How does credit card flight delay insurance work?

Credit cards can offer flight delay insurance.

With this coverage, you may get a refund for some of your expenses that arise with a delayed flight.

The flight delay insurance from credit cards protects:

• credit card holder
• Close family travelling with the credit card holder (will vary depending on each credit card)

As a general rule, insurance may apply to the principal holder, their spouse and their dependent child or children.

To be protected by theflight delay insurance on your credit card it is mandatory to have paid for the full airfare with your credit card (except for certain cards such as the National Bank’s World Elite Mastercard^® which requires a partial payment or the Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card which requires that 75% of the cost of the airline ticket be charged to the card).

The flight delay insurance offered by credit cards usually COVER the following situations:

• A strike by airline staff
• Forty
• Civil unrest
• A hijacking
• A natural disaster
• Bad weather
• A mechanical failure
• Refusal to board due to overbooking

The coverage offered by your credit card will vary depending on each card.

Generally, credit cards flight delay insurance will reimburse the card for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred within 48 hours of the delay or denied boarding for:

• Accommodation in a hotel
• meals at the restaurant
• drinks
• essential items
• various articles (magazines, paperbacks and various small articles)

Compensation will vary depending on credit cards

• $500 to $2,500 per insured person
• with a maximum amount for the whole family

Is your flight delayed? Our first tip is to check your credit card brochure to find out what you are entitled to. If you can, call the issuer at the number on the back of your card.

When you return home, open a claim procedure. Make sure you have all supporting documents on hand:

• Flight tickets
• Hotel reservations
• Taxi invoices / Uber
• Restaurant notes
• Purchase bills (prefer airport purchases)
• credit card bank statement

Not all credit cards are equal to flight delayinsurance.

As a general rule, credit cards offering flight delay insurance will stand out in three areas:

• Coverage (types of purchases allowed)
• The amount covered (per person, per trip)
• Booking conditions (total or partial amount on the card)

Here are 3 credit cards we recommend for flight delay insurance, based on different income levels:

The Scotiabank Platinum American Express^® Card has been completely redesigned in 2022.

Its main asset: it does not charge any conversion fees for foreign currency transactions. This means you can charge your travel purchases such as car rentals and flight tickets abroad without paying the 2.5% conversion fee charged by most credit cards!

The Scotiabank Platinum American Express^® Card only requires an income of $12,000. This card is part of the one offering the widest coverage by repaying “reasonable and necessary expenses incurred for hotel accommodation, restaurant meals, beverages, essential items and various items (such as magazines, paperbacks and various small items).”

The National Bank’s World Elite Mastercard^® is one of the only credit cards allowing partial payment for coverage. It’s convenient for those who use points and miles!

Its special feature is to be valid, even if only part of the trip has been taken to account. The refundable fee is the “additional reasonable costs incurred for your accommodation and travel. However, these costs must be incurred as a result of this delay.”

The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card does not charge a conversion fee for foreign currency transactions. This means you can charge your travel purchases such as car rentals and flight tickets abroad without paying the 2.5% conversion fee charged by most credit cards!

In addition, you get six complimentary visits to VIP airport lounges. Enough to comfortably wait for your plane in case of a flight delay!

The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card requires an income of $60,000. This card is part of the one offering the widest coverage by repaying “reasonable and necessary expenses incurred for hotel accommodation, restaurant meals, beverages, essential items and various items (such as magazines, paperbacks and various small items).”