How To Maximize Chase Sapphire Reserve Trip Delay Benefits for Missed and Delayed Flights

Flight delays can disrupt your travel plans and become costly when you factor in unexpected expenses for lodging and meals. The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® offers an excellent trip delay reimbursement benefit that covers flight delays.

If you book a flight with your Chase Sapphire Reserve card or use Chase Ultimate Rewards points for your flight, you’re covered for up to $500 per person, per trip in trip delay reimbursement. That can ease the financial burden and make a flight delay more comfortable. This benefit could mean sleeping at a hotel with a hot meal instead of camping out at the airport, hoping to find a vending machine.

This guide explains the Chase Sapphire Reserve card’s flight delay insurance, what’s covered, and how to file a claim for reimbursement.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Overview

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is a premium travel rewards card known for its top-tier travel rewards, cardholder perks, and travel protection benefits.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

20.24% - 28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel^SM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 5x points on airfare booked through Chase Travel^SM
• 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Are Missed Flights Covered Under the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card’s Travel Delay Benefit?

Trip delay coverage with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card reimburses up to $500 per ticket in reasonable expenses for a qualifying delay.

Covered expenses include:

• Meals
• Lodging
• Toiletries
• Medication

The benefit applies to reasonable expenses incurred during your delay, but does not include expenses covered by your common carrier, another party, or your primary personal insurance policy. You’ll be refunded up to the maximum amount for qualifying expenses.

What Does the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card’s Trip Delay Benefit Cover?

You can file 1 claim of up to $500 per eligible person on the covered trip. The benefits cover unexpected expenses such as hotel accommodations, meals, and necessary items such as toiletries and medication.

Let’s say you had an overnight delay for a family of 6. You had to book 2 hotel rooms at $250 each and spend $300 on meals, toiletries, and education. That $800 claim would be over the $500 limit for reimbursement for a single traveler, but it’s under the limit when filed under multiple travelers.

Who Qualifies for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card’s Trip Delay Insurance?

Eligible people include the cardholder, your spouse or domestic partner, and legally dependent children 26 and under.

Chase Sapphire Reserve card trip delay benefits apply if you:

• Charge all or a portion of your fare to your card or use a rewards program associated with your account
• Are delayed for more than 6 hours or require an overnight stay

What Trip Delay Reasons Does the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Cover?

The delay must be due to equipment failure, inclement weather, strikes, hijacking, or skyjacking. Common covered reasons for a flight delay include severe weather, mechanical issues, or air traffic control problems. You’re not covered for personal reasons or delays of less than 6 hours (unless the delay is overnight).

What Expenses Aren’t Covered Under the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card’s Trip Delay Benefit?

You’re not covered for trip delay benefits if the reason for the delay was public or if you were informed of the delay before your departure. Essentially, you won’t be covered unless you face an unexpected delay after you’ve already started your trip or are at the airport. If you were informed ahead of time and could have adjusted your travel plans, that means coverage will not kick in.

Missed flights due to personal reasons, such as a late arrival to the airport and schedule changes that result in a delay of less than 6 hours or an overnight stay, are not covered.

The benefit also doesn’t cover prepaid expenses related to your trip, such as tour or activity fees. You won’t be reimbursed if your travel delay causes you to miss a planned activity.

Does the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card’s Trip Delay Cover International Flights?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card’s trip delay benefits apply worldwide as long as you buy your ticket with your card or use Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Are Short Layovers Covered Under Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Trip Delay Benefits?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card’s trip delay benefits don’t cover missed connections due to short layovers. However, if your layover was too short to make your connection, you should turn to the airline for rebooking.

Airline vs. Credit Card Coverage: Who Pays First?

You should expect an airline to rebook you on the next available flight, and they may provide hotel accommodations and meals if the airline caused a delay. However, it’s not always required, and airlines generally don’t have to provide accommodations or meals due to weather delays. Trip delay coverage from the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is helpful when the airline doesn’t offer more than a rebooked flight for delays.

Hot Tip:

If your flight is delayed, ask the airline for a hotel voucher or meal credit. If they can’t offer help, save your receipts and proof of delay to file a trip delay claim with your Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

What’s a Reasonable Trip Delay Expense?

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you’re covered for reasonable trip delay expenses, but there are limits. It’s reasonable to stay at a midrange hotel near the airport and have dinner there, but trip delay reimbursement typically won’t cover luxury hotel stays or fine dining.

What Should You Do if Your Flight Is Delayed and You Might Miss a Connection?

Before you rely on your card, you should talk to the airline. First, contact the airline to check for alternative flights, then ask about hotel or meal vouchers. If you have to pay out of pocket, save your receipts and proof of delay before you submit your claim with your card.

How Do You File a Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Trip Delay Claim?

To file a claim, you’ll need to:

• Contact Card Benefit Services by phone at 800-350-1697 (call collect at 001-214-503-2954 outside of the U.S.) or online at chasecardbenefits.com within 60 days of the covered trip delay.
• Answer questions from the benefit administrator.
• Return the completed and signed claim form with the requested documentation within 100 days.

Required documents vary, but can include:

• Your original and updated travel itinerary indicating the delay
• A statement of your credit card account reflecting the ticket charge
• Additional documentation for currency, vouchers, rewards, or other payment methods used
• A common carrier statement explaining the reason for the delay
• Itemized receipts for claimed expenses of $50 or more per eligible traveler

File a Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Travel Delay Claim Online

Let’s walk through filing a travel delay claim using the Chase Card Benefits online portal.

First, you’ll either sign in as a returning member or verify your card and register as a new member. Verifying your card is necessary to confirm your benefits eligibility.

Once you’re logged in, you’ll see the claims dashboard. On the right side of the screen, you’ll find instructions on how to file your claim. Click on the File a Claim button to get started.

You’ll confirm the card you want to use to file a claim, then hit Next. After that, you’ll see a list of benefits to choose from. Select Trip Delay Reimbursement and hit Next.

You’ll enter the date you purchased your ticket and the incident date. Then, you’ll indicate the loss type, choosing from equipment failure, hijacking/skyjacking, inclement weather, strike, or another reason.

Next, you’ll upload required documents, including your travel itinerary, monthly billing statement showing the purchase amount, proof of delay, and an itemized sales receipt for expenses.

After you upload documents, you’ll share details of the damage or loss, explain the delay, and list your expenses incurred due to the delay. You’ll confirm the transaction incident date and that a portion of the cost was paid with your card or rewards program associated with the card. At this point, you’ll also confirm the cost being claimed.

Once you’ve completed the application and submitted the required documents, you’ll get a confirmation that your claim has been submitted, including a claim number.

The benefits administrator will begin reviewing your claim, which can take up to 7 business days. A representative may contact you for additional information, and you’ll get an update on the status of your request.

If you submit your claim and documents quickly, you should complete the claim and get reimbursement within about a month. You can log back into the claims portal to check the status of your claim.

Hot Tip:

Save your receipts and get the airline’s written confirmation of your flight delay. You’ll need this to document your claim and get reimbursed quickly for your trip delay expenses.

Additional Travel Insurance Benefits from the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

In addition to trip delay coverage, Chase Sapphire Reserve card travel protection benefits include:

• Primary auto rental collision damage waiver of up to $75,000
• Trip cancellation and interruption coverage of up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip
• Lost luggage reimbursement of up to $3,000 per person per trip
• Baggage delay insurance of up to $100 per day for 5 days after a 6+ hour delay
• Roadside assistance
• Up to $100,000 in emergency evacuation and transportation coverage
• Emergency medical and dental benefits
• Travel accident insurance of up to $1 million
• 24/7 travel and emergency assistance

Final Thoughts

Trip delay reimbursement from the Chase Sapphire Reserve card can be a valuable benefit if you encounter unexpected expenses from a delayed flight. For delays over 6 hours or requiring an overnight stay, you can get coverage for up to $500 per ticket, covering meals, lodging, and more. Although missed connections aren’t explicitly covered, they may qualify for trip delay benefits if they meet the required delay criteria. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card also offers various travel protections, including trip cancellation and interruption coverage, which makes it one of the best credit cards for travel insurance.