American Express will now allow customers to cancel a flight for any reason, allowing cardholders to book their next trip with a little more confidence.
According to the credit card company, travelers who book a flight through Amex Travel will be able to cancel that flight for any reason and receive up to a 75 percent reimbursement of the nonrefundable flight costs in the future. To be eligible for the new “Trip Cancel Guard” benefit, travelers must cancel at least two calendar days before their departure date.
According to Travel + Leisure, the new benefit is available to all American Express cardholders, regardless of which card they have.
“People are eager to travel, and as demand increases there is a greater need to plan ahead. At the same time, a level of uncertainty still exists in this [ever changing] travel environment. With ‘Trip Cancel Guard,’ we’re continuing to back our customers by giving them the value we know they want, along with the confidence to book flights with the flexibility to cancel for any reason if their plans change.”
Audrey Hendley, the president of American Express Travel
Even before introducing this new benefit, American Express has always allowed Platinum cardholders to cancel a trip due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness or injury. Trips canceled due to COVID-19 quarantines are also covered by the card.
Gold cardholders are also protected in the event of a trip delay due to factors such as inclement weather or if their passport is lost or stolen.
American Express recently raised the annual fee for the Platinum Card from $550 to $695, and included a slew of new travel-related benefits such as a $200 hotel credit, a $179 credit to cover a year-long membership in Clear, and free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, including more than 40 Centurion Lounges.
If you don’t have a credit card that allows you to cancel your trip, purchasing trip insurance is still a good idea, with many policies allowing you to cancel for any reason.