AmEx is adding Trip Cancelation Coverage and Travel Delay Insurance

American Express is adding Trip Cancelation Protection and Trip Delay coverage as additional perks on some of their premium cards.

Beginning January 1, 2020, AmEx is adding travel coverage as additional benefits to their premium cards. While this has not officially been announced yet, many AmEx Platinum card members can’t wait till October 1^st, 2019 to officially hear about these changes from American Express.


While this is long overdue, finally card members can now get excited over these additional perks.


The Platinum card from American Express offers 5x points on airfare booked directly with the airline, or from AmEx Travel. With the additional benefits, card members can now book their flights using the Platinum card not just for the 5x points, but also with a confidence that they’re covered should something go wrong during their trip.

While the trip coverage is a great, there are some not-so-good news.


Let’s break it down further:
These benefits are valid on roundtrip tickets paid for entirely with your eligible AmEx card. AmexTravel Pay-with-Points tickets are also eligible, as well as using your eligible cards to pay for taxes and fees on Award Tickets.

As with all travel insurance coverage, conditions do apply. If your flight is canceled due to a covered reason, you can be reimbursed for up to $10,000 per trip, and not more than $20,000 per account each year.
If your flight is delayed for more than 6 hours due to a covered reason, you’re eligible for up to $500 compensation for expenses like lodging, meal, personal expenses, etc.


What instances are covered?
Severe weather, sudden medical emergency, terrorist action, and a call to jury.


The following AmEx cards are eligible for the trip delay and cancelation coverage:

The Platinum Card from American Express
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Delta Reserve Credit Card from American Express
Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card


In addition, the following cards are also eligible for reimbursement of up to $300 per trip with delays of more than 12 hours.

 American Express Gold Card
American Express Green Card
American Express Business Gold Card
Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express
Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card from American Express


This additions can offer peace of mind to cardholders who doesn’t have the premium cards, as this will save them from having to sleep on the uncomfortable airport chairs should their flights be delayed overnight.


While the trip cancelation and delay coverage are good news, there are also some not-so-good news:
Come January 1, 2020, AmEx Travel Accident Insurance will be a thing of the past. AmEx could also be discontinuing their Roadside Assistance benefits. It’s sad to say that AmEx will be cutting their travel accident insurance which covers expenses related to death or dismemberment during a covered trip. 

While the roadside assistance coverage is not confirmed yet, it would be a ding on many cardholders if this perk is axed by AmEx. Personally, this is one of the many perks I enjoy as a Platinum cardholder. In 2018, I had a flat tire in the middle of the night. Though I have AAA, but AAA was unable to send a tow-truck at that time of the night in that area. AmEx Roadside Assistance came to my rescue. While it’s not a benefit that a lot of AmEx Platinum cardholder uses, for those that depends on the roadside assistance, you might want to start looking for other options like AAA.


Come January 1, 2020, AmEx will also be making changes to their Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty. Extended Warranty from two years is being reduced to one year, while some of the cards with no annual fee will no longer be eligible for extended warranty coverage. And again, Purchase Protection will be reduced from 120 days to 90 days.


In conclusion:
While others may not see these new additional perks as being good enough, I still think it’s great that AmEx now finally offers these trip cancelations and delay coverages. These new perks will add additional value to AmEx cards. Most especially the Platinum card which gives 5x points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airlines, or AmexTravel. For now, we can only hope that the roadside assistance stays.


Featured image credit: American Express

Kayode

Nigeria-born, California-based.

Kayode currently holds higher status on multiple airlines and hotel programs. He has visited 4 continents, 30 countries, and 35 of the 50 US states.

He began his adventure journey after selling his first cellphone ever, and used the money to apply for his first passport. He said to himself, “I’d rather have a passport than a cellphone”. And since then, he has been globetrotting.