Amex trip delay insurance pays US$500 after 6 hours or US$300 after 12, for four causes
American Express publishes two trip delay guides: up to US$500 per trip after more than 6 hours, on its Platinum-tier cards, and up to US$300 after more than 12 hours on other eligible cards.12 Both cover only four causes, and the equipment failure must be the airline's own. Amex said in November 2025 that card benefits would not cover delays from the FAA's emergency order.3
The 6 hour version pays US$500 a trip, with two claims a year
| Card | Waiting period | Pays up to | Who is covered | Overnight stay counts | Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express, US$500 and 6 hour version | More than 6 hours 1 | US$500Per trip, 2 claims a year | You, family members and travelling companions who bought the trip on your card | No | 60 days to notify180 days for proof of loss |
| American Express, US$300 and 12 hour version | More than 12 hours 2 | US$300Per trip, 2 claims a year | You, family members and travelling companions who bought the trip on your card | No | 60 days to notify180 days for proof of loss |
Source: the guides to benefits linked in each row, read 15 November 2026.
“$500 per Covered Trip; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.”
The two guides are word for word the same apart from the hours and the cap.2 The guides don't list which card carries which version, so check the benefits page for your own card.
Covered travellers are you, your family members and travelling companions who bought the trip on your card. Family means a spouse, domestic partner, or unmarried dependent child up to 19 (under 26 if a full-time student).1
There's no overnight-stay alternative. Only the hours count, which sets Amex apart from Chase and Capital One.
It repays meals, lodging, toiletries, medication and personal items
“reasonable additional expenses (including but not limited to meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal use items)”
“Including but not limited to” leaves room for other reasonable costs such as a taxi to a hotel. Keep every receipt.
Weather, terrorism or hijacking, the carrier's own equipment, or lost passports
“1. Inclement weather [...] 2. Terrorist Action or hijacking; 3. A Common Carrier's equipment failure, as documented by the Common Carrier; or 4. Lost or stolen passports or travel documents.”
A strike is missing from the Amex list. Chase and Capital One both name strikes.
Amex said in November 2025 its card benefits would not cover FAA-ordered delays
During the November 2025 FAA flight cuts, Amex told Thrifty Traveler that its embedded card benefits would not cover cancellations or delays caused by the FAA's emergency order. It said standalone policies might.3
The wording points the same way. Equipment failure counts only when it is “A Common Carrier's” and the airline documents it. The 13 November 2026 fault was in the FAA's network, during contractor work on FAA lines.4 This site rates both Amex versions “no” for an air traffic control or FAA failure.
There's a second hurdle for anyone who set off after the news broke. Amex excludes “Covered Losses that are made public or known to the Eligible Traveler prior to the departure for the Covered Trip.”1
Amex Canada works differently. Its Platinum certificate pays after a departure delay of 4 hours or more, with no cause test.5
Will my Amex card pay for this delay?
Choose the card, how long the trip was held up and the reason the airline gave. The answer comes from the card's own guide. Nothing you choose leaves this page.
The whole fare must be on the card, and the trip must be a round trip
“You must charge the full amount of a Covered Trip to your Eligible Card or in combination with your Eligible Card and accumulated points on your Eligible Card or redeemable certificates, vouchers, coupons, or discounts awarded from a frequent flyer program or similar program.”
A covered trip is round-trip travel that ends back in the city of departure, up to 365 days. It may be built from one-way tickets.1
- A statement from the airline that the trip was delayed
- Your charge receipt
- Copies of your tickets
- Receipts for travel expenses
- Anything else the insurer reasonably asks for
Ask the airline to write down the reason as well. The equipment clause needs the carrier to document its own failure.
Tell the administrator within 60 days, with proof within 180
- Notify the administrator within 60 days of the loss “or the claim may not be honored”. The guide gives 1-844-933-0648 and aig.claimnotify.com/americanexpress.1
- Send written proof of loss within 180 days. If that wasn't reasonably possible, send it as soon as you can and within one year after it was due.
The claim site asks for the card number and billing postcode before it starts. The claim tool writes the letter.
It won't pay twice, for prepaid costs or for a disruption you knew about
- Losses made public or known to you before you set off.
- Expenses paid before the trip.
- Anything the airline gave you, including “exchanged tickets, drop in ticket prices, goodwill payments, refunds, credits, or vouchers”. Cover is secondary to all of it.
- A third claim on the same card within 12 months.
- Trips not fully paid with the card.
Card or standalone policy for this trip? See the trip delay insurance page.
Amex trip delay questions
Does Amex Platinum have trip delay insurance?
Amex's US$500, 6 hour trip delay guide is the version attached to its Platinum-tier cards. It pays reasonable extra expenses after a delay of more than 6 hours, up to US$500 per trip and two claims per card in 12 months. Check the benefits page for your own card.
Does Amex trip delay cover an FAA ground stop?
Amex said in November 2025 that its card benefits would not cover delays or cancellations caused by the FAA's emergency order. The guide covers only the carrier's own equipment failure, as documented by the carrier.
Does Amex trip delay cover a strike?
No. The Amex list is weather, terrorist action or hijacking, the carrier's equipment failure, and lost or stolen passports or travel documents.
Does the delay need to be overnight?
No overnight alternative exists in the Amex guides. Only the hours count: more than 6 or more than 12, depending on the version.
Do award tickets count with Amex?
The full trip must be charged to the card, but Amex points on the card and certificates, vouchers, coupons or discounts from a frequent flyer programme can make up part of it.
How do I file an Amex trip delay claim?
Notify the administrator within 60 days at aig.claimnotify.com/americanexpress or by phone, then send written proof of loss within 180 days.
Other cards
Compare all nine US card benefits, including Citi Strata, Bilt Palladium and U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve. Write your claim letters with the claim tool.
Every figure links to its source
5 sources
Guides and certificates were read on the issuers' own documents on 15 November 2026. Card guides change, so check the guide in your own card account before you claim.
- American Express Trip Delay Insurance guide, US$500 and 6 hour version Read on the provider's own page Also reference 136 on the methodology page.
- American Express Trip Delay Insurance guide, US$300 and 12 hour version Read on the provider's own page
- Thrifty Traveler, premium travel card insurance gap Read on the provider's own page Also reference 205 on the methodology page.
- Yahoo News live blog, Duffy press conference Reported elsewhere Also reference 46 on the methodology page.
- American Express Canada, The Platinum Card certificate of insurance Read on the provider's own page