american express travel insurance delayed flight

Introduction to American Express Travel Protection

Types of travel protection offered, american express travel protection: a guide to your benefits.

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The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, American Express® Green Card, The Plum Card® from American Express. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

• Some American Express cards offer trip cancellation and interruption benefits .
• You'll find these perks on cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express.
• If you're eager to sign up for a travel credit card with perks, compare each card's offerings.

Overview of Travel Protection Benefits

While credit card insurance and travel protection coverage are usually considered secondary to rewards programs and other cardholder perks, these benefits can be equally important if you travel.

When you pay for a trip with a credit card that offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance, for example, you can get reimbursed for some of your travel expenses in the event your vacation is halted for reasons beyond your control. Meanwhile, trip delay insurance lets you apply for some reimbursement when a delay of your trip results in surprise expenses, such as an unplanned hotel stay near the airport when your flight is on hold.

Importance of Travel Insurance

Chase credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card have really stood out for years in terms of the protections they offer, and with some of the highest limits out there. Still, American Express is still coming around — it recently added trip cancellation and interruption insurance, along with trip delay coverage, to many of its top rewards credit cards. 

If you're in the market for an American Express card and you're hoping to take advantage of important travel benefits, consider the cards below and their expanded travel protections.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

New trip cancellation and interruption insurance from American Express credit cards will provide you with up to $10,000 in coverage (and up to $20,000 per account per year) you can use for reimbursement of prepaid travel expenses like airfare and hotels. This coverage can come in handy if your trip is canceled for a covered reason beyond your control, or you're stuck in your destination and require an extended stay and additional costs before you can return home.

Note that this coverage is good for round-trip travel booked with your credit card, meaning you have to pay for travel expenses with a common carrier with your American Express credit card in order to be eligible.

American Express cards that qualify for this coverage include:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Other versions of the Amex Platinum card — including the Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and corporate flavors —  also offer this coverage, as do all versions of the Amex Centurion (black) card , which is invite-only.

Baggage Insurance Plan

Quite a few American Express credit cards also offer a baggage insurance plan, although this isn't a new or upgraded benefit from the card issuer. This coverage can come in handy if your luggage is lost or stolen during a covered trip. To be eligible for this coverage, you have to pay for travel with a common carrier (airfare, cruise fare, etc.) with your American Express credit card.

The amount of coverage you'll receive depends on the card you have. For example, baggage insurance from the The Platinum Card® from American Express offers up to $3,000 in coverage per person for carry-on luggage and up to $2,000 per person in coverage for some types of checked baggage.

With baggage insurance from the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card , on the other hand, you'll only qualify for up to $1,250 in coverage per person for carry-on luggage and up to $500 for covered checked baggage, although an extra benefit of $250 is offered for qualified "high risk items" like jewelry or sporting equipment. 

American Express cards that come with baggage insurance include:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express (including various versions)
• American Express® Gold Card (including various versions)
• American Express® Green Card (including various versions)
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
• Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
• The Plum Card® from American Express

American Express business cards with baggage insurance include:

• American Express® Business Gold Card
• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
• Lowe's Business Rewards Card from American Express
• Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
• Amazon Business American Express Card

Various versions of the Amex Centurion card and several Amex corporate cards also offer baggage insurance.

Travel Accident Insurance

Some American Express cards also offer secondary auto rental coverage, which means this coverage kicks in after other policies you have are exhausted, as opposed to primary car rental coverage.

While this benefit applies to many Amex cards, note that coverage limits can vary. With the Amex Gold card, for example, coverage is limited to $50,000 per rental agreement for damage or theft, yet the Amex Platinum card offers up to $75,000 in coverage. The insurance doesn't cover personal liability, either.

Also note that this coverage comes with a certain amount of Accidental Death or Dismemberment Coverage that varies by card. With , for example, you'll receive up to $200,000 in coverage per person and up to $300,000 in coverage per car accident for accidental death and dismemberment. Make sure to read your credit card's terms and conditions so you know exactly how much coverage you have. 

American Express cards that come with secondary auto rental coverage include:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express (including various versions)
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Card
• Marriott Bonvoy American Express® Card (no longer available to new applicants)
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• Amex Everyday® Credit Card from American Express

And business cards from Amex that offer secondary car rental insurance include:

While American Express did offer travel accident insurance on some of its cards, this coverage was effectively dropped as of January 1, 2020. The same is true for the American Express Roadside Assistance Hotline, which is no longer available.

Trip Delay Insurance

In January of 2020, American Express also rolled out an upgraded trip delay insurance benefit for many of its top rewards credit cards. While this perk may seem like an unusual one, there are so many scenarios where trip delay coverage could help you save money and avoid surprise expenses when travel is delayed beyond your control. 

With trip delay coverage from Amex, you can be reimbursed for up to $500 per trip for hotel stays, meals, and other miscellaneous required expenses when your flight or other trip plans are delayed by more than six hours. If you're sitting at the airport and your flight is suddenly delayed until the next morning, for example, you could use this coverage to get reimbursed for a nearby airport hotel and your dinner, then for an Uber or Lyft ride back to the airport.

To qualify for American Express trip delay coverage, you need to pay for your round-trip travel expenses with a common carrier with your credit card.

Amex cards that come with trip delay coverage include:

• American Express® Gold Card
• American Express® Green Card

Again, the various versions of the Amex Platinum and Amex Centurion cards also offer trip delay insurance.

Most travel protections are automatically activated when you use your American Express card to book your travel. However, specific activation steps, if any, depend on the benefit.

Covered reasons for trip cancellation or interruption typically include illness, severe weather, and other unforeseen events, reimbursing you for non-refundable travel expenses.

Yes, baggage insurance plans come with coverage limits, which vary depending on the card and the type of loss (e.g., lost, damaged, or stolen baggage).

The Global Assist Hotline offers medical, legal, and other emergency coordination and assistance services, but financial costs for services rendered are typically the cardholder's responsibility.

Eligibility for specific travel protections varies by card. Premium cards often offer more comprehensive protections compared to basic cards.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

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• Amex Gold Card

Full List of Travel Insurance Benefits for the Amex Gold Card [2023]

Christine Krzyszton

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Why We Like the Card Overall

Car rental loss and damage insurance, trip delay insurance, baggage insurance plan, travel accident insurance, emergency travel assistance, no foreign transaction fees, additional travel benefits, final thoughts.

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The American Express ® Gold Card is known for being a go-to card for everyday purchases at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets. The card also doubles as a travel rewards card offering elevated earnings on select flight purchases and a nice selection of flexible travel redemption options.

The card is far less known for its travel insurance benefits. Today, we’re turning the spotlight on some of the useful travel insurance benefits that come with the card and talking about how these benefits can add value to the cardholder.

First, let’s look at the overall earning and redemption features of the Amex Gold card, then jump right into the list of travel insurance benefits you can expect to find on the card.

Amex Gold Card — Snapshot

American Express ® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

The American Express ® Gold Card  is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
• Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com , Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
• Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash : get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees )
• Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
• Access to American Express transfer partners
• $250 annual fee (see rates and fees )
• No lounge access
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

We like that you can jumpstart your earnings with a generous welcome bonus after meeting minimum spending requirements in the first 6 months after card approval.

The Amex Gold card also strikes a nice balance between functioning as an everyday spending card and offering accelerated earnings on flights. It also offers flexible travel redemption options.

You’ll earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases each year). Plus, you’ll receive 3x earnings on flights purchased directly with the airline and via AmexTravel.com .

With monthly statement credits for select purchases, it’s easy to find enough value to offset the annual fee.

When it’s time to use your rewards, you’ll have options such as redeeming points for flights via AmexTravel.com or transferring your points to the American Express transfer partners for even more potential value.

Amex Gold Card — Travel Insurance Benefits

While the Amex Gold card doesn’t come with a long list of comprehensive travel benefits, you’ll find these core travel insurance benefits useful for saving money and for access to assistance should something go wrong during your journey.

Having car rental insurance can save you money and provide a level of peace of mind when renting a vehicle . The Amex Gold card comes with secondary car rental insurance that would require you to first file a claim with any other applicable insurance before card coverage kicks in.

Secondary coverage can still be valuable coverage, but there is another car rental coverage option included on the card that is a much better choice.

Premium Protection

The option to purchase Premium Protection car rental insurance on the Amex Gold card is a game changer.

You’ll pay one low price of $12.25 to $24.95 for the entire period, up to 42 total days, for primary theft and damage coverage. The actual rate will depend on your state of residence and the level of coverage chosen. Note that this is not a per-day rate like the car rental agencies charge.

Just enroll in the coverage via your online card account, then whenever you charge your rental car to your card, you’ll have the coverage automatically. You are not charged prior to renting a car.

There is no deductible. Accidental death/dismemberment coverage is included. Liability coverage, uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage, or disability coverage is not included.

Cardholders and authorized listed drivers are covered.

Applicable coverages for both secondary and Premium Protection include rental car damage, theft, and loss of use.

Coverage is not available when renting vehicles in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand.

There are several additional exclusions, including the theft of an unlocked vehicle, illegal activity, intoxication of the driver, and war. Access the Guide to Benefits for a complete list of exclusions, terms, and conditions.

Filing a Claim

You can file a claim online or call 800-338-1670. You must file the claim within 30 days of the event and submit the required claim form within an additional 15 days. You’ll then have 60 days to submit the required documentation.

Bottom Line: The Amex Gold card comes with secondary car rental insurance with the option to purchase primary Premium Protection for one low rate that covers the entire rental period. 

To be eligible for trip delay insurance, you must pay for your entire trip with your Amex Gold card, associated rewards, or a combination of the 2. Using airline vouchers, certificates, or discounts, such as those associated with your frequent flyer account, in combination with your card, are also acceptable. Eligible travelers include family members, travel companions, and a spouse or domestic partner.

Trip delay insurance reimburses an eligible traveler for incidental expenses incurred after a 12-hour or greater trip delay. Eligible expenses can include lodging, meals, toiletries, medication, and necessary personal items.

Eligible Losses and Coverage Limits

The following types of losses are eligible covered losses :

• Inclement weather preventing a traveler from beginning a trip or continuing on a trip
• Terrorism or hijacking
• A common carrier’s equipment failure (documented)
• Lost/stolen travel documents, such as passports

You could receive up to $300 per trip with a limit of 2 claims per card, per 12-month period. Coverage is secondary to any other applicable coverage including reimbursement by the airline.

Loss exclusions include prepaid expenses, losses that were known to the public or the traveler prior to the trip, and intentional acts by the covered traveler. Access the card’s  Guide to Benefits for more details on loss exclusions under trip delay coverage.

You’ll have 60 days from the date of the loss to file a claim. You can do so by calling 844-933-0648 or the number on the back of your card to be directed to the claims department.

You’ll then have 180 days to submit the required documentation, which can include a statement from the common carrier validating the delay, receipts, your card statement showing the trip charge, and other requested supporting information.

Bottom Line: The Amex Gold card comes with trip delay insurance that provides up to $300 per trip for eligible expenses incurred after a 12-hour or greater delay due to a covered loss. 

To be eligible for baggage insurance, pay for your common carrier ticket entirely with your Amex Gold card and/or associated rewards. Trips paid for, in full or in part, with non-American Express rewards such as airline loyalty programs are not eligible.

You, your spouse or domestic partner, children under 23, and certain dependent handicapped children are covered for baggage insurance as long as the trip is paid for in full with your card and/or associated rewards.

Lost, damaged, or stolen baggage is covered, except in the event of war, government confiscation, or acts arising out of customer actions, for the following coverage limits.

High-risk items such as jewelry, gold, silver, platinum, electronics, furs, and sporting equipment, are limited to $250 per item maximum, per trip. 

Certain items are not covered under baggage insurance — here is a condensed list of those items:

• Credit cards, cash, securities, or money equivalents (such as money orders or gift cards)
• Travel documents, tickets, passports, or visas
• Plants, animals, or food
• Glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, prosthetic devices, and prescription or non-prescription drugs
• Property shipped prior to departure

You’ll have 30 days from the date of the loss to file a claim. To file a claim, you can go online or call 800-228-6855 within the U.S. To call from outside of the U.S., call 303-273-6498 collect.

You’ll then have 60 days to submit supporting documentation including a list of items lost, receipts, a statement showing the trip was purchased with the card or associated rewards, and common carrier reports.

Please note that we have abbreviated coverage descriptions and all terms and conditions are not spelled out in their entirety. You’ll want to access the benefits guide for full information.

Bottom Line: You and certain family members are covered for baggage insurance of up to $1,250 per person when traveling with a common carrier. You’ll need to pay for your entire trip with your card or rewards associated with your card for coverage to be valid. 

Travel accident insurance that comes with the Amex Gold card pays a benefit in the unlikely event of accidental death or dismemberment of the primary card member, additional card member, spouse or domestic partner, or children under the age of 23.

The trip must be paid for with the Amex Gold card and/or associated Membership Rewards points (Pay With Points).

The coverage pays a benefit for death or severe injury suffered as a result of riding in, boarding, exiting from, or being struck by a common carrier.

The benefit paid is based on a table provided and can be up to $100,000.

Travel Benefits

While not travel insurance specifically, these additional benefits can provide assistance when planning a trip or if an unexpected event should disrupt your trip.

The Amex Global Assist Hotline provides important 24/7 assistance when traveling more than 100 miles from home. Receive help finding medical, legal, and translation referrals as well as assistance securing emergency transportation.

In addition, you could receive help securing a replacement passport or finding missing luggage.

You can reach the Global Assist Hotline at 800-333-2639. Outside the U.S., call 715-343-7977.

Actual services provided by third parties that incur costs are the responsibility of the cardholder.

Services are also not available in areas such as Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, or the Crimea region.

You’ll want to include the Amex Gold card during your next trip, as the card does not charge foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees ).

Receive help planning your trip with Insider Fares via AmexTravel.com, upgrade your flights with points , American Express Travel Insurance , onsite benefits at The Hotel Collection , Amex Offers , and more.

While the Amex Gold card comes with several valuable travel insurance benefits, you would not select the card for this specific reason. The card shines when it comes to earning on select everyday purchases, for purchasing airline tickets, and its flexible travel redemption options. Those should be key reasons for selecting the card.

The fact that there are travel insurance benefits that come complimentary with the card is just one more reason to consider the card.

If having premium travel insurance benefits is a priority for you, you might consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card , The Platinum Card ® from American Express , the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , all of which offer some of the best travel insurance benefits.

You can read about more credit cards with travel insurance  in our article on this specific topic.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the American Express Gold Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the trip delay insurance benefit of the American Express Gold Card, up to $300 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the American Express Gold Card, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for eligible persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a common carrier vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the global assist hotline benefit of the American Express Gold Card, you can rely on the Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here . For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the amex gold card have travel insurance benefits.

While the list of travel insurance benefits on the Amex Gold card is not extensive, you will find coverage such as secondary car rental insurance, the option to purchase Premium Protection car rental insurance, trip delay, baggage insurance, a Global Assist Hotline, and travel accident insurance.

Does the Amex Gold card have trip interruption or trip cancellation insurance?

No. The Amex Gold card does not offer trip interruption or trip cancellation insurance. The card does come with trip delay insurance.

Does the Amex Gold card charge foreign transaction fees?

No. You will not be charged foreign transaction fees when using the Amex Gold card for foreign purchases ( rates & fees) .

Does the Amex Gold card cover lost luggage?

Yes, the Amex Gold card can cover lost, stolen, or damaged luggage. The coverage is secondary to any coverage or reimbursement received by the airline or other applicable insurance.

Does the Amex Gold card have good car rental insurance?

The Amex Gold card comes with secondary car rental insurance, which means that you must first file a claim with any other applicable insurance before card coverage kicks in. You will have the option, however, to purchase Premium Protection for one low rate that covers the entire rental period, up to 42 days.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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Money: '£2,000 landed in my account' - The people who say they're manifesting riches

We delve into the world of manifestation - but will a one-day course help our reporter land some extra cash and an engagement ring? Enjoy our weekend reads, and leave a comment, below, and we'll be back with all the latest personal finance and consumer news on Monday.

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By Jess Sharp , Money team

My journey into the world of manifestation (the belief that you can attract success in your life through positive affirmations and visualisation) has taken me places I never thought I'd go.

Like a woods in Edenbridge, where I stood meditating under a tree in the pouring rain. I don't yet know where my journey will end (I've been hoping for an engagement ring but my boyfriend hasn't yet seen my visualisations), but it started with a conversation with Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, one of millions and millions of people who say manifestation has transformed their lives.

"About a year ago, there was something happening and I thought we just need two grand to cover the expense," Jamie, a former dancer from London, told me. "The following day £2,000 landed in my account."

It sounded like a coincidence to me, too.

But Jamie was adamant. His husband calls him "the master manifester" because of his "ability to bring in money".

"It's happened on so many occasions, like four, five times," he said. "I've become very clear on what I want and the amount of money I need and literally it can be within 24 hours that I get a phone call for a job and it's almost identical to what I asked for money-wise."

When I asked the now-psychic where the £2,000 actually came from, he said it was payment for a modelling job he had been offered.

"With manifesting you don't get caught up in the how, and often it comes in ways that you don't expect," he added, explaining it could come as the result of a claim after being in a car crash.

"It's not always coming in the way that you think but money is out there for us to take in the world. It's just having the confidence to receive it and we are worthy of it."

"Even if it is a placebo effect, does it matter?" he said.

The 43-year-old also believes he manifested his husband Fiongal after being diagnosed with cancer. While going through treatment and dating "a lot" of people, he decided to take matters into his own hands, or rather his own head, and started visualising his perfect partner.

"I decided to spend a good couple of weeks getting really, really, super clear in my mind what this person looked like. Then I started creating lists asking about personality traits, and all the things that I wanted that person to be," the former dancer said.

"The day I got the all clear from cancer I randomly met my husband and when I look at the list of the things I asked for, he pretty much ticks every single box. I really, really believe that is because I got super clear on what I wanted and I put that out to the universe to bring to me."

Jim Carrey and manifestation

If you think this is a new practice, it isn't. Jim Carrey was doing it back in the 90s. He famously wrote himself a $10m cheque for "acting services rendered" and dated it years in advance. Then in 1995, he was told he was going to make the exact amount for filming Dumb and Dumber.

The idea shot up in popularity again in 2006 after Rhonda Byrne published her self-help book The Secret.

Since then, it has hit every inch of the internet and has resurfaced on TikTok with videos posted under #manifesting accumulating a huge 13 billion views.

I tried to learn manifesting - I felt like an idiot

After hearing Jamie's story and seeing the idea was popular with so many people, I thought it best to try to learn manifestation myself. I mean, who wouldn't want money landing in their account and a work promotion from the universe?

As I stood in the woods, in the pouring rain, being told to imagine roots growing from the soles of my feet, I felt like an idiot.

I was soaking wet (of course I had forgotten a coat with a hood) and while my mind kept wandering through thoughts about being cold, if I'd hit traffic on the way home and how dirty my white trainers were getting, a gentle, soothing voice kept bringing me back to what I was supposed to be thinking about.

"How we are all connected, how the trees and plants produce oxygen that we breathe, and we breathe out carbon dioxide which they need to survive"

While some people focus their manifestation practices on being grateful to the universe, Tansy Jane Dowman believes we need to get "out of our heads, into our bodies", connect with nature and find our true selves before we can practice it successfully.

My meditation in the woods was just one part of a six-hour workshop run by Tansy, which aimed to send me off with a clearer vision of what I truly desired.

Tansy charges anywhere from £25 to £580 for her courses, which range from one-on-one sessions and an online six-week programme, to forest bathing workshops and weekend-long nature retreats.

But some courses have popped up online which cost more than £1,000.

Tansy started practising manifestation in 2018 after going through a difficult period in her life. She eventually quit her job in events management and started teaching others how to do it successfully.

"The way I manifest is not to focus on material wealth or gain. I would ask my clients what an abundant life means to them in terms of feelings, experiences, connections, people and places," she explained.

"The more authentic you are, the more of a beacon you become for those things to find you."

After spending time walking in the rain and meditating under a tree, Tansy and I sat in her dining room and explored some of the happiest moments in my life and the feelings I experienced. It became clear I like feeling accomplished, needed and excited.

We also spoke about challenging times, but the conversation focused on the positives, like how I had overcome them and what I had learned.

"It's so important to bring in your values with manifestation because sometimes we can get really confused with what we want, with social media especially," she told me.

Throughout her house, Tansy has a number of "abundance boards" proudly on display - some she has made with her children, others are from her annual January tradition of setting out her desires for the year.

"I've had some really wonderful goosebump things happen to me. I did a board at the beginning of 2020... I put a picture of a microphone on it. I just thought I really like that image and I didn't immediately place any meaning onto it," she said.

"Then as the world was shutting down for lockdown, I did a press event and I met a lady who worked for Wellbeing Radio and she wondered if I would be interested in trying out as a presenter."

She explained that some people will be very specific with their desires, like selecting a photo of the exact car they want, or the perfect house, but that isn't how manifestation works. There needs to be an element of trust in the universe giving them what they attract.

As we created my abundance board, which Tansy describes as being like a "personal algorithm", she told me to select images and words from heaps of magazines that called to me intuitively.

As you can see from the picture below, mine calls for being "financially fabulous", travelling, getting engaged (coughs loudly in earshot of boyfriend) and living stress-free.

And while I'd love a big cash injection, Tansy explained to me that money is "only a stepping stone to a feeling" and, ultimately, I'm aiming to create an emotion with it.

Manifesters more likely to go bankrupt

While all the manifestation believers I spoke to said there was no downside to the practice, a researcher has been looking into whether it really does pay off.

Based in Australia, Dr Lucas Dixon (who specialises in consumer psychology) created a scale from one to seven to rank a person's strength of belief and found those who practice it are more likely to have been victims of fraud and declared bankruptcy.

He said there was a "danger" that manifesting could become harmful if taken to an extreme level.

He found those who believe in manifesting tend to think more positively and have a confident attitude when it comes to success, and while that can be helpful in business, it can also cause them to take unnecessary risks.

"They weren't more objectively successful in terms of having higher income or higher education attainment," he said.

"We also found that they are more likely to believe in get-rich-quick schemes, more likely to take higher risks... to have risky financial investments and more likely to have investments in cryptocurrency rather than traditional stock."

Using the scale he created, Dr Dixon found those who have "very strong beliefs", ranking at a seven, were 40% more likely to have gone bankrupt.

"The danger comes in a couple of different forms," he said, explaining that a "worst case scenario" could see people getting into financial difficulty by being encouraged to "just look at the positives".

"Someone might say it's not harmful because it is really just thinking positively but I think even that can be harmful because of what you might call an opportunity cost," he said.

"You're spending time, energy and money doing something that doesn't have a lot of evidence behind it. We found it does make you feel good but you don't need to pay thousands to do it."

Okay, so back to me...

I did my manifestation course about a month ago, and I have done as I was instructed - my abundance board is up in sight inside the flat, and I often have a cup of coffee in front of it.

But, so far I'm still using a credit card, the most travelling I've done has been to work and back and there is still no rock on my finger. I have been given an annual pay rise, though, and would say I am less stressed.

Perhaps believing that I'm just doing my best and there's a chance that I'll be rewarded for that one day, eventually, in the future, maybe, is making me feel better... who knows?

Each week, Money blog readers share their thoughts on the subjects we've been covering, and over the last seven days your correspondence has been dominated by these topics...

• Iceland's new slogan
• Rising mortgage rates
• Giving kids cash for grades

Iceland's new catchphrase

We learnt on Monday that Iceland had dropped its tagline "That's why mums go to Iceland", replacing it with "That's why we go to Iceland".

The move was made to reflect the store is for everybody, said brand ambassador Josie Gibson. Readers were split - with some feeling so strongly that they're prepared, they suggest, to sacrifice those frozen Greggs steak bakes forever...

I previously contacted Iceland about their slogan because I didn't think it did single dads justice, as dads can go to Iceland too. Their response was that people understood that it's not just mums that go to Iceland. It's about time they changed the message. Dave T  

Neither I, my wife or my children will shop in Iceland again due to this stupidness and woke attitude. To hell with you [Iceland boss] Richard Walker. John  

Banks hike mortgage rates

This week we reported that high street lenders such as Halifax, TSB, NatWest, Barclays, Leeds Building Society, HSBC and Coventry had all hiked mortgage rates (see 7.33 post for details). 

You said...

With house prices at already extortionate levels, now mortgage rates rising again, is there any hope for first-time buyers? Honestly, the situation is so bleak, people may need to consider other countries. GenZ 

Why would this happen? So many young couples struggling to get on the property ladder. I live in Dorset - a one-bedroom flat costs from £230,000. In Scotland, one can get a beautiful two-bed house for that price. Feel sorry for all couples living down in the South. Need huge deposits. Barbs

Why are they called high-street banks? Most banks in my town have closed. Martin J

Parents offering cash for good grades

A lot of views came in after our feature exploring the positives and negatives of parents incentivising good school grades with cash...

We had scores of comments on this - with a fairly even split...

We did it for our son at GCSE time. We think it made a difference of about a grade on most subjects. Got a two-grade lift on maths. Cost us £350. Thought it was good value as it has taught him how things work in the world. Andy

The whole world is built on a reward system which symbolises access to money commensurate with effort and excellence. The Nobel prize goes with a cash reward! Tom Deggs

Employees are offered incentives for achieving targets, so why not offer kids incentives for better grades? Claire228 

But others had concerns...

I think it puts too much pressure on kids who are under enough pressure at exam time. Parents should encourage their kids to do the best they can, not add to their stress levels. Emma

Children should value their education without it being monetised. My parents expected my brother and I to have the motivation, maturity and self-discipline to work hard for our GCSEs. We both achieved all As and A*s. Eliza 

When I was at school, from 1964-83, my parents never gave me money for good exam results, because "I should want to do well for myself". No matter what my grades were, they said that they would be proud of me if I had tried my best. Cash kills self-motivation. Nicola B 

National insurance was cut this month, for the second time this year, from 10% to 8% on employee earnings between £12,570 and £50,270.

The change, announced by the chancellor in his March budget, impacts around 27 million payroll employees across the UK - starting this pay day.

The cut is worth almost £250 to someone earning £25,000 a year and almost £750 for those earning £50,000

Use our tool below for a rough guide to what tax changes can be expected for most people, as there are other variables not included which might affect how much tax you pay including being in receipt of the blind person's allowance or the marriage allowance. It also assumes you are not self-employed and are under pension age...

There are also national insurance cuts for the self-employed. This includes the scrapping of Class 2 contributions, as well as a reduction of the rate of Class 4 contributions from 9% to 6% for the £12,570 to £50,270 earnings bracket.

These will impact nearly two million self-employed people, according to the Treasury.

While many campaigners welcomed the national insurance announcement last month, they pointed out that the tax burden remains at record high levels for Britons - thanks in part to the threshold at which people start paying income tax being frozen, rather than rising with inflation.

The money story of the week has been mortgage rates - with a host of major lenders announcing hikes amid fears the Bank of England may delay interest rate cuts.

Swap rates - which dictate how much it costs to lend money - have risen on the back of higher than expected US inflation data, and concerns this could delay interest rate cuts there. 

US trends often materialise elsewhere - though many economists are still expecting a base rate cut from 5.25% to 5% in the UK in June.

The reliable Bloomberg reported this week: "Still, while some economists have since scaled back their predictions for BOE cuts, most haven't changed expectations for a summer move.

"Analysts at Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group, Capital Economics and Bloomberg Economics are all among those still anticipating a shift toward easing in June."

The publication also quoted Sanjay Raja, chief UK economist at Deutsche Bank, as saying: "Markets have superimposed the US cycle on the UK, but the US and UK are on very different tracks.

"The UK is coming out of technical recession. Inflation is falling more convincingly. Pay settlements are following inflation expectations. And crucially, real policy rates in the UK will be higher than in the US."

None of this reassurance changes the fact that financial markets, which dictate swap rates, are pricing in delays.

This week's hikes came from Halifax, BM Solutions, TSB, NatWest, Virgin, Barclays, Accord, Leeds Building Society, HSBC and Coventry.

This is what average mortgage rates looked like as of Thursday...

The next Bank of England decision on rates comes on 9 May - and pretty much no one is expecting a cut from the 16-year high of 5.25% at that stage.

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

The family home where Captain Sir Tom Moore walked 100 laps to raise nearly £40m for the NHS during the first COVID lockdown is up for sale for £2.25m.

The Grade II-listed Old Rectory is described as a "magnificent seven-bedroom property" by estate agents Fine & Country.

In a video tour of the house, a sculpture of Captain Tom with his walking frame can be seen in the hallway, while a photo of the fundraising hero being knighted by the Queen is on a wall in the separate coach house building.

Introducing the property, an estate agent says in the tour video: "I'm sure you'll recognise this iconic and very famous driveway behind me as it was home to the late Captain Sir Tom Moore who walked 100 laps of his garden, raising over £37m for NHS charities."

It comes less than three months after the demolition of an unauthorised spa pool block in the grounds of the property in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire.

Speaking at an appeal hearing over that spa, Scott Stemp, representing Captain Tom's daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband, said the foundation named after the fundraising hero "is to be closed down" following a Charity Commission probe launched amid concerns about its management.

For the full story, click here ...

"Status symbol" pets are being given up by owners who get scared as they grow up, an animal charity has said, with the cost of living possibly paying a part in a rise in separations.

The Exotic Pet Refuge, which homes parrots, monkeys, snakes and alligators among others, says it receives referrals across the country, including from zoos and the RSPCA.

"They're a status symbol. People will say, 'OK, I'll have an alligator or a 10ft boa constrictor'," co-owner Pam Mansfield told the BBC.

"But when the animal gets big, they will get too frightened to handle them, and then the pet has to go."

She added people who want to get rid of the pets sometimes call zoos for help, which then call on her charity.

In some cases, owners don't have licences to own dangerous animals, she says, blaming a "lack of understanding" for what she says is a rise in the number of exotic animals needing to be rehomed.

She says people "just don't have the space" for some snakes, for example, with some growing to as much as 12ft and needing their own room.

The cost of living crisis has also forced owners to give their pets away, she says.

Her charity has also been affected by those increased costs, with the electricity bill rising to £10,000 a month at their highest, to fund things like heated pools for alligators.

Private car parks are accused of "confusing drivers" after introducing a new code of conduct - despite "doing all they can" to prevent an official government version.

The code of practice launched by two industry bodies - British Parking Association and the International Parking Community - includes a ten-minute grace period for motorists to leave a car park after the parking period they paid for ends.

It also features requirements for consistent signage, a single set of rules for operators on private land and an "appeals charter".

Private parking businesses have been accused of using misleading and confusing signs, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees.

That comes after a government-backed code of conduct was withdrawn in June 2022, after a legal challenges by parking companies.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: "We're flabbergasted that the BPA and the IPC have suddenly announced plans to introduce their own private parking code after doing all they can over the last five years to prevent the official government code created by an act of Parliament coming into force.

"While there are clearly some positive elements to what the private parking industry is proposing, it conveniently avoids some of the biggest issues around caps on penalty charges and debt recovery fees which badly need to be addressed to prevent drivers being taken advantage of."

BPA chief executive Andrew Pester said: "This is a crucial milestone as we work closely with government, consumer bodies and others to deliver fairer and more consistent parking standards for motorists."

IPC chief executive Will Hurley said: "The single code will benefit all compliant motorists and will present clear consequences for those who decide to break the rules."

Sky News has learnt the owner of Superdry's flagship store is weighing up a legal challenge to a rescue plan launched by the struggling fashion retailer.

M&G, the London-listed asset manager, has engaged lawyers from Hogan Lovells to scrutinise the restructuring plan.

The move by M&G, which owns the fashion retailer's 32,000 square foot Oxford Street store, will not necessarily result in a formal legal challenge - but sources say it's possible.

Read City editor Mark Kleinman 's story here...

NatWest says its mortgage lending nearly halved at the start of the year as it retreated from parts of the market when competition among lenders stepped up.

New mortgage lending totalled £5.2bn in the first three months of 2024, the banking group has revealed, down from £9.9bn the previous year.

The group, which includes Royal Bank of Scotland and Coutts, also reported an operating pre-tax profit of £1.3bn for the first quarter, down 27% from £1.8bn the previous year.

An unexplained flow of British luxury cars into states neighbouring Russia continued into February, new data shows.

About £26m worth of British cars were exported to Azerbaijan, making the former Soviet country the 17th biggest destination for UK cars - bigger than long-established export markets such as Ireland, Portugal and Qatar.

Azerbaijan's ascent has coincided almost to the month with the imposition of sanctions on the export of cars to Russia.

Read the rest of economics and data editor Ed Conway 's analysis here...

Rishi Sunak has hailed the arrival of pay day with a reminder his government's additional National Insurance tax cut kicks in this month for the first time.

At last month's budget, the chancellor announced NI will be cut by a further 2p - so some workers will pay 8% of their earnings instead of the 12% if was before autumn.

The prime minister has repeated his claim this will be worth £900 for someone on the average UK salary.

While this additional cut - on top of the previous 2p cut in January - does equate to £900 for those on average full-time earnings of £35,000, there are two key issues with Mr Sunak's claim:

• Once the effect of all income tax changes since 2021 are taken into account, the Institute for Fiscal Studies reports an average earner will benefit from a tax cut of £340 - far less than £900;
• Moreover, anyone earning less than £26,000 or between £55,000-£131,000 will ultimately be worse off.

In short, this is because NI cuts are more than offset by other tax rises.

We explain below how this is the case...

Tax thresholds

This is partly down to tax thresholds - the amount you are allowed to earn before you start paying tax (and national insurance) and before you start paying the higher rate of tax - will remain frozen. 

This means people end up paying more tax than they otherwise would, when their pay rises with inflation but the thresholds don't keep up. 

This phenomenon is known as "fiscal drag" and it's often called a stealth tax because it's not as noticeable immediately in your pay packet.

That low threshold of £12,570 has been in place since April 2021. 

The Office for Budget Responsibility says if it had increased with inflation it would be set at £15,220 for 2024/25.

If that were the case, workers could earn an extra £2,650 tax-free each year.

Less give, more take

Sky News analysis shows someone on £16,000 a year will pay £607 more in total - equivalent to more than three months of average household spending on food. 

Their income level means national insurance savings are limited but they are paying 20% in income tax on an additional £2,650 of earnings.

In its analysis , the IFS states: "In aggregate the NICs cuts just serve to give back a portion of the money that is being taken away through other income tax and NICs changes - in particular, multi-year freezes to tax thresholds at a time of high inflation."

Overall, according to the institute, for every £1 given back to workers by the National Insurance cuts, £1.30 will have been taken away due to threshold changes between 2021 and 2024.

This rises to £1.90 in 2027.

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Flight delayed? Remember these 4 things if you want trip delay reimbursement from your credit card

We talk a lot about using your credit card's benefits for things like trip delays. The peace of mind these perks can add to your trip when something goes awry is fantastic.

However, before you get lulled into a false sense of security, remember that these perks are not automatic. There are specific steps you must take if you want to get reimbursed for reasonable expenses after a lengthy (or overnight) delay.

Here are four things you need to do if you want your credit card's trip delay reimbursement to actually work for you.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

Pay for the trip with a credit card that provides trip delay reimbursement

Trip delay reimbursement is a benefit that will compensate you for expenses that aren't reimbursed by your transportation carrier. Cards reference "common carriers" for this coverage, which typically means forms of public transportation with published schedules on which you bought tickets — not a road trip in your friend's car, for instance.

While airlines may provide hotel rooms and food vouchers for overnight delays that are under their control, such as maintenance issues, they typically won't provide coverage for things like weather delays. Moreover, what an airline provides may not cover all of your expenses. This is where trip delay reimbursement can help you.

However, in order to be eligible, you must pay for your trip with a card that offers this coverage.

Here are some cards that are among the best for trip delay reimbursement:

* Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company .

It's important to note that the specific terms can vary from card to card (or issuer to issuer).

For example, here are the terms from Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (according to the card's benefits page):

"This benefit applies to reasonable expenses incurred during Your delay not otherwise covered by Your Common Carrier, another party, or Your primary personal insurance policy. You will be refunded the excess amount (up to the maximum) once all other reimbursement has been exhausted up to the limit of liability."

The card covers "reasonable expenses" from the delay. This means that items like a new toothbrush are likely covered, but three pairs of new shoes probably aren't.

Also, coverage is secondary, meaning that it kicks in after any other insurance or coverage you may have (benefits from the transportation carrier, your own insurance protections, laws, etc.).

Related: Flight delayed or canceled? Here are the best credit cards with trip delay reimbursement

Lastly, find out if your card's specific benefit requires you to pay for the full amount of the trip or just a part of it to invoke trip delay reimbursement coverage. On the Chase Sapphire Reserve , you can "charge all or a portion of a common carrier fare to your credit card account and/or rewards programs associated with your account." Capital One cards have similar terminology. Thus, an award booking where you paid for the taxes and fees with your card would be sufficient.

However, many American Express cards would not cover your trip delay in that situation, because its terms require you to pay the "full amount" of the trip on the card to receive the benefit.

Get a statement from the carrier confirming the delay

Once your delay passes the required amount of time mentioned above, it's time to get it in writing. If it's not in writing, it doesn't exist.

The simplest way to do this is to ask at a staff member at the customer service desk, at your flight gate or at some other airline facility. Most importantly, try to do this while you're still at the airport. It's true that the long lines at these desks often turn people away, and you may want to leave the airport and get to your overnight accommodation to rest after the stress of a delay.

If you leave the airport without getting a delay confirmation, it's possible to request one after the fact. Delta, for example, has a landing page to request this form , while other airlines handle this through their respective customer service contacts. However, regardless of how you get this information, be sure it includes the following:

• Your name(s).
• The confirmation or ticket numbers.
• The flight details (date, flight number, etc.).
• The specific reason for the delay.

Confirming a flight was delayed vs. proving that the delay was due to a covered reason are two different things. Be sure you get a form that actually supports the claim you will make for reimbursement with your credit card's trip delay coverage.

The same concept applies whether your travel was with an airline, bus company or cruise.

Save the receipts

Get printed receipts for any expenses you incur, and make sure you save them. In fact, you should probably take a picture with your phone as soon as you receive them — that way, you have a record of the purchases, even if the physical copies get lost.

I typically don't get receipts for my everyday purchases, but this is the exception. If you don't get a receipt, you can't submit for reimbursement with your credit card issuer.

Note that this doesn't just apply to receipts for your purchases during the delay. You also need to save the confirmation emails associated with the trip. You'll need that documentation to prove that you paid for this trip with a credit card that offers trip delay reimbursement. You may even be asked for the monthly statement with the transaction — which is what TPG director of content Nick Ewen had to provide when he had an unexpected overnight layover in Lima, Peru on his way back from Chile in 2019.

During your delay, you may want to start gathering those documents. Make sure you know which credit card you used to pay for the trip, and start organizing these things for the claim you will make later. Doing this will also help to avoid surprises later.

Why? You'll verify what coverage you have based on the card you used — like how long the delay must be before coverage kicks in.

If this is part of a longer trip, save the paper trail

In January 2021, I submitted a claim for expenses related to a delay on a flight departing Tanzania. Prior to the flight from Tanzania, my wife and I had been on the road for several weeks, visiting multiple other countries. The insurance adjustor asked for a paper trail showing how we got from our home address to Tanzania, leading up to the delay and our request for expense reimbursement.

Luckily, I keep those documents organized in my email and on my computer. I was able to provide the tickets and confirmation numbers showing where we had been between leaving home and getting to the incident in question.

Experiences will vary, but the point is that you should keep a paper trail. Unfortunately, based on my experiences, most insurance companies don't make it easy for you to be reimbursed. Be sure that you save the receipts for your expenses and all of the transportation you took after leaving home. This can help you support a claim when the flight is part of a longer trip that's not necessarily to or from your home airport.

Bottom line

Knowing that you are covered by trip delay reimbursement on your credit card can reduce headaches during your trip. This benefit provides peace of mind during delays, since you know you will be reimbursed for any expenses you incur.

However, you'll only get that reimbursement check if you follow the proper steps. Make sure you know exactly how your card's coverage works and when it kicks in. Then make sure you have the necessary documents when submitting your claim. You'll need your tickets and receipts from the purchase, plus a confirmation of the delay reason from the common carrier and the receipts for your expenses. Knowing how the process works can help you avoid surprises like a denied claim later on.

For rates and fees of The Amex Platinum card, click here

For rates and fees of Amex Bonvoy Brilliant card, click here

For rates and fees of the Delta Skymiles Reserve Amex, click here

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4 Things to Know About AmEx Trip Cancellation Insurance

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As a card issuer, American Express is well-known for its generous benefits. So whether you’re looking for statement credits , elevated earnings on dining or hotel elite status , AmEx probably has a card that’ll fit.

Among these perks is travel insurance, which can cover you when things go awry. But how does AmEx trip cancellation insurance work, and what does it cover? Let’s take a look.

1. What does American Express trip cancellation insurance cover?

AmEx has different levels of trip insurance depending on the card you hold. Its high-end cards, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express , provide the best benefits, including trip cancellation travel insurance . Terms apply.

Generally speaking, trip cancellation insurance from AmEx will cover your trip's prepaid, nonrefundable costs under eligible circumstances. The coverage maximum for reimbursement is $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per 12-month period. To be covered for trip cancellation, you’ll need to have paid the full amount of the trip with your eligible AmEx card or a combination of your card and other certificates, vouchers or miles.

Covered circumstances in which AmEx will reimburse you for trip cancellation include:

Accidental injury, sickness or loss of life concerning you, a traveling companion or a family member.

Inclement weather prevents you from traveling.

A change in military orders for either you or your spouse.

Hijacking or terrorist acts.

Jury duty or a subpoena if they cannot be postponed or waived.

If your dwelling becomes uninhabitable (e.g., your home catches fire).

Quarantine as imposed by a doctor.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

Finally, the trip must be round-trip, though the travel can consist of round-trip, one-way and open-jaw tickets . AmEx will reimburse more than your flight costs if you have a covered loss. Other types of purchases that AmEx will cover include:

Any other common carriers.

Common carriers are companies licensed to transport passengers across land, sea or air and require passengers to obtain a ticket before travel. This means rental cars, taxis, ride-share, and commuter travel services don’t qualify. However, tickets for regular bus lines, commercial airlines and standard rail lines do.

Be aware that AmEx’s trip cancellation insurance is secondary; it’ll pay out after other insurance and providers have made their payments.

» Learn more: How does credit card travel insurance work?

2. Which AmEx cards include trip cancellation insurance?

We’ve already mentioned The Platinum Card® from American Express as one that provides trip cancellation insurance, but there are plenty of others that do so as well.

These include both consumer and small business cards, such as the:

Business Centurion Card from American Express.

Centurion Card From American Express.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card .

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card .

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card .

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card .

The American Express Platinum Card for Schwab.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express .

The Corporate Platinum Card.

The Platinum Card from American Express for Ameriprise Financial.

The Platinum Card from American Express for Goldman Sachs.

The Platinum Card from American Express for Morgan Stanley.

The Corporate Centurion Card from American Express.

Terms apply.

Other AmEx cards have different types of travel insurance , including trip delay reimbursement, rental car insurance and lost luggage compensation.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

3. Who is covered?

When using your eligible AmEx card to pay for your travel, you’re not the only person covered by trip cancellation insurance. These benefits likewise cover you, your family members and any traveling companions.

American Express defines family members as your domestic partner, spouse or unmarried child up to the age of 19 (or under the age of 26 if your child is a full-time college student). Traveling companions are those who have made advanced arrangements with you or your family to travel together.

» Learn more: Credit cards that provide travel insurance

4. How to file a claim

To file a claim for reimbursement through AmEx’s trip cancellation insurance coverage, you’ll need to notify your benefits administrator. This must be done within 60 days of the covered loss or you’ll run the risk of your claim not being honored.

To contact your benefits administrator and open a claim, call 844-933-0648.

You’ll also need to complete the cancellation procedures for your travel provider. For example, if you’ve booked a flight with, say, Delta Air Lines, you’ll want to navigate Delta’s website to be sure that your ticket has been appropriately canceled.

You’ll then need to furnish written proof of your loss within 180 days of its occurrence. Gather various paperwork, such as:

Copies of your common carrier and travel supplier receipts.

Your card statement showing that you used your AmEx card to pay for the trip.

A copy of the travel supplier’s cancellation policy.

Proof of your covered loss; this may include military orders, a note from your physician or jury duty.

AmEx might extend the deadline for documentation up to one year after your loss if it isn't possible for you to provide it in a timely manner.

AmEx may require other paperwork depending on your situation, but you'll want to coordinate with your benefits administrator to see if this is necessary.

» Learn more: Airline travel insurance versus your credit card's

Trip cancellation insurance from AmEx recapped

AmEx's high-end credit cards provide many benefits, including the protection of trip cancellation insurance. To be eligible for coverage, you'll need to use your card to pay for a covered trip. You'll also need to have a qualifying reason for cancellation.

AmEx will pay you up to $10,000 in losses for approved claims.

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On a similar note...

American Airlines cuts some international flights into 2025, citing Boeing delivery delays

• American is reducing service on a host of long-haul routes, citing Boeing's delivery delays.
• Boeing Dreamliners and 737 Max aircraft are arriving late to customers due to supply chain issues and the plane-maker's safety crisis.
• Among the changes are reduced international service from New York and Dallas/Forth Worth.

American Airlines on Friday said Boeing's 787 Dreamliner delivery delays are forcing it to cut some long-haul flights in the second half of the year and into early 2025, the latest carrier to change its schedule tied to the plane-maker's production problems.

American expects to receive three Dreamliners this year, down from six, it said in a filing Thursday . Boeing said earlier this week that parts shortages will prevent it from ramping up production of the wide-body planes.

"We're making these adjustments now to ensure we're able to re-accommodate customers on affected flights," American said in a statement. "We'll be proactively reaching out to impacted customers to offer alternate travel arrangements. We remain committed to our customers and team members and mitigating the impact of these delays while continuing to offer a comprehensive global network."

American will suspend some routes to Europe at the end of the summer. Here's what's changing:

• Flights from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Athens will be suspended on Sept. 3. The seasonal route was previously scheduled to end Oct. 26.
• Flights from New York to Barcelona will be suspended Sept. 3. The route was previously year-round, and will resume next year.
• Flights from Dallas/Fort Worth International to Dublin and to Rome, which were both scheduled as year-round flights, will now be suspended on Oct. 26, and return next year.
• Flights from Chicago O'Hare to Paris will end Sept. 3 and resume next year.

American will also offer just a single daily flight between New York and Rome, instead of twice daily, starting Aug. 5, and service between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Kona, Hawaii, won't operate this winter.

American said it will continue to offer 55 long-haul international routes this winter and that it will add nonstop service between Philadelphia and Barcelona on a daily basis starting in January, as well as seasonal service between Miami and Montevideo, Uruguay. It will also add three-times-a-day flights between Miami and Sao Paulo.

The airline is further evaluating its schedule because of Boeing's 737 Max delays, it said.

Boeing didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Correction: American Airlines will add three-times-a-day flights between Miami and Sao Paulo. A previous version of this story mischaracterized the schedule.

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Trip cancellation & trip interruption insurance.

Why do I need it?

Sometimes the unexpected happens, and you can’t go on your trip as planned or have to return home early. Amex ®  Travel Insurance † can protect you from financial losses when your trip is cancelled or interrupted due to an unexpected event.

What’s included?

Coverage is available for cancellations, interruptions and accidents that may occur before or on your trip.

Trip Cancellation

Covers non-refundable and non-transferable prepaid travel expenses if you have to cancel your trip due to unexpected or unforeseen events, up to a maximum of $15,000 per person / $30,000 per family (Single-Trip Plan).

Trip Interruption

Covers non-refundable and non-transferrable unused portion of your prepaid travel arrangements for trip interruptions up to a maximum of $15,000 per person / $30,000 per family (Single Trip Plan). For trip delays, out-of-pocket expenses may be reimbursed up to $100 per day, up to a maximum of $1,000 per person / $3,000 per family (Single-Trip Plan).

Flight & Travel

Provides life and disability protection for unexpected loss as a result of a travel or flight accident, up to a maximum of $50,000.

Recommended Travel Plans

Emergency Medical

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Trip Interruption Insurance

Baggage & Personal Effects

Flight & Travel Accident

Frequently Asked Questions

How does COVID-19 affect my coverage?

What are the trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits and limits.

Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance provides reimbursement of expenses incurred as a result of a covered reason for eligible pre-paid travel arrangements, transportation and out-of-pocket expenses. For complete benefit details, including maximum benefit limits,  view our different plans and download the insurance certificates , or call  1-844-200-8959 .

When should I purchase Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance?

If you plan on purchasing pre-paid travel arrangements, you may want to consider purchasing trip cancellation/trip interruption coverage in order to protect your investment should you have to cancel or interrupt your trip due to one of the covered reasons.

Why do I need Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance?

Sometimes the unexpected happens, and you can’t go on your trip as planned or have to return home early. Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance can help protect you from financial losses when your trip is canceled or interrupted due to an unexpected event.

Contact us: 1-844-200-8959

Mon - Fri: 8am-8pm (EST); Sat: 9am-5pm (EST)

†  Amex ®  Travel Insurance is optional group travel insurance underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada. You may contact the insurer at 1-888-877-1710 in Canada and the U.S. or visit rsagroup.ca. In this outline, we have given a brief description of just some of the benefits available under Amex ® Travel Insurance. All insurance coverage is subject to the terms and conditions of the Group Policy issued to Amex Bank of Canada and the applicable limitations and exclusions described in the Certificate of Insurance issued upon enrollment. Please read the Certificate of Insurance carefully. Amex ® Travel Insurance is underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada. Amex Bank of Canada identifies insurance providers and products that may be of interest to some of its customers. In this role we do not act as an agent or fiduciary for you, and we may act on behalf of the insurance provider, as permitted by law. We want you to be aware that we receive compensation from insurance providers and our compensation may vary by provider and product. We do not require you to purchase any insurance product, and you may choose to cover your insurance needs from other sources on terms they may make available to you.

® , TM: Used by Amex Bank of Canada under license from American Express.

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