Travel insurance can save you a lot of money if something goes wrong on a trip. Luckily, some of the top travel rewards cards offer travel insurance when you pay for travel with your card. See the best credit cards for travel insurance from our partners below. Show
Rewards Rates 2 - 5X points Rewards Rates Intro Offer 60,000 points Recommended Credit 670-850 Excellent/Good
Why We Chose ItThe Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit card on the market. Offering an excellent return on travel and dining purchases, the card packs a ton of value that easily offsets its $95 annual fee. Cardholders can redeem points at 1.25 cents each for travel booked through Chase or transfer points to one of Chase’s 14 valuable airline and hotel partners. Pros
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Rewards Rates 1 - 10X points Rewards Rates
Intro Offer 80,000 points Recommended Credit 740-850 Excellent
Why We Chose ItThe Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of our top premium travel cards. With a $300 travel credit, generous 3x on dining and travel purchases and other benefits, you can get excellent value that far exceeds the annual fee on the card. Pros
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Rewards Rates 1 - 5X points Rewards Rates
Intro Offer 150,000 points 150,000 points 120,000 points Recommended Credit 670-850 Good, Excellent
Why We Chose ItThe Business Platinum Card from American Express is a great card for frequent travelers looking to add a touch of luxury to their business trips. While the card does come with a high annual fee, you’re also getting a ton of valuable benefits in return. They include generous annual travel credits, unparalleled lounge access that includes Amex Centurion Lounges and more. Pros
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Rewards Rates 1 - 3X points Rewards Rates
Intro Offer 100,000 points Recommended Credit 670-850 Good, Excellent
Why We Chose ItThe Ink Business Preferred Credit Card’s sign-up bonus is among the highest we’ve seen from Chase. Plus earn points across the four bonus categories (travel, shipping, advertising and telecommunication providers) that are most popular with businesses. The card comes with travel protections, shopping protections and will also have primary coverage when renting a car for business purposes for you and your employees.
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Intro Offer Earn 80,000 points Recommended Credit 670-850 Excellent/Good
Why We Chose ItThe Amex Platinum is unmatched when it comes to travel perks and benefits. If lounge access, hotel elite status and annual statement credits are important to you, this card is well worth the high annual fee. Pros
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Rewards Rates 1 - 3X points Rewards Rates
Recommended Credit 670-850 Excellent/Good
Why We Chose ItThe Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is the premier choice for Delta loyalists who value an accelerated path to elite status, Delta SkyClubs lounge access, an annual companion certificate and strong earning rates on Delta purchases. Pros
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Rewards Rates 1 - 4X points Rewards Rates
Intro Offer Earn 100,000 bonus miles Recommended Credit 740-850 Excellent
Why We Chose ItOnly the United Club Infinite Card grants you complimentary United Club lounge membership, worth up to $650 per year. Although this card comes with a steep $525 annual fee, the lounge benefit alone can more than cover this annual cost. Not to mention the other ongoing perks of this card, from two free checked bags and up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck. For frequent United flyers, this card can provide tons of value each year. Pros
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Types of travel insurance you can get from a credit cardMany of the best travel rewards cards offer travel insurance when you use your card to purchase travel. Although some cards will provide coverage even if you only pay taxes and fees on an award ticket, some cards require you to pay for your entire trip with the card. See the links below for more information on the types of travel insurance offered by select cards and the best cards for each kind of insurance:
As you’ll notice in this guide, the types and levels of protection vary significantly across credit cards. And most protections have exclusions or limitations. So be sure to read the guide to benefits on your card before assuming something or someone will be covered. Related: TPG’s comprehensive guide to independent travel insurance — including coronavirus coverage Now let’s take a closer look at each card to determine how you can use these perks when things go wrong on a trip. Chase Sapphire Reserve(Photo by Wyatt Smith/The Points Guy)Sign-up bonus: Earn 80,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Based on TPG’s valuations, this bonus is worth $1,600. Rewards: 10x on Lyft rides through March 2025; 3x on dining and travel; 1x on everything else Travel insurance:
Annual fee: $550 ($75 for each authorized user) The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on all travel purchases. Due to its 6% return and excellent travel protections, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is my go-to card for travel expenses. Plus, the Chase Sapphire Reserve provides protections on award tickets even when I only charge the award’s taxes and fees to the card. To learn more, check out the full Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review and guide to benefits. If you decide to apply, here’s the official application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve. Related: The power of the Chase Trifecta: Sapphire Reserve, Ink Preferred and Freedom Unlimited Chase Sapphire Preferred CardSign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Based on TPG’s valuations, this bonus is worth $1,200. Rewards: 5x total points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out, 3x points on select streaming services, 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2x points on all other travel, 1x point on all other purchases Travel insurance:
Annual fee: $95 The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best travel rewards credit cards for the average traveler. Although a 4% return on travel purchases (not booked through the Chase portal) isn’t fantastic, it’s still respectable considering the card’s modest $95 annual fee and travel protections. As with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’ll get coverage on award tickets even when you only use your Chase Sapphire Preferred to pay the taxes and fees. To learn more, check out our Chase Sapphire Preferred review and the complete guide to benefits. And here’s the official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Related: Five reasons why the Chase Sapphire Preferred should be your first card Ink Business Preferred Credit CardSign-up bonus: Earn 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Based on TPG’s valuations, this bonus is worth $2,000. Rewards: 3x on the first $150,000 spent each account year in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines; 1x on everything else Travel insurance:
Annual fee: $95 The Ink Business Preferred is one of the best business travel rewards cards on the market. It earns a 6% return on the first $150,000 spent in select categories, which is excellent considering the card’s $95 annual fee and travel protections. As with other Chase cards, you’ll be protected on award tickets as long as you use your Ink Business Preferred to pay the taxes and fees. To learn more, check out the full Ink Business Preferred Credit Card review. And here’s the official application link: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. Related: Five reasons to get the Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card United Club Infinite Card(Photo by Eric Helgas/The Points Guy)Sign-up bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Based on TPG’s valuations, this bonus is worth $1,210. Rewards: 4x on purchases with United; 2x at restaurants (including eligible delivery services), and on other travel; 1x on everything else Travel insurance:
Annual fee: $525 The United Club Infinite Card provides decent travel protections, a 5.2% return on purchases with United and a United Club membership. But, its 2.6% return on other travel purchases and 1.3% return on all other purchases means you’ll earn rewards slowly. As with other Chase-issued cards, you’ll be protected on award tickets even when you only use your United Club Infinite Card to pay the taxes and fees. To learn more, check out the full United Club Infinite Card review. And here’s the official application link: United Club Infinite Card. Related: Best ways to use the United Club Infinite Card The Platinum Card from American Express(Photo by Isabelle Raphael/The Points Guy)Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership. Based on TPG’s valuations, the 80,000-point bonus is worth $1,600. However, you may be able to snag a targeted 125,000-point offer through the CardMatch tool (offer subject to change at any time). Rewards: 5x on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year); 5x on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel; 1x on other purchases Travel insurance:
Annual fee: $695 ($175 for up to three additional Platinum cards, then $175 for each additional Platinum card after the first three; see rates and fees) The Amex Platinum provides an impressive 5x on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year). It also offers 5x for prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. So, using TPG’s latest valuations, you’ll get a 10% return on these purchases. But even with a 10% return on select airfare purchases, I still don’t use the Amex Platinum to book flights. Instead, I use the Amex Platinum primarily as a membership card since the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s travel protections provide better coverage for my travel style. To learn more, check out our Platinum Card from American Express card review and take a look at the terms and conditions of each benefit. Here’s the official application link: The Platinum Card from American Express. But, you may also want to check the CardMatch Tool to see if Amex has targeted you for a different offer. However, CardMatch offers are subject to change at any time. Related: Comparing built-in travel insurance with the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum The Business Platinum Card from American ExpressWelcome offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership. Based on TPG’s valuations, the 150,000-point bonus is worth $3,000. Rewards: 5x on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel; 1.5x on each eligible purchase in select business categories ,as well as on each purchase of $5,000 or more (up to two million per calendar year); 1x on other eligible purchases Travel insurance:
Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees) The Amex Business Platinum provides an impressive 5x on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. Based on TPG’s latest valuations, this means you’ll get a 10% return on these purchases. But, if you don’t want to book through Amex Travel and would prefer to earn bonus points on a wide variety of business expenses, you may be better off with the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. To learn more, check out our Business Platinum Card from American Express card review and take a look at the terms and conditions of each benefit. And here’s the official application link: The Business Platinum Card from American Express. Related: Why you should consider having both the personal and business Amex Platinum cards Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card(Photo by Wyatt Smith/The Points Guy)Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months of account opening. Based on TPG’s valuations, this worth up to $705. Rewards: 3x on purchases made directly with Delta; 1x on all other eligible purchases. Travel insurance:
Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees) The Delta Reserve Amex provides a 3.3% return on purchases made directly with Delta as well as travel protections that can protect you on eligible round-trips. I’d personally use the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred Credit Card instead of the Delta Reserve when buying flights. But the Delta Reserve offers decent travel protections if you don’t have any of these Chase-issued cards or want to earn Delta miles. To learn more, check out the full Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card review and take a look at the terms and conditions of each benefit. And here’s the official application link: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card. Related: Choosing the best credit cards for Delta flyers Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card(Photo by John Gribben for The Points Guy)Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. This bonus is worth $500. Rewards: 2 points per $1 on travel and dining and 1.5 points per $1 on all other purchases. Travel insurance:
Annual fee: $95 The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card offers solid value in exchange for its $95 annual fee. For example, you’ll get an up to $100 Global Entry/TSA Precheck application fee credit every four years and an annual up to $100 airline incidental fee statement credit. But, this card is ideal for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members. After all, these members can earn between 25%-75% more points on their purchases. That means the card’s 2x earnings on travel and dining could increase up to 3.5 points per dollar. Meanwhile, the 1.5x earnings on all other purchases could rise as high as 2.625 points per dollar. To learn more, check out our Bank of America Premium Rewards Visa Credit Card review. Related: Five reasons to get the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card(Photo by John Gribben for The Points Guy)Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 points after you spend $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening. These points are worth $750 when redeemed to offset eligible travel purchases. However, this card is only available to U.S. Bank customers who have an eligible U.S. Bank account relationship open and active at least five business days before applying. Rewards: 5x on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center; 3x on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending; 1x on other purchases Travel insurance:
Annual fee: $400 The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card can be an excellent choice for daily spending and travel purchases, especially if the merchants you shop with accept mobile wallet payments. But the card doesn’t include baggage delay protection and the trip cancellation and interruption protection only covers common carrier tickets. However, the Altitude Reserve provides a solid alternative to those who can’t get accepted for a Chase card. For more information, check out our U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card review. The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude Visa Infinite card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. Related: What credit score is needed for a U.S. Bank Card? Main benefits of having a credit card with travel insuranceThe Ritz-Carlton South Beach. (Photo by Nick Ellis/The Points Guy)There are multiple benefits to having a credit card that provides travel insurance when you pay for eligible travel expenses with your card. The main advantage is simplicity: I don’t need to research independent travel insurance unless I’m going on a trip for which my credit card’s travel insurance doesn’t provide the level of coverage I want. Having a credit card with travel insurance can also save you money. My sister-in-law paid more than $100 to buy theft and collision insurance from a car rental company. After that experience, she finally got the Chase Sapphire Preferred to obtain similar coverage as a card perk. Now, she can recoup her annual fee even if she just rents a car a couple of times each year. Finally, having a credit card with travel insurance provides reassurance. I don’t need to worry if bad weather causes a flight cancellation and strands me overnight since I know my card will provide trip delay protection. And, I’m almost happy when the airline temporarily misplaces my checked bag for a few days, as my card’s baggage delay insurance means I can purchase some essential clothing items while I wait. Related: Why you might want to get a premium credit card instead of purchasing travel insurance How to submit a claimIf you’re in a situation where you believe you may be eligible for your credit card’s travel insurance, your first step should be to read your card’s guide to benefits or call the number on the back of your card. Even if you believe you’ll be covered after reading your card’s guide to benefits, it is usually a good idea to call the number on the back of your card. By calling, you can ensure you’re covered, learn about deadlines for making your claim and determine what documents you’ll need to collect. The benefits administrator will usually walk you through the necessary steps for making your claim. Luckily, many card issuers now allow you to file claims online, so you may not need to send in physical documents. Be sure to pay attention to any deadline for starting your claim and uploading documents, as well as any specific requirements for requested documentation. Related: Your guide to Chase’s trip insurance coverage What card should I use for travel insurance?The Amex Platinum’s 5x for airfare booked directly through airlines or Amex Travel is impressive. But the lack of baggage delay protection and the requirement of round-trip travel for some benefits usually discourages me from using Amex-issued cards for flights. Instead, I use the Chase Sapphire Reserve when booking flights and other common carrier travel due to its solid mix of earnings and protections. But, if you can’t quite justify the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s $550 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Ink Business Preferred Credit Card both provide reasonable travel protections for a sub-$100 annual fee. Related: Why the Sapphire Preferred should still be the first rewards card in your wallet Bottom lineCredit card travel protections are easy to under-value. However, I’ve gotten thousands of value from credit card travel insurance over the years. As such, I’ll often forgo better earning rates to put airfare and award flight taxes and fees on a card I know provides solid protection. For me, this card is usually the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. However, I purchase independent travel insurance for select trips when I want additional benefits, such as cancel or any reason coverage or non-medical evacuation coverage. Additional reporting by Stella Shon. For
rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, please click here. Featured photo of the Beachfront Villa, Residence Terrace at The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort. (Photo courtesy of Four Seasons) YOU MIGHT LIKEDoes Boa travel rewards have travel insurance?The additional card benefits
The answer to both of these questions is no. Although plenty credit cards offer travel insurance and rental car benefits, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card does not.
What are the perks of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card?Easy to earn, easy to redeem. Redeem points for more than just flights. Earn points that can be redeemed for airfare, hotels and car rentals on Allegiant.com. No blackout dates, no destination restrictions and no minimum points redemption.
Does Bank of America Travel Rewards cover TSA PreCheck?Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card. Get up to $200 in combined Airline Incidental and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits.
What counts as a travel purchase Bank of America?The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card counts as travel everything from airfare, hotel reservations and car rentals to toll fares, tickets to tourist attractions, and rideshare services. Travel-related goods and services must be categorized with an eligible merchant category code to count as a travel purchase.
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