Insurance: How does credit card flight delay insurance work?

Updated May 9, 2026
Fact checked by
Vincent Morin
Vincent Morin Vincent Morin
Vincent achieved financial independence and took early retirement (FIRE) at the age of 35. After a career in financial technology with a major American investment bank, he founded Retraite101, a personal finance website that reaches over 350,000 unique visitors annually and has more than 40,000 social media followers. Passionate about finance, reading, cycling, hiking, and travel, he continues to write for several Quebec media outlets to inspire and motivate those who want to take control of their finances.
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Insurance: How does credit card flight delay insurance work? - Airport 2373727 1920
To the point Would you like to have a flight delay insurance? Know how to compare the credit card offers in Canada!

Flight delay insurance

Credit cards can offer flight delay insurance.

With this coverage, you may get a refund for some of your expenses arising from a delayed flight.

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Insured people

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 covered by your credit card’sflight delay insurance, you must have paid for your flight in full with your credit card(except for certain cards such as the National Bank World Elite Mastercard®, which requires partial payment, or the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, which requires 75% of the cost of the flight to be charged to the card).

Insurance: How does credit card flight delay insurance work? - 747 380 lufthansa emirates

Covered by flight delay insurance

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
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Not covered by flight delay insurance

Credit cards flight delay insurance WILL NOT:

  • A criminal or fraudulent act perpetrated by the insured person
  • War, declared or not, civil war, insurrection, rebellion or revolution
  • Any act of war by a government or military forces
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Refunds

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
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Make a claim

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
United States: Disney World with points | Testimonial - IMG 6822

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:

Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card

The main advantage of the Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card is that it charges no conversion fees for foreign currency transactions. So you can charge your travel purchases like car rentals or airline tickets abroad without paying the 2.5% conversion fee charged by most credit cards!

The Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card requires an income of only $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).”

SpecificitiesDetails
Amountup to $1,000 per insuredperson
Length of delayMore than 4 hours
Booking conditionsThe coverage will reimburse the following costs if at least 75% of the total cost of the delayed flight has been
paid to your account and/or get with
Scene+ points

National Bank World Elite Mastercard

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard® is one of the only credit cards to offer partial payment coverage. This is handy for those who use points!

Its special feature is to be valid, even if only part of the trip has been taken to account. Reimbursable expenses arereasonable additional expenses incurred for Your accommodation and travel. However, these costs must be incurred as a result of the delay.“.

SpecificitiesDetails
Amountup to $500 per insured person
Length of delayMore than 4 hours
Booking conditionsThe coverage will reimburse the following costs if at least part of the cost has been charged to the account:

Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card

The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card charges no 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!

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

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).

SpecificitiesDetails
Amountup to $500 per insuredperson
Length of delayMore than 4 hours
Booking conditionsThe coverage will reimburse the following costs if at least 75% of the total cost of the delayed flight has been
paid to your account and/or get with
Scene+ points

Bottom Line

By choosing the right credit card you could improve your comfort during a flight delay: hotel room, restaurant, miscellaneous items… Don’t let a flight delay ruin your trip!

In any case, remember to consult the insurance booklet supplied with your credit card BEFORE booking your trip.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien Voisine is the President and Founder of Milesopedia and a leading expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel across Canada, France, and the U.S.A. Now 40 years old and a father of two, he has explored more than 100 countries—many of them alongside his wife Audrey and their children. Specializing in loyalty programs such as Aeroplan, Flying Blue, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, Jean-Maximilien helps travellers unlock the full potential of their points and benefits. His mission: empower others to travel better and smarter across North America and Europe.
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