How do I activate the Delta SkyMiles Reserve travel insurance benefits?

Activation is automatic when you charge the full cost of a covered trip to your Delta SkyMiles Reserve card. No enrollment required. The trip cancellation and interruption benefits cover trips charged to the card in full, or in combination with accumulated Delta SkyMiles points and eligible vouchers. Coverage begins on the date you purchase the trip and ends when the trip is completed.

Who is covered under my Delta SkyMiles Reserve benefits?

Trip cancellation and interruption benefits cover the primary cardholder, family members (spouse, domestic partner, or dependent children under 19, or under 26 if full-time students), and traveling companions who purchase a covered trip on the cardholder's account. The cardholder must be a US citizen or legal resident. Traveling companions are covered only when their transportation is charged to the cardholder's Eligible Card.

How does the Delta SkyMiles Reserve rental car coverage actually work?

At the rental counter, decline the agency's collision damage waiver. Outside the United States, the Delta Reserve provides primary CDW up to $75,000: the card pays first and your personal auto insurance is not involved. Inside the United States, coverage is secondary. Your personal insurer pays first and the card covers the remainder up to $75,000. Coverage lasts up to 30 days per rental. Liability to other vehicles or people is not covered.

How do I file a claim with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve?

File trip cancellation, interruption, and delay claims through aig.claimnotify.com/americanexpress or by calling 1-844-933-0648. You must notify the administrator within 60 days of the covered loss. Missing this window can void the claim. For cancellation and interruption, you will need your Common Carrier tickets, card billing statement, proof of the covered loss (physician orders, court subpoenas, military orders), and the Travel Supplier's cancellation policy. Proof of loss must be submitted within 180 days.

What does the Delta SkyMiles Reserve not cover?

The Delta Reserve does not cover emergency medical expenses abroad, travel accident insurance (AD&D), baggage delay, or cell phone protection. Trip cancellation and interruption exclude pre-existing conditions (60-day lookback from trip purchase date), war, financial insolvency of travel suppliers, and professional athletic activities. The card also does not cover one-way travel or trips paid with fraudulent cards. For international travelers, the absence of emergency medical coverage is the most significant gap.

Do I need separate medical insurance if I have the Delta SkyMiles Reserve?

Yes. The Delta Reserve includes no emergency medical coverage abroad. Premium Global Assist is available 24/7 to coordinate care and facilitate hospital admission, but the cardholder pays all medical costs directly. A single emergency room visit outside the US typically runs $10,000 to $80,000. If you travel internationally, a standalone travel medical policy starting at $50 to $100 per trip is the minimum protection worth carrying in addition to this card.

Is cell phone protection included with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve?

No. Cell phone protection is not available with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card. There is no coverage for accidental damage, theft, or mechanical failure regardless of how you pay your monthly phone bill. If cell phone protection matters to you, the Chase Ink Business Preferred covers up to $1,000 per claim when you pay your monthly bill with that card. The Delta Reserve does not offer this benefit.

Is the Delta SkyMiles Reserve rental car coverage primary or secondary?

Both, depending on where you rent. Outside the United States, the Delta Reserve provides primary CDW up to $75,000. The card pays first with no personal insurer involvement. Inside the United States, coverage is secondary. Your personal auto insurance pays first. For international travelers and those without US personal auto insurance, the primary international CDW is a meaningful benefit. For domestic-only renters, it functions as standard secondary coverage.

Is there travel insurance with the Delta Reserve card?

Yes. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve includes trip cancellation insurance ($10,000 per trip, 7 covered reasons), trip interruption insurance ($10,000 per trip), and trip delay insurance ($500 per trip, activates after 6 hours). What it does not include: emergency medical coverage abroad, emergency evacuation insurance with a dollar guarantee, and travel accident insurance. For Delta loyalists who mostly need cancellation and delay protection, the coverage is solid. For international travelers who need medical and evacuation coverage, separate insurance is required.

Delta Reserve card benefits: what does the insurance actually cover in 2026?

American Express·$650/year·American Express

Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviewsUpdated June 11, 20268 min read

2,8/5Travel Insurance gap.Independent review · verified June 2026

Travel Insurance

2,3

Car Rental

3,6

Protection

4,1

Our Verdict · Travel Insurance

Our take on travel insurance for the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve

Expert review · Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviews

When Delta loyalists evaluate the Reserve benefits, trip protection is one of the real strengths. The cancellation coverage delivers: $10,000 per trip, 7 covered reasons including illness, military orders, and jury duty, with a 60-day pre-existing lookback. Trip interruption matches that. Trip delay triggers at 6 hours and pays up to $500 for meals, lodging, and personal items. No emergency medical coverage. Premium Global Assist coordinates emergencies 24/7 but pays nothing directly. File cancellation and interruption claims through aig.claimnotify.com/americanexpress within 60 days of the loss, with carrier tickets, your card statement, and the Travel Supplier's cancellation policy.

What works on travel

$10,000 trip cancellation per trip: 7 covered reasons including illness, military orders, jury duty, and weather, with no deductible
$10,000 trip interruption per trip: covers forfeited prepaid costs and additional transportation to rejoin or return from the trip
$500 trip delay from 6 hours: meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and personal items
$3,000 lost baggage protection: $2,000 checked bags, $1,000 carry-on, $500 sub-limit for high-value items
Premium Global Assist 24/7: coordinates medical emergencies, hospital admissions, and logistics internationally

Where travel breaks down

No emergency medical coverage: Premium Global Assist is a coordination service, you pay all hospital bills directly with no card reimbursement
Pre-existing conditions excluded: any condition with symptoms in the 60 days before trip purchase is not covered for cancellation or interruption
2 claims per 12 months on trip cancellation and delay: light for frequent Delta flyers
No travel accident insurance (AD&D): not included with this card
No cell phone protection: not included

Notre méthodologie

Chez HelloSafe, notre expert examine chaque année les contrats, les avis clients et les tarifs du marché. Analyse indépendante, sans influence commerciale sur les notes attribuées.

Travel Insurance · 11 guarantees

What does my Delta Reserve card's travel insurance cover?

Quality, not just caps

Guarantee

Status

Limit · Cap

Trip cancellation

7 covered reasons · Max 2 claims / 12 months

$10,000

Covered

$10,000

Covers all prepaid Travel Supplier costs: not only flights but also hotels and tours booked with the card.

Medical fees abroad

Not covered

No emergency medical insurance despite a $650 annual fee. A serious ER visit abroad runs $10,000 to $80,000. Every dollar is yours.

Medical repatriation

Not covered

Trip interruption

Same 7 reasons as cancellation · Max 2 claims / 12 months

$10,000

Covered

$10,000

Transport delay

Trigger: 6 hours · Max 2 claims / 12 months

$500

Covered

$500

The 6-hour trigger is meaningfully better than the 12-hour standard on most travel cards at this price tier.

Missed connection

Not covered

Lost luggage / theft

Not covered

Baggage delay

Not covered

Baggage loss

$2,000 checked / $1,000 carry-on · $500 high-value sub-cap

$3,000

Covered

$3,000

Personal liability

Not covered

Hotel theft protection

Not covered

View all guarantees and assistance (PDF)

We source benefits from official card guides, but PDFs are sometimes hard to obtain or update. Spotted something off?

Report an error Send updated PDF

Coverage Radar

Where the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve wins, and where it loses

An 8-dimension snapshot compared to the Amex Platinum and the average premium travel card.

Compare

Delta SkyMiles ReserveThis card2.8/5?

$650/yr

With travel insuranceIdeal

Complete coverage · 5.0 / 5

Premium card avg.

$150 avg. annual fee

Amex Platinum

American Express · $695/yr

Click a layer to highlight its scores on the radar.

Side-by-side comparison

Alternatives to the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve

HelloCard.sideBySide.subtitle

Card	This card Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express · $650/yr 2.8/5?	Hilton Honors Aspire American Express · $550/yr 2.9/5?	Sapphire Reserve Chase · $795/yr 3.9/5?	Sapphire Reserve Business Chase · $795/yr 3.7/5?
Trip cancellation Per person, per trip cap	$10,000 per trip 7 covered reasons	$10,000 per trip 7 covered reasons	$10,000 per person 13 covered reasons	$10,000 per person All prepaid travel
Emergency medical Hospital bills abroad	N/A Cover this gap →	Not covered	$2,500 \| $50 deductible $50 deductible	$2,500 Reimbursement only
Emergency evacuation Air ambulance + repatriation	N/A Cover this gap →	Not covered	$100,000 \| pre-auth required Pre-authorization required	$100,000 Pre-authorization required
Trip delay trigger Hours before benefits kick in	6h / $500 Trigger: 6 hours	6h / $500 Trigger: 6 hours	$500 after 6 hours Trigger: 6 hours	6h / $500 Trigger: 6 hours or overnight
Rental CDW Primary or secondary	Primary / $75,000 Primary outside US	Primary (intl) / $75,000 Primary outside US	Primary / $75,000 Primary coverage	Primary / $75,000 Primary coverage

StrongLimited / misleadingNot covered

Data verified against each card's Guide to Benefits, May 2026.

r/delta

2024

Trip interruption paid $800 after Delta cancelled my flight

Delta cancelled my flight home and I had to book a hotel for two nights plus rebooking fees. The trip interruption claim through Amex covered $800. Process took 6 weeks but worked without pushback.

WalletHub

2024

6-hour delay benefit triggered twice last year

The 6-hour delay benefit is genuinely useful when flying Delta. Used it twice last year. Filed online each time, both paid out within 5 to 6 weeks. No issues with the process.

r/amex

2024

AIG wanted full hospital discharge, not just a doctor note

Denied my trip cancellation claim because the illness documentation was not detailed enough. They wanted the full hospital discharge report, not just a doctor note. Eventually paid after 4 months.

r/creditcards

2024

Same insurance as the Platinum for $45 less

The insurance is the same as the Platinum at $695 per year. If you are not a Delta loyalist, the Platinum gives you more lifestyle benefits for $45 more. The Delta Reserve only makes sense if Delta is your primary airline.

Card assistance (US)

1-800-228-6855

Free · 24/7

Premium Global Assist (international)

+1-715-343-7977

Collect call, free for cardholders · 24/7

Benefit administrator: New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company (trip cancellation, interruption, delay). AMEX Assurance Company (baggage loss, car rental, purchase protection).

Claims & pre-authorizations

How to file a travel insurance claim on your Delta SkyMiles Reserve

Step 1: Notify AIG within 60 days

For trip cancellation, interruption, or delay claims, call 1-844-933-0648 or visit aig.claimnotify.com/americanexpress as soon as the covered loss occurs. Missing the 60-day window may result in a denied claim.

Step 2: Gather your documentation

Collect your Amex card statement showing the trip charges, your carrier tickets, the Travel Supplier's cancellation policy, and proof of the covered reason. For medical cancellations, AIG often requests the full hospital discharge report, not just a physician note.

Step 3: Submit written proof of loss within 180 days

Upload your documentation through the AIG portal at aig.claimnotify.com/americanexpress or mail it directly. Written proof of loss must reach AIG within 180 days of the date of loss.

Step 4: Await reimbursement

AIG reviews the claim and issues reimbursement for covered nonrefundable losses up to $10,000 per trip. For baggage or car rental claims, contact AMEX Assurance Company through americanexpress.com/benefits.

Activation is automatic when you charge the full cost of a covered trip to your Delta SkyMiles Reserve card. No enrollment required. The trip cancellation and interruption benefits cover trips charged to the card in full, or in combination with accumulated Delta SkyMiles points and eligible vouchers. Coverage begins on the date you purchase the trip and ends when the trip is completed.
Trip cancellation and interruption benefits cover the primary cardholder, family members (spouse, domestic partner, or dependent children under 19, or under 26 if full-time students), and traveling companions who purchase a covered trip on the cardholder's account. The cardholder must be a US citizen or legal resident. Traveling companions are covered only when their transportation is charged to the cardholder's Eligible Card.
At the rental counter, decline the agency's collision damage waiver. Outside the United States, the Delta Reserve provides primary CDW up to $75,000: the card pays first and your personal auto insurance is not involved. Inside the United States, coverage is secondary. Your personal insurer pays first and the card covers the remainder up to $75,000. Coverage lasts up to 30 days per rental. Liability to other vehicles or people is not covered.
File trip cancellation, interruption, and delay claims through aig.claimnotify.com/americanexpress or by calling 1-844-933-0648. You must notify the administrator within 60 days of the covered loss. Missing this window can void the claim. For cancellation and interruption, you will need your Common Carrier tickets, card billing statement, proof of the covered loss (physician orders, court subpoenas, military orders), and the Travel Supplier's cancellation policy. Proof of loss must be submitted within 180 days.
The Delta Reserve does not cover emergency medical expenses abroad, travel accident insurance (AD&D), baggage delay, or cell phone protection. Trip cancellation and interruption exclude pre-existing conditions (60-day lookback from trip purchase date), war, financial insolvency of travel suppliers, and professional athletic activities. The card also does not cover one-way travel or trips paid with fraudulent cards. For international travelers, the absence of emergency medical coverage is the most significant gap.
Yes. The Delta Reserve includes no emergency medical coverage abroad. Premium Global Assist is available 24/7 to coordinate care and facilitate hospital admission, but the cardholder pays all medical costs directly. A single emergency room visit outside the US typically runs $10,000 to $80,000. If you travel internationally, a standalone travel medical policy starting at $50 to $100 per trip is the minimum protection worth carrying in addition to this card.
No. Cell phone protection is not available with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card. There is no coverage for accidental damage, theft, or mechanical failure regardless of how you pay your monthly phone bill. If cell phone protection matters to you, the Chase Ink Business Preferred covers up to $1,000 per claim when you pay your monthly bill with that card. The Delta Reserve does not offer this benefit.
Both, depending on where you rent. Outside the United States, the Delta Reserve provides primary CDW up to $75,000. The card pays first with no personal insurer involvement. Inside the United States, coverage is secondary. Your personal auto insurance pays first. For international travelers and those without US personal auto insurance, the primary international CDW is a meaningful benefit. For domestic-only renters, it functions as standard secondary coverage.
Yes. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve includes trip cancellation insurance ($10,000 per trip, 7 covered reasons), trip interruption insurance ($10,000 per trip), and trip delay insurance ($500 per trip, activates after 6 hours). What it does not include: emergency medical coverage abroad, emergency evacuation insurance with a dollar guarantee, and travel accident insurance. For Delta loyalists who mostly need cancellation and delay protection, the coverage is solid. For international travelers who need medical and evacuation coverage, separate insurance is required.