Credit Cards That Cover Baggage Delays

By JTB Business Travel | For Travelers | 0 comment | 13 March, 2024 | 0

Baggage delays can derail your business trip; luckily, credit cards that cover baggage delays can alleviate some of the stress.

When you’re traveling, there’s a whole host of things that can go wrong. Your flight could be delayed, resulting in you missing a connecting flight. Public transit can break down, making it difficult for you to get from the airport to your hotel. Rental car companies can encounter car shortages that leave customers with reservations high and dry. However, for some Travelers, there’s not a single other travel woe quite as annoying as a delayed or missing bag.

Imagine it. After a long flight, you typically want to get out of the airport as quickly as possible. You’ve spent hours surrounded by people in crowded and chaotic conditions, and you want to just make it to your final destination. You arrive at the luggage carousel and wait for the suitcases and other checked luggage to come around…and you wait…and you wait…and you wait. All your fellow Travelers have already gone on their way, luggage in hand, and yet you still stand there waiting.

When Your Luggage is Delayed

Eventually, you realize your checked luggage just isn’t going to come. You have a delayed bag, and thus, the problems commence. First, you have to tell the airline the luggage is missing. If you’re lucky, they’ll be helpful and understanding. If you’re not, they’ll be less than helpful. When a bag is found, you’ll at least know where it is, but if it’s not in the vicinity, it means you’ll be stuck waiting for your belongings to arrive at your destination hours or even days later.

Whatever type of trip you’re on, business or leisure, this can mean problems. You have no clothes, no toiletries, no necessities. If you thought to pack a carry-on bag, you’ll have those items to tide you over, but if you only brought a personal item like a briefcase or purse, you’re in even worse shape.

This is where credit cards that cover baggage delays come in. When you have a card that covers baggage delays in your back pocket, while they won’t alleviate all the stress and frustration of your delayed luggage, they can help, providing you reimbursement for any items you might need to buy to keep you covered until your baggage arrives.

What You Need to Know About Credit Cards That Cover Baggage Delays

Credit cards that cover baggage delays will offer reimbursement for items you’ll need to buy at your destination until your luggage arrives. Think toiletries, clothing, etc. In some cases, the reimbursement will also cover the cost of purchasing necessary business items if you’re on a work trip.

Note that some credit cards that offer reimbursements only do so under certain circumstances, such as if travel was booked with the card. Discuss coverage with your Travel Manager to determine how coverage may apply to travel booked within the confines of your travel policy.

Additionally, note that credit cards that cover baggage delays do so in varying degrees. If you’d like a certain amount of coverage, shop around for a credit card that best fits your travel needs (both for luggage delays and other travel perks). Look at each credit card’s coverage exclusions as well; many will exclude coverage for particularly pricey items, like electronics or jewelry.

So, which are the best credit cards that cover baggage delays? Here are a few favorites.

The Best Credit Cards That Cover Baggage Delays

Chase Sapphire Credit Cards

The Chase Sapphire suite of credit cards is a favorite with Travelers for a variety of reasons. You can earn an abundance of travel rewards points via card spending and then spend those points with a variety of Chase partners. Additionally, you get access to airport lounges.

If you have either the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you’ll receive coverage for baggage that is delayed six hours or longer, and both cards will reimburse you up to $100 daily for up to five days.

However, do note that there are items that Chase cards will not reimburse you for if they’re stuck in your delayed luggage, including business samples, jewelry, electronics and certain health-related items like prosthetics.

Airline Credit Cards That Cover Baggage Delays

Quite a few international airline credit cards offer luggage coverage, so if you have a favorite airline or airline rewards program but haven’t sprung for the card yet, you might consider doing so if it offers baggage delay coverage.

Airline credit cards that cover baggage delays include:

All of these credit cards will reimburse you for costs of up to $100 daily, for up to three days.

Hotel Credit Cards That Cover Baggage Delays

But it’s not just airlines that offer this perk. Hotel loyalty programs do, too. Both the World of Hyatt and the IGH One Rewards Premier credit cards offer reimbursement for baggage delays, with up to $100 of reimbursement per day, for up to three days.

Business Credit Cards That Cover Baggage Delays

Lastly, some business credit cards likewise cover baggage delays, and they might be a better fit for you, compared to the above options, if you’re not an all-that-frequent Traveler but do want the luggage coverage via a credit card that can also provide business-related perks.

Favorite business credit cards that cover baggage delays include:

The Business Platinum Card from American Express also offers coverage for lost luggage, if not delayed luggage. The same goes for the American Express Business Gold Card.

Alternatives to Credit Cards That Cover Baggage Delays

While credit cards are simple and easy to use, and often convenient for the average Traveler, there are alternatives, if you don’t want yet another card in your wallet. Travel insurance often covers baggage delays. If you opt for travel insurance, be sure to read all the fine print regarding when baggage delays are covered, when they’re not and to what extent.

You might also not necessarily want a credit card that covers baggage delays but, instead, one that will cover lost luggage overall. In that case, look to cards such as the American Express Gold Card, American Express Platinum Card, or Capital One Venture X Rewards card, all of which offer generous travel insurance and reimbursement options.

A much simpler solution? Invest in a tracking device, such as Apple’s AirTags or luggage, that comes with a built-in tracking device. Many of these devices will send updates directly to your phone, notifying you of your luggage’s whereabouts so you can more easily find and reclaim lost baggage.