I used an obscure credit card perk to pay for $127 worth of travel expenses when American Airlines canceled 2 of my flights — see how

I used an obscure credit card perk to pay for $127 worth of travel expenses when American Airlines canceled 2 of my flights — see how

At first, I was faced with an eight-hour delay that quickly turned into an overnight stay. American was going to pay for a hotel but I’d be largely on my own for meals, plus any other expenses I might incur thanks to the extended trip.

Flying home from Bogota, Colombia on American Airlines.

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While many credit cards offer some form of travel insurance, not all are equal and some only kick in if the cardholder dies in a plane crash. But the Sapphire Reserve offers three types: trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, and travel delay reimbursement.

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As its name suggests, trip cancellation/interruption insurance covers expenses when a trip is “cut short or canceled” due to instances like sickness, severe weather, injury, loss of life, terrorist action, hijacking, and unpostponable jury duty or court subpoena. Chase will cover up to $10,000 per trip, if eligible.

REUTERS/Mike Segar

After I landed in Dallas, American had given me a hotel voucher, at my request, so I could have a shower during my four-hour layover. I took a hotel shuttle to the hotel, around five miles from the airport itself, and only planned to shower in the room, then head back to the airport.

Flying home from Bogota, Colombia on American Airlines.

Thomas Pallini/Insider