Presidents’ Day Weekend: Credit Card Travel Protections Explained

Maximize Travel Protections on Presidents’ Day Weekend

Presidents’ Day Weekend is more than just a federal holiday—it’s also a major opportunity to travel.

But there’s one detail most people overlook: many travelers board their flights without realizing that their own credit card may offer meaningful—and sometimes decisive—travel protections.

Why Presidents’ Day Weekend Concentrates Risk

Long weekends create three simultaneous conditions: high demand, unpredictable weather, and elevated prices—often with stricter cancellation policies.

Snowstorms in the Northeast, delays at hubs like O’Hare International Airport, or missed connections at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are not exceptions—they are statistically likely events.

And it’s precisely in this environment that credit card travel protections come into play.

What Are Credit Card Travel Protections in Practice?

Mid-tier and premium cards issued through networks like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express often include benefits such as

• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
• Trip Delay Reimbursement
• Baggage Delay Insurance
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement
• Rental Car Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)

Many of these benefits are not automatic in a broad sense. They require that you pay for the trip—or at least a substantial portion of it—with the specific card.

If you split payments, use points from another program, or pay certain taxes and fees with a different method, you may jeopardize your coverage.

1. Trip Cancellation and Interruption: When the Plan Falls Apart

Imagine you planned a ski weekend in Aspen. Two days before departure, a major storm shuts down airports and highways. Your flight is canceled, and your hotel has a nonrefundable policy.

Depending on your card, you may be reimbursed for prepaid, non-refundable expenses if the cancellation falls under covered reasons (severe weather, illness, or family emergency).

But here’s the key: “changing your mind” is not a valid reason. And each issuer defines its own specific rules.

The common mistake? Assuming every cancellation is covered. It isn’t.

2. Trip Delay: The Hidden Cost of Waiting

Now picture a missed connection in Dallas that forces you to stay overnight unexpectedly. Hotels, meals, and local transportation can easily exceed $300 or $400.

Some cards offer reimbursement when the delay exceeds a certain number of hours (6, 8, or 12, depending on the benefit).

This is the kind of protection that turns an expensive setback into a manageable inconvenience.

But again: you must keep receipts and follow the formal claims process.

3. Baggage Protection: Especially Relevant in Winter

Winter holidays mean more expensive luggage—technical jackets, boots, and ski gear.

If your bag is delayed upon arrival in Denver, you may need to buy clothing or essential items. Baggage delay benefits can reimburse these emergency purchases.

If your luggage is permanently lost, lost luggage coverage applies—subject to maximum limits per item and per trip.

Here’s a practical truth: take photos of your suitcase contents before traveling. Without proof, the claims process becomes much harder.

4. Rental Car CDW: One of the Most Overlooked Benefits

During Presidents’ Day Weekend, many travelers rent cars to explore national parks or resorts outside major cities.

If you rent a vehicle in Salt Lake City to drive to ski resorts, you may be pressured at the counter to purchase the rental company’s insurance.

Some cards provide primary or secondary Collision Damage Waiver coverage. This can save dozens of dollars per day.

Strategic caution:

• Not all cards offer primary coverage.
• Luxury vehicles or certain SUVs may be excluded.
• You must decline the rental company’s CDW for your card’s coverage to apply.

If you don’t understand these details, you may pay twice—or worse, end up uninsured.

The Gap Between Marketing and Reality

Many issuers promote their cards with images of sleek airports and stress-free travel.

Reality is more procedural.

To use any protection, you will need to:

• Prove you paid with the card.
• Provide official documentation of the delay or cancellation.
• Submit detailed receipts.
• Meet strict deadlines to file a claim.

Travelers who are disorganized often lose access to benefits they technically had.

Presidents’ Day and the Right Mindset

The most common mistake isn’t lacking protection. It’s traveling without knowing you have it—or how to use it.

If you’re planning a long weekend departing from Boston or Los Angeles, do three things before you leave:

1. Read your card’s benefits guide.
2. Check coverage limits.
3. Save the claims contact number.

It takes 20 minutes. It could save thousands of dollars.

Written by

Gabriel Gonçalves