The incident regarding British Airway’s loss of thousands of baggage in 2014 raised awareness towards a growing necessity to protect your belongings and fully utilize Baggage Insurance. I mean, the question that is raised towards this situation is who exactly would pay for it if your items were temporarily-permanently lost? This applies for baggage that is delayed as well. In this segment, we’ll be going over the “Top Ten Credit Cards With Best Baggage Insurance Coverage.” Hopefully, these set of credit cards will better prepare you for such an event if it ever, unfortunately occurs.
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The Department of Transportation is looking into pushing a obligation on airlines that would reimburse travelers’ checked luggage fees if your baggage was delayed for 12-18 hours on domestic, 15-30 hours for international. Until the rule is set into place, the two options that travelers have is to either purchase travel insurance, or attain a credit card that provides baggage insurance. Below would be coverage pertaining to Lost Baggage. Note that in the near future, there could be a electronics ban for UK and US’s selection of Airline carriers.
| Cards | Checked Baggage Coverage | “High-Risk” Valuables Coverage |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Up to $3,000 for each person that is covered | Maximum of $500 per covered person under a covered trip for: Electronic equipment, watches, cameras, video recorders, and jewelry |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | Up to $3,000 for each person that is covered | Maximum of $500 per covered person under a covered trip for: Electronic equipment, watches, cameras, video recorders, and jewelry |
| Citi Prestige | Up to $3,000 for each person that is covered (New York Residents, up to $2,000 per bag) | |
| Platinum Card from American Express | Up to $2,000 for each person that is covered | Maximum of $250 per covered person under a covered trip for: Electronic equipment including cameras, computers, audio/visual equipment, jewelry, sporting equipment |
Delayed Baggage Insurance
The Citi Prestige® Card offers baggage delay insurance up to the maximum amount of $500, if the length of your baggage is delayed by 3 hours. The policy covers travelers, family, and traveling companions. Note that before assuming that all items are covered, it’s worth checking the cards specific benefits because within guidelines of baggage insurance, items exclude traveler’s checks, passports and visas from coverage. In order to use the baggage insurance, you would have to book a flight utilizing this card (goes without saying for all cards as well). You’d need proof: documentations and receipts to prepare a claim.
Citi Prestige® Card Bonus Summary:
- Apply Now
- Maximum Bonus: 75,000 Bonus Points
- Spending Requirement: You must spend $75,000 within 3 months of account opening.
- Annual Fee: $450
- Bonus Worth: The 75,000 Bonus Points will be worth $937 via Citi’s Travel Portal after the updates are applied.
The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard will also reimburse cardholders who’ve had their baggage delayed up to the maximum amount of $500. The delay must be a lengthy 3 hours prior to making a valid claim. The policy will cover travelers, family and traveling companions.
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard Summary:
- Maximum Bonus: 75,000 AAdvantage Bonus Miles
- Spending Requirement: You must spend $7,500 within 3 months of account opening.
- Annual Fee: $95 which is waived for the first year
- Bonus Worth: The 75,000 bonus points is worth about $900 in airfare or $750 in gift cards
The Chase Sapphire Reserve runs differently from Citi’s ThankYou and AA family when it comes to baggage-delay, baggage insurance. Typically, you’ll be covered for a maximum of $500 ($100 a day). You will be able to make a valid claim once your baggage is delayed for 6 hours. The coverage guidelines would reimburse you for you as the traveler and your immediate family, as long as you’ve booked the flight with the car, of course. There are some exclusions applicable: items similar to lenses, dentures and cell phones will not be covered. Chase allows individuals who booked flights with Ultimate Points and Cash redemption to utilize this service as well, however, transferred points is a different story.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Summary:
- Learn More
- Maximum Bonus: 50,000 UR Points
- Spending Requirement: You must spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Annual Fee: $450, not waived for the first year
- Bonus Worth: The 50K points alone is worth $750 towards airfare/hotel.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card will follow the same guidelines as the Chase Sapphire Reserve in terms of baggage insurance. Therefore, you’ll have a 6 hour length-ed delay before you can file a valid claim. The maximum you could be reimbursed for is $500 ($100 per day) and that will include you as a traveler and your immediate family that was booked utilizing your Sapphire Preferred. Items that are typically covered includes clothing, toiletries and cell phone chargers, however, cell phones will not be included.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Summary:
- Learn More
- Maximum Bonus: 50,000 bonus points + Additional 5,000 points
- Spending Requirement: You must spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, and add an authorized user (no annual fee) within the first 3 months and they make a purchase.
- Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)
- Bonus Worth: The 50K points alone is worth $625 towards airfare/hotel.
Even though the Citi Prestige is classified in the ThankYou Family, your Citi ThankYou® Premier Card operates differently with only $100 in reimbursement maximum if your baggage is delayed for 6 hours. That means, you won’t be able to file a valid claim unless you’ve reached the 6 hours or more mark. Baggage insurance does cover travelers, family and travel companions as long as you’ve booked the flight with the card. Transfer points are not eligible.
Citi ThankYou Premier Card Summary:
- Apply Now
- Maximum Bonus: 50,000 Bonus ThankYou® Points
- Spending Requirement: You must spend $4,000 within 3 months of account opening.
- Annual Fee: $95 (waived for the first year)
- Bonus Worth: The 50K bonus points is upwards of $625 through point transfer via CITI Travel.
- Expiration Date:Limited Amount of Time
- Additional Advice: ThankYou® Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through thankyou.com
Conclusion:
Protect your belongings and plan out a trip that includes such. The event of you having your baggage delayed or lost by the airlines carrier you booked your flights with could be a possibility, hopefully this inconvenience doesn’t ever have to be dealt with, however, realistically, we want to give you our list of what we believe to be the Top Credit Cards With Best Baggage Insurance Coverage. Closing up this article, I want to walk you through the claim process.
Firstly, you must receive documentation from the airlines regarding the delay and from there, you’re allowed to purchase items to get you through the baggage delay period. Keep your documentation and receipts handy for the claim. If there’s anything we missed in this post, we’d really appreciate it if you let us know in the comment section! Also, Check out our complete list of Credit Card Promotions today!
