The baggage coverage difference that cost me hundreds

Reading Time: 3 min

Even seasoned travelers and credit card experts can misunderstand card benefits and protections. A few years ago, I didn’t understand the difference between lost and delayed baggage insurance, and that resulted in me losing hundreds of dollars. Here’s how to avoid this happening to you.

Lost baggage is exactly what it sounds like. You arrive at baggage claim, and your suitcase is not there. You file a claim with the airline, and they are unable to locate it, and you never get your suitcase back. It vanishes into thin air. Most travel credit cards offer some sort of lost baggage insurance, though coverage amounts vary by issuer.

Delayed baggage is a bit more confusing. If your suitcase doesn’t arrive at the same time as you do, but you’re eventually reunited with your belongings, your bag is considered delayed. Coverage for delayed baggage is much harder to find, but Chase generally offers the best protection.

For instance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred will reimburse you up to $100 a day for five days for essentials if your bag is delayed for six hours or more. Plus, you only have to pay for a portion of your ticket (like award taxes and fees) for the coverage to kick in.

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I flew from Mexico City (MEX) to Vienna (VIE) with layovers in Atlanta (ATL) and Amsterdam (AMS) in 2023. To this day, that is one of the only times in my life that I’ve flown anywhere with two or more layovers. The more layovers, the higher the likelihood that something goes wrong, which is exactly what happened.

My second flight from ATL to AMS was delayed, so I touched down in AMS just as my flight to VIE was taking off. I was rebooked on a flight seven hours later. After nearly 24 hours of travel, I headed to the baggage claim in Vienna, but my suitcase was not there.

Luckily, I had an AirTag inside my suitcase, so I saw it was still in Amsterdam. I filed a claim with the airline, and off I went to my Airbnb with just my cat and a hope that my suitcase would eventually make its way to Austria.

The next morning, I called American Express. The flight was operated by Delta and Air France, so I’d booked my ticket with my Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card. I explained the situation, and the representative told me I could be reimbursed up to $500 to replace my belongings under the Baggage Insurance Plan included with my card.

Over the next few days, I spent almost all of that $500 on clothes, toiletries, and other necessities. After five days, my bag arrived on my doorstep in Vienna, and I submitted my paperwork to American Express.

Not long after, I received a notification that my claim had been denied. Once your suitcase is returned to you, it’s not considered lost. Even though I didn’t have my suitcase for five days, it’s considered delayed, and that's not covered under the Baggage Insurance Plan.

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It didn’t matter that this wasn’t explained to me on the phone or that I was told partially inaccurate information.

Ultimately, I lost close to $500 because I misunderstood the difference between lost and delayed baggage. That’s an expensive lesson to learn, but it’s one I won’t soon forget.

Now, I use cards that offer delayed baggage insurance to book airfare, regardless of which carrier operates the flight. Always check your card’s guide to benefits and make sure you’re clear on baggage delay vs. lost baggage coverage, and charge at least the award taxes and fees for your flight to a card that offers delay protection.

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