A travel delay can cost you more than time. It’s also the money you spend on airport meals, Uber rides, or last-minute hotel rooms.
Airlines might offer some help when schedules fall apart, but they aren’t required to cover every expense you rack up while you wait.
Travel delay insurance, a common benefit in many comprehensive travel insurance plans, can reimburse you for certain extra costs when a delay forces you to pay out of pocket for things like meals or lodging.
Here’s everything you need to know about travel delay coverage, including how it works, what’s covered, and how to file a claim.
Read more: What does travel insurance cover, and do I need it?
What is travel delay insurance?
Travel delay insurance helps cover related expenses if your trip gets held up for a certain amount of time.
It’s usually part of a comprehensive travel insurance policy, though many premium credit cards include some version of the benefit when you use your card to pay for travel.
The benefit is mostly about the expenses you face when you’re waiting. Think food at the airport, a hotel near the terminal, an Uber to the hotel, or toiletries if you checked your overnight bag.
If you think the airline will cut you a check for a delayed flight, think again. You might be entitled to a refund if the airline significantly delays or changes your flight and you decide not to travel. But if you accept the new itinerary, you’re usually stuck with whatever assistance the airline offers you.
For most U.S. domestic travelers, travel delay insurance is about filling the gap between what the airline voluntarily offers and what you actually spend while you wait.
Travel delay vs. flight delay insurance: What’s the difference?
People often use travel delay and flight delay coverage interchangeably. While both benefits cover delayed flights, travel delay coverage can extend to other parts of your vacation itinerary, such as delays with cruise lines, trains, or buses.
So if your vacation involves multiple modes of transportation, travel delay insurance might provide broader protection than a benefit focused on flights alone.
Every policy or card benefit is different, though. Wells Fargo’s Bilt World Elite card, for example, excludes cruise lines, taxis, commuter bus lines, and rental cars, so check your policy’s details first.
Read more: Flight travel insurance: What it covers and when it’s worth it
How travel delay insurance works
Travel delay insurance usually reimburses you for expenses you’ve already paid. You’ll keep receipts for costs you encountered during the delay and file a claim with the insurer later. Then the insurer will review whether the delay meets the policy’s requirements. If it does, the insurer will cover your costs.
However, certain rules must be followed to qualify for reimbursement:
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The delay needs to last a certain amount of time. Some benefits kick in after three hours, while others require six, 12, or even more.
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The delay is caused by a reason spelled out in your policy, such as mechanical problems, a strike, or severe weather.
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Expenses must be reasonable, necessary, and not reimbursed by someone else, such as the airline or another insurer.
Failing to meet those three requirements can result in a denied claim. A four-hour delay might feel miserable, but it doesn’t matter if your policy requires six hours. A luxury hotel likely won’t qualify for reimbursement if a standard airport hotel would have sufficed. And if the airline already paid for your hotel, the insurer won’t reimburse you for the same room again.
Read more: 7 best travel insurance companies
What’s covered by travel delay insurance
Travel delay insurance is designed to cover practical costs you wouldn’t have paid if your trip had stayed on schedule. Coverage varies by policy, so read yours carefully.
Common covered expenses include:
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Meals during the delay
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Overnight hotel accommodations
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Local transportation, such as a taxi, rideshare, or shuttle
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Toiletries, medications, and other basic necessities
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Extra costs to rejoin a cruise, tour, or itinerary, if included in the policy
Coverage limits vary widely. Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, says travel delay limits typically range from $100 to $5,000 per person, with some plans imposing daily reimbursement caps between $100 and $300.
To get reimbursed, you usually need to be traveling on a covered common carrier, which means a licensed company transporting paying passengers. You’ll also need documentation, such as a delay notice from the airline, receipts, and your itinerary.
What’s not covered by travel delay insurance
Travel delay insurance isn’t a blank check. It usually covers necessary expenses, not every possible cost tied to a ruined travel day.
Common exclusions include:
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Delays shorter than the policy’s minimum waiting period
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Expenses caused by your own mistake, such as arriving late to the airport
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Costs already paid by the airline, cruise line or another insurer
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Unreasonable expenses, such as fancy meals or high-end hotels
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Foreseeable events, such as buying coverage after a hurricane is named
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Heavy traffic, long security lines, or a misplaced passport might also be excluded, depending on the policy
Travel delay coverage also isn’t the same as trip cancellation or trip interruption coverage, though all of these benefits are often bundled together in a single policy. Practically speaking, that means you might need to file your claim under a different benefit with the same insurer if the delay causes you to nix the trip completely or return home early.
For example, having to pay for a hotel during the delay might fall under travel delay coverage, but a missed prepaid tour might fall under a missed connection benefit or trip interruption coverage.
Travel delay insurance vs. credit card coverage
Some travel credit cards include trip delay insurance, but the details vary by card.
For example, Chase says Sapphire Preferred cardholders are eligible for up to $500 per person per trip if a covered trip is delayed for more than 12 hours, while Sapphire Reserve cardholders qualify after a six-hour delay. Chase also says any coverage from the airline, cruise line, or other carrier should be used first.
Covered reasons can also differ. For example, the Chase Sapphire card and Wells Fargo’s Bilt World Elite card both cover inclement weather and carrier equipment failure, but Bilt also covers delays caused by stolen passports and air traffic control issues.
Some cards may cover more costs than others. The Bilt card, for example, says cardholders can also seek reimbursement for things like pet boarding and airport spas.
To qualify for credit card travel delay benefits, you usually need to pay for at least part of the trip using the card, meet the card’s requirements, and show documentation from the airline explaining the reason for the delay.
Before relying on your credit card, read the benefits guide carefully. Also, make sure you understand which company you need to file the claim with: It might be a third-party company, not the credit card issuer itself.
Read more: How credit card travel insurance works
How much does travel delay insurance cost?
Travel delay insurance usually isn’t sold as a standalone product. Instead, it’s included in almost all comprehensive policies at no added cost, according to Squaremouth.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners says travel insurance policies usually cost 5% to 10% of the total trip price, with rates varying based on factors such as your age and travel destination.
Among travelers who bought through Squaremouth, the average comprehensive policy with travel delay coverage cost $311 for a 16-day trip, or about $19 per day.
Read more: How much does travel insurance cost?
How to choose the right policy
When you’re comparing travel insurance plans, the details matter.
You’ll want to look for a policy with a short delay minimum, ideally three to six hours. Also check the maximum benefit per person and any daily caps. A $500 limit might sound adequate until you realize the policy only reimburses $100 per day, and you’re stuck overnight in an expensive city.
Next, review the covered reasons in your policy. Strong policies will cover severe weather as well as reasons outside the airline’s control, such as mechanical breakdowns and strikes. Cruise travelers should also look for missed connection coverage, since missing your ship’s departure can be a real financial risk.
You can compare travel insurance quotes through marketplaces such as InsureMyTrip or Squaremouth. You can also buy coverage directly from an insurer or through a travel agent, but comparison sites make it easier to review multiple plans, prices, and benefits in one place.
Read more: How to compare travel insurance to choose the right policy
How to file a claim
Successfully filing a travel delay claim usually comes down to paperwork. The insurer or credit card benefits administrator will need proof that the delay actually happened and why, along with proof you paid those costs out of pocket. Saving your receipts is essential.
An airline app screenshot can help, but an official delay notice from the carrier is better. You’ll also need documentation about any reimbursement you’ve already received from the airline or another source.
Claims are usually filed after the trip through the insurer’s website or the credit card’s benefits portal. The reimbursement timeline varies, but it’s not instant. Generali Global Assistance says its average payment time for approved claims is 13 days — but don’t be surprised if your claim takes longer. Squaremouth says the process can drag out four to six weeks.
How you’re compensated depends on the insurer or benefits administrator. You might receive a check, direct deposit, or refund to your credit card, and some providers let you choose your preferred payment method when you file the claim.
Read more: How to file a travel insurance claim: A step-by-step guide
Travel delay insurance FAQs
What expenses does travel delay insurance cover?
Travel delay insurance covers meals, lodging, local transportation, toiletries, and other necessary expenses you encounter during a delay. Some policies might also cover extra transportation needed to catch up to your trip.
Does travel delay insurance cover delayed flights?
Yes, delayed flights are one of the most common reasons people use travel delay insurance.
Does travel insurance cover weather delays?
Yes, severe weather is commonly listed as a covered reason for travel delay benefits. But timing matters. If the storm was already known or named before you bought the policy, your claim might get denied.
Read more: When to buy travel insurance (and when it’s too late)