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The American Express Platinum Card® comes with travel insurance, but it only applies if you meet certain requirements.
The benefits on the $895-annual-fee card include coverage for trip interruption, rental car damage and lost luggage (see rates and fees; terms apply). Here's what to know.
» Learn more: What is travel insurance?
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When does the AmEx Platinum travel insurance kick in?
To get coverage from the American Express Platinum Card®, you’ll need to use it to pay for your trip in its entirety. This is true whether you’re looking to use the trip insurance or the rental car insurance — you must pay in full with the American Express Platinum Card®.
You may still be covered for trip interruption, delay, and cancellation insurance when using points or frequent flyer miles.
However, rental car and baggage insurance only apply when you’ve used your card to pay for the full cost of whatever you’re buying — no points allowed. The exception is if you redeem American Express Membership Rewards to pay for some or all of the booking.
» Learn more: How does travel insurance work?
AmEx Platinum travel insurance benefits and limits
Trip cancellation protection
The trip cancellation insurance you’ll receive will pay for any nonrefundable losses you incur due to a covered event.
One example of a covered event is illness, depending on the reason you need to cancel. Covered events include trips that are medically inadvisable by a physician or illness for you, your family members or a traveling companion.
Other eligible events include a change in military orders, inclement weather or jury duty.
If you need to cancel your trip, AmEx will provide up to $10,000 per trip and a maximum of $20,000 every 12 months. Terms apply.
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» Learn more: The guide to American Express travel insurance
Trip interruption coverage
As with trip cancellation protection, trip interruption insurance will reimburse you for nonrefundable losses by a covered event.
If your trip is interrupted, American Express will cover you for prepaid land, air and sea travel bookings you’ve missed. It’ll also pay for the cost of an economy class ticket on the most direct route to rejoin your covered trip (or take you home).
The maximum benefit you’ll receive is $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 every 12 months. Terms apply.
Trip delay insurance
Trip delay insurance will reimburse you for expenses incurred when your trip doesn’t go as scheduled. With the American Express Platinum Card®, coverage kicks in after you’ve been delayed by at least six hours for a covered reason.
Covered purchases may include food, toiletries, lodging, medication and other personal use items. You’ll be reimbursed for up to $500 on a covered trip and can make two claims within a 12-month period. Terms apply.
Rental car insurance
The American Express Platinum Card® provides secondary rental car insurance. This means it’ll start after other claims — like those made to your personal insurance — have been processed. To activate coverage, you’ll need to decline the insurance offered by the rental car company.
AmEx will provide up to $75,000 due to damage or theft of the rental vehicle for up to 30 consecutive days, but be aware that the policy doesn’t provide liability insurance.
It’ll also give you up to $1,000 per person (max of $2,000) for personal property lost in the incident and up to $5,000 for accidental injury. Finally, you’ll receive up to $300,000 for accidental death or dismemberment, though the rates will vary depending on the severity of your injuries.
This rental car insurance is valid worldwide with a few notable exceptions, including Australia, Italy and New Zealand. Terms apply.
» Learn more: Credit cards that provide travel insurance
Baggage coverage
Cardholders and eligible family members qualify for baggage insurance provided they’ve paid for the fare using the American Express Platinum Card®. This benefit is only for lost baggage; delayed luggage is not protected.
Coverage limits vary depending on whether you’ve checked your bag or carried it on:
- Checked bags: Up to $2,000 per person.
- Carry-on: Up to $3,000 per person.
Note also that checked baggage is only covered when you’re actually traveling with a common carrier. Meanwhile, carry-on luggage is also covered when traveling to and from or waiting at the terminal.
There are also specific limits for high-risk items such as jewelry and electronic equipment. For these items, you’ll receive a maximum of $1,000 per person per trip. Terms apply.
» Learn more: Baggage insurance explained
In addition to travel insurance, the American Express Platinum Card® offers another benefit that can help when you travel over 100 miles from home.
AmEx’s Premium Global Assist hotline is a 24/7 service that can assist you in various ways, such as helping you get a new passport, finding translation services and even arranging for emergency medical evacuation.
Although using Premium Global Assist is free, the services that you may end up using are not necessarily covered by AmEx.
There are exceptions to this — if you need repatriation of mortal remains, emergency medical evacuation or if a child under 16 is left without care, AmEx will provide aid at no additional cost. Terms apply.
How to make an AmEx travel insurance claim
To file a claim, you’ll need to contact your benefit administrator. The phone number and timeframe will vary according to the type of insurance you’re using:
» Learn more: The guide to AmEx Platinum rental car benefits
What if the card’s insurance benefits are insufficient?
If the American Express Platinum Card® travel insurance doesn’t include features that you’d like to have, consider purchasing a separate travel insurance policy before you travel.
Several companies allow you to compare various policies for any vacation and modify inclusions as you shop.
» Learn more: How much is travel insurance?
American Express Platinum Card® travel insurance, recapped
The travel insurance offered by the American Express Platinum Card® includes some pretty generous benefits for travelers, especially since it’s complimentary (the $895 annual fee notwithstanding). Terms apply.
If you want to take advantage of this insurance, pay for your trip using your AmEx card and double-check any other stated requirements before heading out to ensure coverage.
To view rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, see this page.
Insurance Benefit: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
- The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
- 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.
Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance
- Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
- 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.
Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 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.
- Please 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.
Insurance Benefit: Baggage Insurance Plan
- Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g., plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Insurance Benefit: Premium Global Assist Hotline
- You can rely on 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. Plus, the Premium Global Assist Hotline may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- 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.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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