Five credit cards that give you money back for flight delays
Stuck at the airport because of a delayed flight? These credit cards reward you for that lost time.
Stuck at the airport because of a delayed flight? These credit cards reward you for that lost time.
As a frequent traveler (over 130,000 miles flown in the past聽year), my favorite and least-favorite scenarios are flight irregularities. I hate them because obviously I want to get to where I'm going, but I also love them, because they present opportunities to get聽"free" money from the airlines. It's usually pretty easy to get money back if the delay is the airline's fault, like a mechanical problem. But what if聽it's delayed for weather or other聽reasons beyond anyone's control? If you booked your flight with one of these cards, you may be still聽able to be reimbursed.
What's reimbursable?
Lots of things are reimbursable, like typical expenses involved in delays聽including聽hotels, meals, ground transportation, clothes, and toiletries.
Things that aren't reimbursable are tips, alcohol, or if it's your fault you missed your flight. Be sure that your reservation is a聽round trip聽as well--one-way flights don't count.
What should you do if you're delayed?
First, make sure you used the correct card when you made the reservation. Then, call the bank to file the claim, and submit documentation. This should be done within 30 days for Citi cards, and within 60 days for Chase.
So which cards should I use?
1. 聽Citi Prestige Card聽--聽The "top of the line" Citi card, the聽Citi Prestige card聽covers up to $500 in expenses when you're delayed starting at only聽three hours. That's right---only three hours of inconvenience, and you can start raking in the benefits! The ticket must be a round trip, and that you've put the full cost of the ticket on the card. The money also applies to each person under 19 that is your dependent, and your spouse.
This is in addition to many other incredible benefits, like Admiral's Club access, three rounds of golf free per year, and $250 in airline reimbursements (even flight purchases) each year.
2. 聽Citi Hilton Reserve Card聽--聽The Citi Hilton Reserve Card, with all the benefits that come with it (including free Hilton status, granting you free breakfast at every Hilton worldwide), also gives you $500 when you're delayed, but only after聽12 hours.
3. 聽Citi ThankYou Premier聽--聽The Citi ThankYou Premier, the Prestige card's baby brother, is also $500 after聽12 hours.
4. 聽Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select MasterCard聽--聽This card聽is also $500 after聽12 hours.
5. 聽Chase Sapphire Preferred Card聽--聽The聽Chase Sapphire Preferred Card聽will also reimburse you after聽12 hours听辞谤听delays overnight. 聽The difference between it and the ones mentioned above, is that it'll cover even award tickets. 聽This means charging taxes and fees to the credit card. 聽Right now, the Chase Sapphire Preferred has a 50,000 point sign up bonus for spending $4,000 in 3 months.
This article first appeared at Brad's Deals.