By Alison Fox
May 11, 2022
AMERICAN EXPRESS WILL NOW allow customers to change their mind about flights for any reason, under a new benefit called “Trip Cancel Guard,” allowing card holders to book travel with a little more peace of mind.
Going forward, travelers who book air tickets through the American Express Travel will be able to cancel those flights for any reason and receive up to a 75% reimbursement of the nonrefundable flight costs, according to the credit card company. To take advantage of Trip Cancel Guard, travelers must cancel at least two calendar days before their departure date.
The new benefit extends to all American Express card holders, regardless of which card they have, a company spokeswoman told Travel + Leisure.
“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,” Audrey Hendley, the president of American Express Travel, said in a statement. “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.”
Even before offering this new benefit, American Express has always allowed Platinum card holders to cancel flights due to things like illness or injury. The card also covers trips that are canceled due to Covid-19 quarantines.
Gold card holders are also covered for a trip delay for things like inclement weather and if their passport is lost or stolen.
Recently, American Express increased the annual fee in the United States for the Platinum Card to US$695 (from US$550), and included a slew of new travel-related benefits like a US$200 hotel credit, a US$179 credit to cover a year-long membership in Clear, and free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges around the world, including more than 40 Centurion Lounges.
For travelers who don’t have a credit card that offers trip cancellation, purchasing trip insurance is still a good idea with several policies also offering the chance to cancel for any reason.
