Originally Posted by
huntingtonfrank
Background
In February, a group of 11 of us traveled together from US to Thailand. The original plan: first segment was on UA from US > Narita > Bangkok. Then stay overnight in BKK in hotels we booked, and finally take a mid-afternoon domestic flight on Bangkok Airways the next day to our final destination.
Problem
Unexpectedly, our UA flight had mechanical issues a few hours into the flight, had to turn around, and we waited for several hours in the US. By the time we took off, we knew we would miss our Narita connecting flight, so we’d have to overnight in Narita.
But this also means that our earliest flight to BKK from Narita would make us miss the Bangkok Airways domestic leg in mid-afternoon. So we had $700 of domestic ticket change fees + increase in airfare w/ Bangkok air to take their last flight instead. We ultimately got into our destination 5-6 hours later than expected, had to change a number of plans the first day, and incurred $700 of expenses.
Question
I made all reservations w/ Chase Sapphire Preferred. Will the insurance help w/ those $700 or so of fees? APPRECIATE your insights!
(1)
Trip Interuption/Cancellation doesn't apply because the cause of the delay was mechanical.
(2)
Trip Delay coverage
does apply to mechanical delays, but will not pay for change fee or difference in fare. That's a risk you took by booking separate tickets.
(3) Based on my reading, you did end up spending the night in NRT unexpectedly, because of the delay.
Trip Delay will pay for your hotel and meals in Narita if the the airline didn't already (for you + spouse/children, assuming not a 11 people fall into that category), as well as any local transit, taxis, toiletries you may have purchased.
(4)
Trip Delay only kicks in for 12+ hour delays with CSP (6 hours for CSR) or "overnight". So at first glance it doesn't look like you would qualify since you were only 5 hours delayed to your final destination. However I would file the claim for the USA-BKK leg and not mention the onward leg. You were delayed overnight in NRT on your way to BKK, so it should cover hotel/meals in NRT.
(5) You have to start your claim within 60 days of the delay and finish all paperwork by 100 days, so depending on when this happened in February I would not delay any further!
(6) Read the wiki on this thread or the PDF guide to benefits for more info.