Credit Card Baggage Delay and Lost Luggage Insurance
What each covers
Baggage delay reimburses reasonable essentials (toiletries, clothing) when your checked bag is delayed past a threshold, often 6 hours, up to a daily limit for a few days. Lost luggage reimburses the value of bags and contents that are lost or damaged in transit, up to a per-bag cap, on top of what the airline pays. Both are common on mid-tier and premium travel cards.
How to qualify and claim
Coverage generally requires paying for the fare with the eligible card (sometimes points booked through the issuer count). When a bag is delayed or lost, get written confirmation from the airline, keep receipts for what you buy, and file the claim with the card benefits administrator within the deadline. Read the specific limits in your benefits guide.
Where it fits
Baggage coverage is one piece of a card travel-protection suite, alongside trip delay and cancellation and rental car coverage. For full trips, see credit card travel insurance. It rarely justifies a card on its own, but it is a valuable reason to always pay for travel with a card that has it.
Frequently asked questions
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