Canceled flights: Airlines will be obligated to give you $500 free for a hotel

It’s 100% true that you can easily get $500 free for a hotel when your flight is canceled… but it’s not from the airlines (HAPPY APRIL’S FOOL 😁)! The truth, which is not a joke, is that savvy travelers already easily get $500 for free when their flights are delayed. I’ve taken advantage of this 12 times myself!

It’s so easy to always be entitled to $500 to cover your hotel and meals when a flight is canceled or delayed, a situation that is unavoidable (if your flights never get canceled or delayed, you’re not traveling enough and that’s pretty terrible… we’re going to help you do better; start by downloading our free ebook with 100+ pro tips).

Here’s how to do it… it’s literally one of the simplest and most indispensable of all the many travel tips out there!

(Really essential, so that you don’t end up in the media complaining that the airline didn’t give you a hotel and so that you don’t even have to waste a second waiting in line to beg the airline! When you don’t know, it’s normal of course… you don’t know. But now you do!)

How to get $500 free during a cancelled flight

All you have to do is pay for your flights with a credit card that has free flight delay insurance! This gives you $500 for hotel and meals if you are delayed!

Plus, lots of cards that have insurance give you literally hundreds of dollars for free as a welcome bonus AND lots of other great benefits, like the 11 best cards I’ll show you in a minute.

But first I want to tell you that Flytrippers readers like you have now earned nearly 2 million dollars thanks to the welcome bonus deals we share.

Yes, $2 million! And just me personally, I’m up to more than $20,000 earned since I started with travel rewards, while improving my credit score on top of that of course (it’s over 800 because I follow the 3 basic rules below).

Plus, it’s given me free hotels and meals 12 times during my cancelled flights AND it’s allowed me to earn thousands of hotel points as well (to get free nights later on too thanks to this free insurance).

It works… and it doesn’t make sense to go without it honestly!

Cards for flight delay insurance AND hundreds of dollars

Here are the best deals for April 2023 that have flight delay insurance. 

Best credit cards with flight delay insurance
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
Min. income (card): $12kMinimum personal income of $12,000
Min. spend (bonus): $7.5k in 12 mos. (or $2k for lower bonus)
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	SEE MORE ends July 1st
$655Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus (after $2k in 3 mos.): 20,000 pts ($200) Welcome bonus (after another $5.5k in 1y): 20,000 pts ($200) Earn on min. spend (2k$): 10,000 pts ($100) Earn on min. spend ($5.5k): 27,500 pts ($275) Card fee: deducted (-$120)
Rewards: $775
Card fee: $120
Best for: Very good travel insurance and earn rate
extended TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card
Min. income (card): $60k or $100kMinimum personal income of $60,000 or minimum household income of $100,000
Min. spend (bonus): $5k in 6 months
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	SEE MORE offer effective as of January 7th
$1025Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus (after 1st purchase): 20,000 pts ($100) Welcome bonus (after min. spend): 115,000 pts ($575) Earn on min. spend: 30,000 pts ($150) Annual travel credit (2024): On 1st $500 hotel booking ($100) Annual travel credit (2025): On 1st $500 hotel booking ($100) Card fee: rebated the 1st year (-$0)
Rewards: $1025
Annual fee: $0 $139
Best for: Among highest offers ever seen for simple points
Show more
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
Min. income (card): $60k or $100kMinimum personal income of $60,000 or minimum household income of $100,000
Min. spend (bonus): no min. spend
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	SEE MORE  apply now
≈ $405Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus (after 1st purchase): 35,000 pts (≈ $525) Card fee: deducted (-$120)
Rewards: ≈ $525
Card fee: $120
Best for: Lucrative rewards w/ unlim. value great if you're flexible
American Express Cobalt® Card
Min. income (card): $0No minimum income required.
Min. spend (bonus): $750/month for 12 months
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	SEE MORE
≈ $744Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 15,000 pts (≈ $225) Earn on min. spend: 45,000 pts (≈ $675) Card fee: deducted (-$156)
Rewards: ≈ $900
Card fee: $156
Best for: Best overall card in Canada
American Express® Aeroplan®* Card
Min. income (card): $0No minimum income required.
Min. spend (bonus): $3k in 3 mos. + $1k
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	SEE MORE
≈ $420Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 30,000 pts (≈ $450) Earn on $3k min. spend: 3,000 pts (≈ $45) Card fee (year 1): deducted (-$120) Renewal bonus: 10,000 pts (≈ $150) Earn on $1k min. spend: 1,000 pts (≈ $15) Card fee (year 2): deducted (-$120)
Rewards: ≈ $540
Card fee: $120
Best for: Valuable Aeroplan pts without min. income and lower min. spend
American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
Min. income (card): $0No minimum income required.
Min. spend (bonus): $7.5k in 3 mos.
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	SEE MORE
≈ $442Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 60,000 pts (≈ $900) Earn on min. spend: 9,375 pts (≈ $141) Card fee: deducted (-$599) Also offered but not included in Valuation: renewal bonus of 25,000 pts (≈ $375) with extra $2500 spend
Rewards: ≈ $1041
Card fee: $599
Best for: For Air Canada lounge access & other AC benefits
NEW TD® Aeroplan® Visa* Infinite Privilege* Card
Min. income (card): $150k or $200kMinimum personal income of $150,000 or minimum household income of $200,000
Min. spend (bonus): $24k in 12 mos. (or $12k for lower bonus)
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	SEE MORE offer effective as of January 7th
≈ $527Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus (after 1st purchase): 20,000 pts (≈ $300) Welcome bonus (after $12k min. spend): 35,000 pts (≈ $525) Earn on 12k min. spend: 15,000 pts (≈ $225) Anniversary bonus (after another $12k in spend): 30,000 pts (≈ $450) Earn on another 12k in spend: 15,000 pts (≈ $225) Card fee (year 1): deducted (-$599) Card fee (year 2): deducted (-$599)
Rewards: ≈ $1126
Annual fee: $599
Best for: For Air Canada lounge access and 6 passes (other lounges)
ENDING Platinum Card® from American Express
Min. income (card): $0No minimum income required.
Min. spend (bonus): $10k in 3 mos.
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	SEE MORE ends January 28th
≈ $1252Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 100,000 pts (≈ $1500) Earn on min. spend: 10,000 pts (≈ $150) Annual travel credit (year 1): can be cashed out ($200) Dining credit (year 1): $200 credit at conservative valuation (≈ $100) Card fee (year 1): deducted (-$799) Renewal bonus: 40,000 pts (≈ $600) Annual travel credit (year 2): can be cashed out ($200) Dining credit (year 2): $200 credit at conservative valuation (≈ $100) Card fee (year 2): deducted (-$799)
Rewards: ≈ $2051
Card fee: $799
Best for: Unlimited access to VIP airport lounges and lucrative rewards
Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information.

Best credit cards with flight delay insurance		WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION)	Best for
	Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card Min. income (card): $12kMinimum personal income of $12,000 Min. spend (bonus): $7.5k in 12 mos. (or $2k for lower bonus)	$655Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus (after $2k in 3 mos.): 20,000 pts ($200) Welcome bonus (after another $5.5k in 1y): 20,000 pts ($200) Earn on min. spend (2k$): 10,000 pts ($100) Earn on min. spend ($5.5k): 27,500 pts ($275) Card fee: deducted (-$120) Rewards: $775 Card fee: $120	Very good travel insurance and earn rate	SEE MORE ends July 1st
extended	TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card Min. income (card): $60k or $100kMinimum personal income of $60,000 or minimum household income of $100,000 Min. spend (bonus): $5k in 6 months	$1025Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus (after 1st purchase): 20,000 pts ($100) Welcome bonus (after min. spend): 115,000 pts ($575) Earn on min. spend: 30,000 pts ($150) Annual travel credit (2024): On 1st $500 hotel booking ($100) Annual travel credit (2025): On 1st $500 hotel booking ($100) Card fee: rebated the 1st year (-$0) Rewards: $1025 Annual fee: $0 $139	Among highest offers ever seen for simple points	SEE MORE offer effective as of January 7th
	RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card Min. income (card): $60k or $100kMinimum personal income of $60,000 or minimum household income of $100,000 Min. spend (bonus): no min. spend	≈ $405Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus (after 1st purchase): 35,000 pts (≈ $525) Card fee: deducted (-$120) Rewards: ≈ $525 Card fee: $120	Lucrative rewards w/ unlim. value great if you're flexible	SEE MORE  apply now
	American Express Cobalt® Card Min. income (card): $0No minimum income required. Min. spend (bonus): $750/month for 12 months	≈ $744Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 15,000 pts (≈ $225) Earn on min. spend: 45,000 pts (≈ $675) Card fee: deducted (-$156) Rewards: ≈ $900 Card fee: $156	Best overall card in Canada	SEE MORE
	American Express® Aeroplan®* Card Min. income (card): $0No minimum income required. Min. spend (bonus): $3k in 3 mos. + $1k	≈ $420Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 30,000 pts (≈ $450) Earn on $3k min. spend: 3,000 pts (≈ $45) Card fee (year 1): deducted (-$120) Renewal bonus: 10,000 pts (≈ $150) Earn on $1k min. spend: 1,000 pts (≈ $15) Card fee (year 2): deducted (-$120) Rewards: ≈ $540 Card fee: $120	Valuable Aeroplan pts without min. income and lower min. spend	SEE MORE
	American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card Min. income (card): $0No minimum income required. Min. spend (bonus): $7.5k in 3 mos.	≈ $442Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 60,000 pts (≈ $900) Earn on min. spend: 9,375 pts (≈ $141) Card fee: deducted (-$599) Also offered but not included in Valuation: renewal bonus of 25,000 pts (≈ $375) with extra $2500 spend Rewards: ≈ $1041 Card fee: $599	For Air Canada lounge access & other AC benefits	SEE MORE
NEW	TD® Aeroplan® Visa* Infinite Privilege* Card Min. income (card): $150k or $200kMinimum personal income of $150,000 or minimum household income of $200,000 Min. spend (bonus): $24k in 12 mos. (or $12k for lower bonus)	≈ $527Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus (after 1st purchase): 20,000 pts (≈ $300) Welcome bonus (after $12k min. spend): 35,000 pts (≈ $525) Earn on 12k min. spend: 15,000 pts (≈ $225) Anniversary bonus (after another $12k in spend): 30,000 pts (≈ $450) Earn on another 12k in spend: 15,000 pts (≈ $225) Card fee (year 1): deducted (-$599) Card fee (year 2): deducted (-$599) Rewards: ≈ $1126 Annual fee: $599	For Air Canada lounge access and 6 passes (other lounges)	SEE MORE offer effective as of January 7th
ENDING	Platinum Card® from American Express Min. income (card): $0No minimum income required. Min. spend (bonus): $10k in 3 mos.	≈ $1252Flytrippers Valuation Welcome bonus: 100,000 pts (≈ $1500) Earn on min. spend: 10,000 pts (≈ $150) Annual travel credit (year 1): can be cashed out ($200) Dining credit (year 1): $200 credit at conservative valuation (≈ $100) Card fee (year 1): deducted (-$799) Renewal bonus: 40,000 pts (≈ $600) Annual travel credit (year 2): can be cashed out ($200) Dining credit (year 2): $200 credit at conservative valuation (≈ $100) Card fee (year 2): deducted (-$799) Rewards: ≈ $2051 Card fee: $799	Unlimited access to VIP airport lounges and lucrative rewards	SEE MORE ends January 28th
Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information.

If you want help choosing, our monthly live video on the best deals of the month happens to be Wednesday, April 12^th at 9 PM (Eastern) on Instagram.

We’ll explain the basics, show you the differences between the best deals, and answer all your questions.

Learn more

Live video about the best travel rewards deals: March 25 at 9PM (Eastern)

Why it’s not too good to be true

Seriously, we love doing an April Fool’s Day joke once a year, because all the rest of the year, we’re used to people not believing us.

Because:

• The airfare deals we spot every day are often almost too good to be true because they are so cheap
• The travel rewards deals we share are often almost too good to be true because they give so much free travel
• The tips we share are sometimes so simple that travelers can’t believe they didn’t know them

But don’t worry, we’re not kidding about all our content and our mission to help you travel for less. That’s what’s important.

It’s often hard to believe… but it’s 100% true! If you have a good credit score, banks really want you as a customer; take advantage of these deals!!!

How flight delay insurance works

It’s very simple.

You pay for the flight with your credit card that has flight delay insurance.

You keep all the proof for the delay or cancelation (original boarding pass, new boarding pass, airline emails, flight status on FlightAware, photo of the airport information screen showing the delayed/cancelled flight, etc.).

You book a nice hotel as soon as it’s confirmed that you’re going to be delayed at least 4 hours (it’s 6 hours with some cards; always double-check).

You keep the hotel receipt (and those for meals).

You make a claim easily (often it’s great, everything can even be done online without having to talk to a human).

You get reiumbursed pretty fast and you also get to keep the hotel points AND credit card points you earned on the hotel payment!

I’ll be doing a detailed guide on this tip very soon, including each of my 12 experiences with flight delay insurance.

With the American Express and TD cards I used for my 12 claims, I was fully reimbursed without any problems each time. 

Even when I took a $400 night at the 5-star luxury hotel The St. Regis Istanbul, where a butler came to undo my bed when I was ready to sleep!

That’s the beauty of travel rewards and it’s a perfect example of how enormous difference between savvy travelers who take advantage of this… and most travelers.

When your flight is canceled, when you’re a savvy traveler who knows the super simple tips, you get to stay at a very fancy hotel for free (while earning thousands of Marriott points on the stay, which gives you another free night for later). 

Otherwise, you’re sleeping on the airport floor or paying out of pocket for something that’s so easy to get for free…

Basic rules for travel rewards

You’ll also improve your credit score by doing travel rewards and getting more cards, contrary to the common myth. The world of travel rewards is a very counterintuitive one!

But there are 3 basic rules to get thousands of dollars in travel rewards AND a better credit score.

They are very important:

• Always pay all your balances in full at every statement
• Always keep your oldest cards open (the OLDEST ones)
• Space out your credit card applications by at least 2 months, ideally 3

Sign up for our free newsletter to receive our travel rewards course in video and text format as soon as it’s ready, an invitation to our next free basics webinar, and all our content to help you discover the wonderful world of travel rewards.

Want to get more content to learn how to travel for less?

Summary

Our annual April Fool’s Day tradition continues in 2023. However, it’s true that you can get $500 free for the hotel when your flights are cancelled, it’s just not from airlones. And it honestly doesn’t make sense to go without it. We look forward to continuing to share real news and tips with you like the other 364 days of the year!

What would you like to know about flight delay insurance? Tell us in the comments below.

See the deals we spot: Cheap flights

Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration

Learn pro tricks: Travel tips

Discover free travel: Travel rewards

Featured image: The St. Regis Istanbul Hotel (photo credit: Marriott)

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