Generally, travel on a common carrier must be delayed by at least six hours before coverage kicks in.

What can you claim for trip delay?

Most trip delay policies cover necessary expenses incurred during the delay. Covered expenses generally include meals, lodging, toiletries, transportation and other personal items.

What is the difference between trip interruption and trip delay insurance?

Trip interruption insurance differs from trip delay insurance in that it covers expenses incurred post-departure. Should you miss or be unable to complete a portion of your trip after initial departure, you'll be reimbursed for unused, prepaid, nonrefundable expenses and may be eligible for reimbursement of additional costs like hotel nights and flights home.

Does travel insurance pay for delays?

If your travel insurance policy includes trip delay coverage, then yes, you are eligible for compensation for expenses up to a certain amount accrued when your travel on a common carrier is delayed.

What is considered a trip delay?

Generally, travel on a common carrier must be delayed by at least six hours before coverage kicks in.

What can you claim for trip delay?

Most trip delay policies cover necessary expenses incurred during the delay. Covered expenses generally include meals, lodging, toiletries, transportation and other personal items.

What is the difference between trip interruption and trip delay insurance?

Trip interruption insurance

differs from trip delay insurance in that it covers expenses incurred post-departure. Should you miss or be unable to complete a portion of your trip after initial departure, you'll be reimbursed for unused, prepaid, nonrefundable expenses and may be eligible for reimbursement of additional costs like hotel nights and flights home.

Trip delay insurance recapped

Unexpected delays can happen to anyone when traveling. Understanding what trip protection benefits are available to you will save you stress and money in case you encounter a lengthy travel delay.

If you hold one of the many premium credit cards that offer trip delay insurance, take a moment to read your card’s terms and conditions to understand what coverage you have. If not, you can still access trip delay benefits by purchasing a standalone travel insurance policy.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.

All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The American Express® Green Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.