by Kelly Pellicano
Have you ever been on a vacation that was perfect right up until the moment your trip was delayed, diverted or completely cancelled? The relaxing time away from life’s daily grind instantly becomes a stressful and overwhelming ordeal as you work to iron out the unexpected travel wrinkles.
The mental and financial pain associated with travel disruptions is real. Nearly every part of the country has been affected by a natural disaster or severe storms at some point in the past year, and the frequency of such events is only increasing. There have also been a startling number of aircraft mechanical issues. These and other reasons have caused numerous and extensive cancellations and travel delays – which have unfortunately become as expected by the average traveler as long security lines.
Wouldn’t it be a relief to know that you could be covered and possibly reimbursed for eligible expenses for trip delays, cancellations or trip interruptions? Don’t get me wrong, you’re still at the mercy of the travel provider when you’re delayed, however, the added expense of having to spend an unanticipated night in a hotel or renting a car to drive home (vs. waiting for the rebooked flight) could possibly be covered by the benefits on your credit card. Here’s the key - you need to charge your travel arrangements with a credit card that offers this type of trip insurance. *
While most credit cards have some insurance benefits, it’s well worth your while to know what travel protection benefits are on your credit card before you purchase your trip. How can you find out what travel protection benefits are on your credit cards? There are a few ways to do this.
(1) Most reliably, you can call the number on the back of your credit card to find out. That’s a direct line to the financial institution that issued your credit card. They may not be able to answer detailed questions about the coverage, but are able to route you to their third-party administrator who can explain the terms and conditions.
(2) When you initially received your credit card, and possibly periodically thereafter, you would have received a Guide to Benefits. This Guide to Benefits details the Terms and Conditions for all of the benefits or enhancements on your credit card.
(3) Another option to learn the benefits on your card may be the Issuer’s website.
There is also a plethora of social media groups, online forums and blogs which, in large part, provide useful, accurate information about travel benefits on all kinds of credit cards. General information is available that compares coverages across cards, shares traveler experiences and offers advice for how to file a claim if the need arises.
So, while the inevitable travel upheavals will happen, knowing there is a way to strategically plan for a loss will surely save you undue stress and some money in the long run. Happy travels!
*Terms and Conditions Apply