How We Got $500+ Back From a Flight Delay Using Our Chase Sapphire Preferred

On our recent trip to Bermuda, my wife and I experienced a flight delay due to a major Northeast storm. The delay forced us to stay two extra nights before we could get home. Thankfully, we had booked our flights with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which includes trip delay reimbursement. And we got an extended vacation!

Because of that benefit, we were able to get over $500 reimbursed for meals, lodging, and transportation while we were stranded. Here’s exactly how the process worked.

Step 1: Make Sure You Booked the Flight With the Card

To be eligible for the benefit, the trip must be purchased with your card. The good news is that even if you only paid part of the flight with the card (for example, using points plus your card), you’re still covered.

As long as the Chase Sapphire Preferred was used for part of the purchase, you can still qualify for the trip delay protection.

Step 2: Save Itemized Receipts for Everything

When submitting the claim, you’ll need to upload itemized receipts for your expenses.

Some examples of what we submitted included:

• Hotel lodging

• Meals

• Transportation (we even got reimbursed for bus passes)

Quick tip: be reasonable with your meal expenses. Very expensive meals may be more likely to get questioned, and alcohol purchases are typically not approved for reimbursement.

Step 3: Get Documentation From the Airline

One of the most important documents required for the claim is a letter from the airline explaining the reason for the delay or cancellation.

This proves the delay was outside of your control. In our case, the delay was due to a major winter storm in the Northeast.

This benefit only applies when your travel disruption is caused by covered reasons. You cannot voluntarily extend your trip and expect reimbursement. Other covered reasons include equipment failure, labor strikes, and hijacking or skyjacking.

Step 4: Submit the Claim

Once we had all the documentation, we uploaded everything through the chase claims portal, including:

• Itemized receipts

• Bank statement for flight payment

• Flight itinerary

• Proof of delay documentation from airline

The benefit covers up to $500 per person per trip for eligible expenses incurred during the delay.

Another helpful thing to know: the purchases you’re submitting for reimbursement do not need to be made with the same credit card. Just make sure the original flight was booked with your eligible card.

Step 5: Get Reimbursed

After submitting the claim, the process was pretty fast.

We received our reimbursement within 5–7 business days of submitting the claim.

Overall, the process was straightforward and ended up saving us hundreds of dollars in unexpected travel costs.

Final Thoughts

Travel delays can be frustrating, but having the right credit card benefits can make a huge difference and give you more time to enjoy your vacation.

Because we booked our flights with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, we were able to recover over $500 in unexpected expenses from our two extra nights in Bermuda.

If you travel even a few times per year, benefits like trip delay reimbursement can easily justify carrying a card with strong travel protections.

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