There are two types of travelers: those who prefer carry-on luggage, and those who prefer to check a bag.
If you check a bag, you’re familiar with the downsides. Waiting at baggage claim can delay the start of your trip, and careless bag handlers could result in damage to your luggage.
The worst by far, though, is when your luggage isn’t there when you finally reach your destination. Even if the airline can tell you the location of your luggage (or even if you can find it using products like Apple AirTags), it still may take a while to be reunited with your bag.
In the meantime, you’ll be left without essential items like a change of clothing and toiletries — and this may be even more likely during the burgeoning headache that sometimes accompanies peak travel periods (we’re looking at you, winter travel season).
Related: What to do when your luggage is delayed or lost by an airline
Some airlines have policies for reimbursing travelers for essential items when a bag is delayed, but this reimbursement is often limited and can be difficult to obtain. Travel insurance is another option for seeking reimbursement.
But there’s also the option I rely on and have used multiple times: the baggage delay protection that is included on select credit cards simply by paying for the flight with one of these cards.
Here are some of the best credit cards that offer this perk to cardholders.
What is baggage delay protection?
The baggage delay protection offered by select credit cards can reimburse you for the cost of necessary personal and business items while you wait for your checked bag when it’s delayed by a common carrier.
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A common carrier is a company that transports any public passenger who pays a fare or buys a ticket and provides service on a regular schedule; common carrier examples include planes, trains, ferries and cruise ships.
What’s covered by baggage delay protection?
Generally, baggage delay protection covers the things that you might need while your bag is delayed. This includes items like a change of clothes and toiletries. But depending on your situation, other items might be allowable. Maximums and restrictions vary from credit card to credit card.
Chase cards that offer baggage delay protection usually carry constraints. For example, the following items are excluded:
- Hearing aids
- Artificial teeth, dental bridges or prosthetic devices
- Tickets, documents, money, securities, checks, traveler’s checks and valuable papers
- Business samples
- Jewelry and watches
- Cameras, video recorders and other electronic equipment
- Recreational equipment
These items above are items you want to always put in your carry-on bags.
How do I get coverage?
The eligibility requirements differ from card to card, so check your specific guide to benefits to be sure.
Most of the cards discussed in this guide provide coverage as long as some part of the common carrier fare (like your airline ticket) is paid for either with the card or by redeeming points associated with the card. This means that paying the taxes and fees on an award ticket counts as paying for part of the flight for most cards discussed here.
That’s why you’ll want to use a credit card that provides benefits even when you book an award ticket and only pay the taxes and fees on the award using the card.
One final restriction to note: Most of the cards mentioned in this guide don’t provide baggage delay protection if the bag is delayed when you’re returning home to your primary residence.
Credit cards that offer baggage delay coverage
The information for the Aviator Red card and the United Club Business 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.
Note that most of the cards listed in the table above also have the following restrictions:
- Coverage is secondary, so you’ll need to file claims with the airline and any other sources (like travel insurance) first
- Immediate family is covered even if you book a ticket for them with your card but aren’t traveling with them
- Coverage isn’t provided when your destination is your permanent residence
It’s worth noting that The Platinum Card® from American Express, one of our favorite cards for buying airfare, doesn’t offer this protection. You may still want to use this card for your flights thanks to the 5 points per dollar you’ll earn for flights booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 of these purchases each year), but be sure to keep this limitation in mind when choosing which card to use.
How to file a claim
Before filing a claim with your credit card’s benefits department, you’ll need to:
- Notify the airline about the delayed or lost luggage. Generally, this is done by filing a report at the airline’s baggage services desk before leaving the airport. Get a copy of this report (including a reference or tracking number), as you’ll likely need to submit it with your claim.
- Get documentation from the airline regarding the delayed baggage and the actions the airline is taking to locate and return the luggage. If the airline offers any reimbursement for items you need while your bag is delayed, get information on how to file this claim.
- Keep original, itemized receipts of all necessary items you purchased while your baggage was delayed. If you are buying non-covered items at the same merchant — like snacks or entertainment for the kids — pay for these in separate transactions to avoid any confusion.
- Keep any documentation that is provided when your delayed bag is delivered. This will prove the time at which the baggage was delivered.
If your luggage is indeed delayed, take a look at your credit card’s guide to benefits to determine the next steps, or simply call the number on the back of your card if you don’t have your benefits guide handy. Don’t take too long, either, as you’ll need to start the claim process relatively quickly.
To give you some context on common timelines, if you purchased your trip with an eligible Chase credit card listed above, you’ll usually have 20 days from when your bag was delayed to file a claim notice.
Then, you’ll be sent a “Proof of Loss” form. You’ll need to return it along with receipts and other documentation within 90 days from when your bag was delayed. From there, approved claims can take up to 60 days to be paid.
Finally, if you’re flying Alaska Airlines or Delta Air Lines, be sure to file a claim for bonus miles. Both carriers will award you 2,500 bonus miles (Alaska also allows you to choose a $25 flight voucher) if your bag doesn’t reach baggage claim within 20 minutes of arrival.
Bottom line
Unfortunately, delayed baggage insurance is still relatively rare among credit cards. The good news, however, is that a couple of major credit cards do offer this insurance to help ease the process of traveling with checked luggage.
In the rare case when a bag is delayed, however, you’ll be glad you booked your flight with a credit card that offers a delayed baggage benefit. It cannot be stressed enough that the details of this oft-overlooked benefit differ from card to card, so be sure to check your guide to benefits for the exact details on the credit card you usually use to book flights.
That way, you’ll know what to do and what you’re entitled to if your luggage is delayed on a future trip.
