Travel plans don’t always go as expected; illness, emergencies, or unexpected changes can lead to last-minute cancellations. Unfortunately, this often means losing money on non-refundable bookings. That’s where trip cancellation cover can help.
What is trip cancellation coverage?
If you find yourself needing to cancel your trip because of an illness, sickness, or the unfortunate passing of an immediate family member, or for any personal reason, trip cancellation cover will reimburse you for the payments you’ve made toward your trip, as long as it falls within the limits of your policy. Not many credit cards in India offer trip cancellation coverage, and those that do typically provide coverage for non-refundable charges associated with flight and hotel bookings.
Credit cards today offer far more than just airport lounge access or free movie tickets. Perks like trip cancellation coverage, extra rewards on insurance and rent payments, and other lifestyle benefits make them powerful financial tools, especially for frequent travelers and those who plan ahead.
10X Reward Points/₹150 on Incremental Spends Above ₹20,000 Per Statement Cycle. 5X Reward Points/₹150 on Spends Upto ₹20,000. 3X RPs Are Also Awarded for Rent, Wallet Load, Education, and Government Transactions
Up to 7,500 Reward Points
10 Reward Points per ₹200 Spent on Dining, Travel, and International Transactions, 1X Reward Points per ₹200 Spent on Insurance, Utilities, Railways, and FASTag Recharges, and 3 Reward Points per ₹200 Spent on All Other Eligible Transactions
Vouchers worth ₹500 on spends of ₹5,000 within 30 days of card issuance. Also, get a 5% cashback on EMI transactions (up to Rs. 1,000) within 30 days of card issuance.
10X Reward Points/₹150 on Incremental Spends Above ₹20,000 Per Statement Cycle. 5X Reward Points/₹150 on Spends Upto ₹20,000. 3X RPs Are Also Awarded for Rent, Wallet Load, Education, and Government Transactions
Up to 12,000 Reward Points
4 RPs on every Rs. 100 spent on all transactions (except fuel, utilities and insurance categories) and 1 RP on every purchase of Rs. 100 on insurance and utilities.
N/A
Earn 10X Reward Points Per ₹200 on Dining, Travel & International Spends, 3X on Regular and UPI Spends Above ₹2,000, and 1X on Insurance, Utilities, Railways, FASTag and UPI Spends Up to ₹2,000
₹500 Voucher from Uber, Amazon, and Bigbasket on Spending ₹5,000 Within 30 Days of Card Issuance. 5% Cashback Upto ₹1,000 on the First EMI Transaction
6 Reward Points/₹200 Spent (Reward Rate of 3%)
Complimentary Taj Epicure and EazyDiner Membership and 12,500 Bonus Reward Points
4 Reward Points per Rs. 100 spent (reward rate of 1%)
40,000 Reward Points and Complimentary Memberships of Club Marriott, Wall Street Journal, and Mint
2.5% RPs on International Spends and 2% RPs on Domestic Spends
₹10,000 EaseMyTrip Hotel Voucher, ₹10,000 Onevasco & More Visa Services, ₹3,000 Toni & Guy Voucher and Zomato Gold Membership
The table below illustrates the trip cancellation coverage currently offered by the leading credit cards in the Indian market, along with their annual fees.
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Trip Cancellation Cover Details | Cardholders Covered |
| IDFC FIRST Ashva | ₹2,999 + GST | Coverage for Non-Refundable Amount for Hotel/Flight Bookings; Up to ₹25,000 | Primary and Add-On |
| IDFC FIRST Select | Nil | Coverage for Non-Refundable Amount for Hotel/Flight Bookings; Up to ₹10,000 | Primary and Add-On |
| IDFC FIRST Mayura | ₹5,999 + GST | Coverage Available for Non-Refundable Charges for Hotel/Flight Bookings; Up to ₹25,000 for Flight Booking & Up to ₹25,000 for Hotel Booking | Primary and Add-On |
| ICICI Emeralde | ₹12,000 + GST | Coverage for Non-Refundable Amount for First 2 Domestic Flights, Hotels, and Movie Cancellations; Up to ₹12,000 | Primary |
| IDFC FIRST Wealth | Nil | Coverage for Non-Refundable Amount for Hotel/Flight Bookings; Up to ₹10,000 | Primary and Add-On |
| ICICI Emeralde Private | ₹12,499 + GST | Coverage for Non-Refundable Amount for First 2 Domestic Flights, Hotels, and Movie Cancellations; Up to ₹12,000 | Primary |
| SBI Aurum | ₹9,999 + GST | Two Flight Cancellation Refunds per Year from Any Airline, Both for Refundable and Non-Refundable Tickets | Primary |
| ICICI Times Black | ₹20,000 + GST | Coverage for Non-Refundable Amount for First 2 Domestic Flights, Hotels, and Movie Cancellations; Up to ₹12,000 | Primary |
Eligibility and claims for trip cancellation coverage typically depend on the credit card used for payment. Claiming this coverage is much easier than filing typical claims for separate travel insurance.
This trip cancellation coverage with the ICICI credit cards, namely the Emerald Private and Times Black, only covers the non-refundable amount, excluding any convenience charges. The maximum indemnity limit per card is ₹12,000 and applies to the first two domestic flights, hotel, or movie cancellations. For hotel bookings, this applies to 4-star and 5-star hotels.
Customers can lodge a claim through:
When sending an email to lodge the claim, make sure to include the following:
For complete details and the terms and conditions of the trip cancellation coverage with the card, click here.
Users can receive reimbursement upon cancellation for bookings made with their IDFC credit card, up to the non-refundable amount for flight or hotel bookings. To qualify for the Cancel For Any Reason benefit, customers must cancel their bookings at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled travel date. With IDFC credit cards, trip cancellation coverage is available to both primary and add-on cardholders who hold eligible credit cards. Eligible cover for each IDFC card is as follows
To avail yourself of the trip cancellation coverage available with your IDFC Credit Card, follow the given steps.
Having trip cancellation coverage as part of your credit card perks offers many advantages, especially for those who travel frequently or book trips well in advance. Here’s why this benefit is worth considering when looking for your ideal credit card—
Trip cancellation coverage is a rare feature in Indian credit cards. While travel insurance often includes cancellation benefits, these benefits may come with additional costs or be limited to specific situations, such as illness or emergencies. However, a few premium credit cards now offer built-in Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) protection.
This perk becomes useful when booking non-refundable flights or hotels, and you want security to avoid losing your money. It can be a sudden personal commitment, a health issue, or just a change in plans; cancellation coverage means you do not have to incur the extra penalties for deciding to cancel.
This feature is especially appealing to frequent travelers, business professionals, or anyone who makes advance bookings. It reduces the need to purchase separate travel insurance for domestic trips.
For flexibility, peace of mind, and cost protection, a credit card with trip cancellation coverage can be a wise financial choice.
If you’re someone who books trips in advance, whether for business or personal reasons, a credit card with built-in trip cancellation coverage can be a valuable asset. While this feature is still relatively rare in India, cards like the ICICI Emeralde Private, Times Black, and select IDFC First credit cards offer this protection. The ability to cancel for any reason, with minimal financial loss, adds a layer of flexibility and peace of mind that most frequent travelers need. Plus, the claim process is digital and convenient, making it easier than ever to file and receive reimbursement.
Trip cancellation coverage reimburses cardholders for non-refundable flight and hotel bookings if a trip is cancelled for valid reasons, including personal emergencies or any other reason, as specified in the policy terms.
Top credit cards with trip cancellation benefits include ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal, Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card, IDFC First Wealth, Select, Ashva Metal, and Mayura Credit Cards.
CFAR means you can cancel your trip for any reason: personal, medical, or otherwise, and still be eligible for a refund on non-refundable bookings, within policy limits.
Yes, with IDFC First Bank credit cards, both primary and add-on cardholders are eligible for trip cancellation benefits, subject to the card’s terms.
Usage limits vary by card. For instance, ICICI cards cover up to two domestic cancellations per year, while IDFC First cards usually cover up to two transactions per card under their annual cap.