Understanding Amex Platinum’s Trip Delay Insurance Benefits and Limitations

The Amex Platinum card is known for its luxurious travel perks, including trip delay insurance coverage. However, Reddit users have mixed opinions on how useful this benefit really is based on their claims experiences. This article will examine Platinum cardholders’ perspectives on trip delay insurance, pitfalls to watch out for, and whether the coverage provides meaningful protection.

Overview of Trip Delay Insurance on the Amex Platinum

The Amex Platinum card comes with trip delay insurance as one of its travel protections. Here are the basic details on this benefit:

• Covers up to $500 per ticket for reasonable expenses if your trip is delayed 12+ hours or requires an overnight stay.

• Eligible expenses include meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal use items.

• The delay must be from a covered reason like severe weather or mechanical issues.

• You, your spouse, and dependent children are covered when tickets are purchased with the Platinum card.

• Maximum of $500 per person and $2,500 per trip.

On the surface, this seems like a great benefit in case you get stranded and incur extra costs due to delays out of your control. But some Reddit users say the claims process is stringent and denial reasons can be frustrating.

Reddit Users Share Trip Delay Insurance Claim Experiences

In one popular r/amex thread, users discuss trip delay insurance claim successes and frustrations:

• “I’ve made two claims that were under $200 each and was reimbursed quickly without any pushback.”

• “My flights were delayed over 12 hours on two legs and I was denied coverage because it wasn’t a single delay period over 12 hours. Very misleading benefit.”

• “I submitted meal receipts after sitting on the tarmac for 10 hours with a 4 hour delay after. Got denied because station delays don’t qualify.”

• “Made a claim for $120 in expenses when my flight was delayed overnight from a snowstorm. Took months and they required excessive documentation but eventually paid out.”

• “Don’t expect high limits or an easy process. Strict requirements and easy claim denial reasons make this benefit mostly useless.”

The overall vibe is the coverage sounds better than the actual claims experience based on denial reasons and a rigorous claims process.

Why Trip Delay Claims Get Denied

In another Amex thread, users discuss common denial reasons that make trip delay insuranceclaims difficult:

• The delay was under 12 hours total so does not qualify.

• The delay was caused by a station, airport, or ground delay rather than weather, mechanical issues or other covered reasons.

• Lack of itemized receipts for all claimed expenses.

• Inability to provide documentation proving the delay length.

• The trip was not booked directly with the airline.

• Claim paperwork completed improperly or relevant documents not submitted.

The biggest complaints revolve around exclusions for station/airport delays and the strict 12 hour total delay threshold to receive any reimbursement.

Tips for Successfully Claiming Trip Delay Benefits

For those who have had trip delay claims approved, here is their advice for navigating the process:

• “Save every single receipt related to the delay like food, hotel, transport, toiletries.” Claims are denied without proper documentation.

• “Confirm the delay reason is covered before claiming.” Station or airport delays are ineligible so don’t assume you’re covered.

• “Provide full trip documentation” – e.g. flight itinerary, boarding passes, delay notices from airline. More proof is better.

• “Be persistent and patient” – The claims process can be lengthy so follow up and appeal if your claim gets denied.

• “Stick to reasonable expense limits” – Charging a $400 steak dinner or $700 hotel room won’t look good if it seems excessive.

While the trip delay protection has its limitations, being prepared with documentation and having reasonable, covered claims can help secure reimbursement based on other Platinum cardholders’ experiences.

Is Amex Platinum Trip Delay Insurance Worth It?

On whether trip delay coverage on the Amex Platinum is valuable given its restrictions, Reddit users have mixed opinions:

• “Absolutely worth it for true qualifying delays.” If you have a sufficiently long delay from a covered reason, it provides real monetary value and protection.

• “The limits are too small to rely on it heavily.” At max $500 per person and $2,500 per trip, it may not cover large disruption costs.

• “More hoops than it’s worth for minor delays.” For short delays or reimbursements under $100-$200, the intensive claims process is overly burdensome.

• “Nice as a backup but not a key perk.” It can provide peace of mind but because benefits are limited, it shouldn’t be a deciding reason to get the card.

• “Get other travel insurance for real protection.” Supplemental travel insurance will have fewer restrictions and higher benefit limits.

The overall consensus seems to be it can provide security as a backup option for major covered delays, but primary travel insurance is recommended for more robust coverage.

The Bottom Line on Amex Platinum Trip Delay Insurance

While trip delay insurance is a nice perk of the Amex Platinum card, limitations on covered reasons, strict claims processes, and low maximum benefits relative to many travel disruptions make its usefulness mixed based on crowdsourced feedback.

For peace of mind having some coverage is better than none, but the benefit is most valuable for longer eligible delays with reasonable, well-documented claims. Relying on it as sole protection for major trip interruptions is ill-advised given its restrictions. Supplemental travel insurance can fill coverage gaps and provide greater reassurance.

The Platinum trip protection should be considered a secondary backup, but not primary insurance for travel disruptions. Being aware of its limitations allows savvy cardholders to take advantage when eligible without expecting overly broad safeguards.