Chase Sapphire Travel Insurance: How I Got Reimbursed
Chase Sapphire Travel Insurance:
Ever wonder what happens when your flight gets canceled right before a big trip? I found out the hard way. Just days before my long-awaited cruise with my besties, my flight to Florida was canceled due to torrential rain and widespread flooding. I had booked my flight two days early to play it safe, but Mother Nature had other plans—there was simply no way to get into the state. I was devastated. I tried everything to rebook, searching for alternate flights, but the weather wiped out every option.
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FLIGHT CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER
I had never missed a trip before. I knew I could file a claim on my Chase Sapphire Card for my cruise. Although I could utilize this benefit, I was unsure how my Chase Sapphire Travel Insurance would work. I needed to wait for Southwest to cancel this ticket. It took them 9 hours to cancel the flight. I sat in the airport with no update. This was a weather-related cancellation. I knew they owed me nothing other than returning my points and the small amount I paid in taxes. It was pretty evident our flight was going to be canceled earlier in the day. All other flights to everywhere in Florida from Nashville were canceled earlier in the day. I knew this was my only chance to get there, so I sat and waited as others gave up and went home. We sat there so long that people were hugging each other as they left, knowing we weren’t going on any of the fun adventures we had planned. Wondering if the Chase Sapphire card is for you? Check out my reviews: Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve
Why Paying for the Flight Matters
If you’re using credit card travel insurance, the card you use to pay for your flight is critical. Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred offer trip cancellation and interruption coverage—but only if you charge the travel expenses to the card.
Because I paid for my flight with my Sapphire Reserve, I was eligible for reimbursement when the weather canceled my plans. Even though I didn’t board the plane, the payment triggered coverage.
Southwest refunded my points that I used when they canceled my flight. However, I was pretty irritated that I was left at the airport for so long without any updates. When I got home, I contacted Southwest nicely and said the situation could have been handled better. A few days later, they emailed me a $100 Luv voucher toward a new flight for the inconvenience of sitting in the airport without updates. They also said I could reach out to see if I was eligible to get compensation for the canceled flight. I almost didn’t take the time, then I thought, why not? I did not expect anything; the delay was because of the weather, which is not their fault. Since they said I could reach out, I thought, why not? After I submitted everything they requested, they sent me a $200 Luv voucher
What Chase Sapphire Travel Insurance Covers
Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s covered under Chase Sapphire travel protection:
Trip cancellation due to weather, illness, or carrier issues
Trip interruption if your plans are disrupted mid-trip
Trip delay if your flight is delayed more than 6 hours (Reserve)
Lost luggage and baggage delay
Emergency medical and evacuation (Reserve only)
As for the cruise, I knew it was non-refundable when I booked it. I thought there was no way I was going to miss it. I was wrong. I contacted Celebrity Cruises. I had them send me a statement for what I would get back since I missed the cruise. I needed the statement to file a claim with the travel insurance provided with my Chase Sapphire card. This was $137.50. This is where having an amazing cruise agent like my friend Mary helped. Mary contacted Celebrity on my behalf. She spoke to an awesome agent who agreed I should be refunded my prepaid gratuities, prepaid internet, and the shore excursion I had paid for. She worked hard, and after multiple phone calls, I was refunded everything I could.
How I Filed My Claim
My claim with the Chase Sapphire card was fairly easy. I submitted a ton of paperwork. I was able to do all of this online. They asked me to resend what I had already sent. I did this. They reached out with a couple of questions, and then it was paid. ** update I have now filed two claims with the Chase Sapphire travel benefit, both times I have had to resubmit everything twice. Both times it was paid. Check out what happened with my 2nd claim. I wrote about it here.
Tips for Travelers Using Chase Sapphire Insurance
1. Always pay with your Sapphire card Even if you’re using points for hotels or cruises, pay for flights with your card to activate coverage.
2. Save your receipts and screenshots You’ll need proof of payment, cancellation notices, and your original itinerary.
3. File your claim quickly Use the Eclaimsline portal to upload documents and track your claim.
4. Know the difference between Preferred and Reserve Reserve offers higher limits and broader coverage—especially for delays and medical emergencies.
Final Outcome: What Chase Sapphire Covered
After submitting all the required documentation—including my canceled flight details, cruise itinerary, and proof of weather-related disruption—Chase Sapphire Reserve reimbursed me for the full cost of the missed cruise. That included the non-refundable fare and port fees, totaling over $700. The process took about three weeks, and I received the funds directly to my account. No phone calls, no drama—just a clean digital claim.
This experience turned a travel disaster into a win, all thanks to the built-in travel insurance benefits of my credit card.
