How the AmEx Gold Travel Insurance Works

This AmEx card gets you baggage, car rental and trip delay insurance alongside AmEx Global Assist services.

JT Genter
The Points Guy, Forbes Advisor, AwardWallet, LendingTree

As a digital nomad for nearly five years, JT is a freelance writer that proves through experience that credit card rewards can drastically reduce the cost of travel. After working as a tax accountant for a decade, JT turned his analytical skills to points, miles and credit cards. He published over 2,000 articles as a writer for The Points Guy.

Meg Lee
Assigning Editor | Travel, SEO, Travel Loyalty Programs

Megan Lee is a former editor on the travel rewards team at NerdWallet. She had more than 12 years of SEO, writing and content development experience, primarily in international education and nonprofit work. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for websites like GoAbroad and Go Overseas. When not traveling, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food.

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

The American Express® Gold Card is best known for its dining, grocery and rideshare perks. However, this mid-tier rewards card also offers cardholders several benefits that can make it an appealing option for booking flights and rental cars. Terms apply.

Does the American Express® Gold Card have travel insurance ? Yes — in fact, several kinds. From travel protections to car rental damage waivers, let's find out how the American Express® Gold Card travel insurance works. Terms apply.

What types of travel insurance does the American Express® Gold Card provide?

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American Express offers four types of travel insurance and protections to holders of the American Express® Gold Card :

Each of these travel protections has limits, exclusions and requirements. For example, you'll generally need to pay for trips with your American Express® Gold Card to get these travel protections. And the maximum benefit for each of these is capped at a certain amount. Let's dig into the details. Terms apply.

Check out our nerdy picks for the best American Express credit cards and find the right card for you.

Understanding the American Express® Gold Card baggage insurance policy

Cardholders of the American Express® Gold Card can get baggage protection on their checked and carry-on bags when traveling on a common carrier — such as an airline. To activate this coverage, all you need to do is pay for the entire cost of the flight, train, bus or cruise with your American Express® Gold Card or American Express Membership Rewards points. Terms apply.

AmEx even covers the loss or damage of bags on the way to or from the "common carrier terminal" (e.g., the airport). And it's not just the cardmember's bags that are covered. AmEx also covers the bags of your:

If you need any more incentive to pack light: AmEx protects up to $1,250 in loss, damage or theft for carry-on bags and $500 max for checked bags. Note that this limit is applied per person — and not per bag. So, you won't get a higher amount of coverage if you spread your personal items across several bags. Terms apply.

AmEx also places a $250 cap on the amount that it will reimburse for "high risk items" — such as jewelry, cameras, sports equipment, computers or other precious metals. Terms apply.

How to get rental car insurance through the American Express® Gold Card

Another useful American Express® Gold Card travel insurance protection covers cardmembers when they rent a car. To activate this coverage, just pay for the entire rental with your American Express® Gold Card and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver product. Then, AmEx will automatically reimburse up to $50,000 in damage or theft for most rentals up to 30 days in length. Terms apply.

However, you'll need to be wary of several key restrictions:

Coverage is secondary. That means you'll need to file with your personal auto insurance company first.

This AmEx collision damage waiver, or CDW, covers damage and theft to the car you rent. You're still responsible for damage and injury done to others. So make sure your personal auto insurance covers your liability when renting cars.

American Express® Gold Card trip delay travel insurance

One of the newest travel insurance perks of the American Express® Gold Card (added as of Jan. 1, 2020) is trip delay insurance protections. This trip delay insurance kicks in when you pay for a trip with your American Express® Gold Card or AmEx points. Terms apply.

Then, if your flight is delayed for more than 12 hours for a covered reason, American Express will reimburse you up to $300 for reasonable expenses such as meals, lodging, toiletries, medication and other personal use items. Terms apply.

Unfortunately, not every flight delay will be covered. This American Express® Gold Card travel insurance takes effect only when your trip is delayed more than 12 hours due to:

Note that you must be on a trip starting from your city of residence to be covered. But, don't worry if you booked a complicated itinerary. This trip delay insurance is effective as long as you start from your home and pay for your entire trip with the American Express® Gold Card — including all round-trip and one-way travel along the way. Terms apply.

How AmEx Global Assist Works

Think of AmEx Global Assist as your travel assistant. AmEx Global Assist can help with everything from visa and vaccination information before your trip, to emergency cash wires if things go wrong during your trip.

AmEx provides many travel advice and assistance services free of charge. However, if you need outside help — such as emergency translation or legal assistance — you'll be on the hook for payments to third-party service providers.

The AmEx Global Assist Hotline services available to American Express® Gold Card members aren't as comprehensive as what you'll get on other premium AmEx cards. However, it can still be an excellent resource when you need help before or during your travels. Terms apply.

American Express® Gold Card travel insurance, recapped

While the American Express® Gold Card isn't a premium travel card, it still offers core travel insurance protections that can make it the go-to card for booking travel and rental cars. Terms apply.

Use your American Express® Gold Card to book travel to get up to $1,250 in coverage for lost or stolen baggage and up to $300 in reimbursements during a covered delay of 12 hours or more. Rent a car with your American Express® Gold Card to get secondary coverage of up to $50,000 for damage or theft. And you can fall back on AmEx Global Assist anytime you run into issues — when planning your trip or if you have an emergency during the trip. Terms apply.

Insurance Benefit: Global Assist Hotline

You can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility.

If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance

Up to $300 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

Insurance Benefit: Baggage Insurance Plan

Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.

Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.

Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

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