Amex Travel Insurance Phone Number: How to Start a Delay Claim

American Express trip delay insurance is administered through the Global Assist Hotline. The number to call is printed on the back of your Amex card and in the card benefits guide. For the Amex Platinum, the Global Assist number is 1-800-333-2639 (US) or +1-715-343-7977 (international collect). For co-branded cards (Hilton Honors Aspire, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, Delta SkyMiles Reserve), the Global Assist number is the same, but the benefits are underwritten separately.

Best practice: Add the Global Assist number to your phone contacts before every trip. During a delay, you want to reach the right department immediately rather than searching for the number at the airport.

Trip delay insurance is a benefit on premium Amex cards including the Platinum, Gold (for some benefits), Hilton Honors Aspire, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, and Delta SkyMiles Reserve. Trigger thresholds and limits vary by card. For the full delay benefit strategy, see how to get a refund from your airline. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has resources on credit card benefit rights.

When you call the Global Assist Hotline during or after a delay:

1. 1

   Identify yourself as a cardmember and provide your Amex card number.

2. 2

   State that you are experiencing (or have experienced) a trip delay and want to report a trip delay insurance claim.

3. 3

   Provide: your airline and flight number, date of travel, original and actual departure times, your departure and destination airports, and the reason for the delay as stated by the airline.

4. 4

   Ask whether you should file the claim now or after the trip is complete. Many Amex claims can be reported during the delay and documentation submitted afterward.

5. 5

   Request a claim reference number and note it down.

You can also initiate claims through the Amex website after the trip at americanexpress.com under 'Card Benefits.' The online portal allows document upload and claim tracking.

Not all Amex cards include trip delay insurance. The cards that currently include it (verify current terms with Amex):

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  Amex Platinum: Trip delay at 6 hours or overnight stay. Up to $500 per covered trip.

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  Amex Business Platinum: Same as personal Platinum.

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  Hilton Honors American Express Aspire: Trip delay at 6 hours. Up to $500 per covered trip.

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  Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: Trip delay at 6 hours. Up to $500 per covered trip.

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  Delta SkyMiles Reserve: Trip delay at 6 hours. Up to $500 per covered trip.

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  Amex Gold: Trip delay at 12 hours. Up to $300 per covered trip. (Lower threshold card.)

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  Cards without trip delay: Many standard Amex Green, Blue, and cash-back cards do not include trip delay insurance. Confirm your specific card's benefits at americanexpress.com.

Gathering the right documentation is the difference between a successful claim and a denial:

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  Airline itinerary: Your booking confirmation showing the original departure and arrival times.

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  Card statement: Showing the airfare charged to the Amex card.

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  Delay documentation from the airline: An email, text, or app notification showing the delay announcement. If possible, obtain a written statement from the airline confirming the delay duration and cause.

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  Itemized receipts: For every covered expense (meals, hotel, transport, essential personal items). Credit card statements are not sufficient; you need itemized receipts.

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  Completed claim form: Downloadable from the Amex benefits portal or provided by the Global Assist Hotline.

Documentation tip: Screenshot the airline app or FlightAware showing the delay the moment it is announced. Airlines sometimes close flight status pages quickly after the flight operates, and delay details can be hard to recover later.

Amex trip delay insurance covers reasonable out-of-pocket expenses including:

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  Meals: Restaurant meals and non-alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is excluded.

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  Lodging: Hotel accommodation for overnight delays.

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  Ground transport: Taxi, rideshare, or shuttle to and from the hotel.

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  Essential personal items: Toiletries, basic clothing, chargers if checked bags are inaccessible.

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  Communication: Reasonable phone or data charges to rebook or notify family.

Coverage is secondary: if the airline provides a $20 meal voucher and your meal costs $35, Amex covers the $15 gap. Always request what the airline owes you first (see DOT passenger rights) then claim the remainder from Amex.

Amex trip delay claims must typically be filed within 60 days of the delay event. Missing this deadline forfeits coverage. The timeline:

1. 1

   Report the delay to Global Assist as soon as possible (ideally during the delay).

2. 2

   Gather all receipts and documentation during and immediately after the delay.

3. 3

   Submit the claim form with complete documentation within 60 days.

4. 4

   Track the claim status through americanexpress.com.

5. 5

   Expect a decision within 3 to 6 weeks of submitting complete documentation.

If your Amex claim is denied, request a written explanation citing the specific policy provision. You can appeal with additional documentation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint can assist if you believe the denial is improper. For EU261 claims on qualifying flights, use TravelStacks separately.

Amex trip delay insurance and DOT refund rights are independent and can both apply to the same delay:

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  DOT refund rights: A domestic delay of 3 or more hours entitles you to a full cash refund of the ticket if you choose not to travel. See US DOT rules.

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  Amex trip delay: Reimburses out-of-pocket expenses (meals, hotel) during the delay, regardless of DOT rights.

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  Both can apply: You can receive a DOT refund for the ticket AND Amex reimbursement for delay expenses. They cover different things.

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  EU261 in addition: For qualifying EU or UK departures, EU261 or UK261 fixed compensation applies as well. See EU261 rights and UK261 rights.