However, I got to thinking about my situation: initially I missed an evening flight due to a 72 minute delayed international arrival (AA reps were waiting for us to give us hotel, taxi and meal vouchers---even though we might have been able to make the flight, highly doubtful, they told us it wasn't an option---plus our original final flight actually left early, so that's that). The re-scheduled flight was then re-scheduled to the NEXT day because once again we'd miss our connection (so we would have been 2 days late had we gone with AA's plan). We had to get home THAT day and so found an agent who was willing to re-route us to an airport 3 hours away from our original.

I do realize our car rental to get home is not covered....however, a taxi would be (as long as the delay was for a covered reason).

This time around, she told me anything put on my Citi card AFTER 12 hours of delay was covered, which I'm pretty sure is incorrect information. My reading (and from prior conversations) leads me to understand that if your delay is 12+ hours, then expenses up to $500 per person are covered if you charged your initial trip to the card (she made it sound like it you had to use your card for the reimbursable expenses during the delay). I don't believe the plain meaning of the rule is that you wait around for 12 hours and then start paying for things. . . .I'm pretty sure that is how long your delay must be before the benefit kicks in for expenses incurred during the delay.

WHAT’S COVERED
Trip Cancellation & Interruption Protection applies for
reasons listed below. It doesn’t provide coverage if the
Covered Traveler simply choose to change plans, have
a work conflict, not feeling well but still able to travel,
preferred lodging isn’t available or the Covered Traveler
can reach their destination but decide not to travel.
Any event/incident that occurred prior to the Trip being
booked are not covered. Please see “What’s Not Covered”
for additional restrictions.

Covered Reasons: Illness or Personal Matters:
■ The Covered Traveler(s) becomes sick or injured, and is advised
by a licensed medical practitioner not to travel.
■ The Covered Traveler’s Family Member, not traveling on the Trip,
has an injury or illness that is either life threatening or requires
care from the Covered Traveler(s) and is verified by a licensed
medical practitioner.
■ The Covered Traveler’s Pet, has an injury or serious illness that
is either life threatening or requires care and is verified by a
licensed veterinarian. Pet(s) means any domesticated or tamed
animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.
■ The Covered Traveler(s) dies.
■ The Covered Traveler’s Family Member, not traveling on the
Trip, dies.
■ The Covered Traveler(s) is laid off or fired from their job.
■ The Covered Traveler(s) is called to jury duty or receives a subpoena
from the court, neither of which can be postponed or waived.
■ The Covered Traveler(s) or the Covered Traveler’s Family
Member(s) is called into active military service.
■ The Covered Traveler(s) or the Covered Traveler’s Family
Member’s permanent residence is deemed unsafe or unfit to
live in, or is burglarized.
■ The Covered Traveler(s) or the Covered Traveler’s Family Member(s)
is the victim of an assault within 10 days of the Trip Departure Date.
Covered Reasons: Travel or Weather Issues:
■ Severe weather or natural disaster causes all travel to or from the
Covered Traveler’s Trip destination to stop for at least 24 hours.
■ The Covered Traveler(s) can’t travel due to a quarantine or
a hijacking.
■ The Covered Traveler(s) misses more than half of their Trip because
of missed connections, delayed departures, denied boarding, traffic
accidents on their way to a departure, or lost or stolen passports.
■ The Covered Traveler(s) misses a cruise or tour departure because
all common carrier travel to or from their destination is cancelled
or delayed at least 3 hours due to severe weather or a problem with
the common carrier.
■ Before the Trip Departure Date, a cruise or tour operator cancels
or postpones a prepaid event or activity, such as a shore excursion,
and it’s not rescheduled at a time and the Covered Traveler(s)
cannot participate during their Trip.
■ A travel supplier, such as an airline or lodge, goes out of business
or goes into financial default after the purchase of the Trip,
impairing the Covered Traveler’s ability to travel.
■ A mandatory evacuation is ordered by a government or public
safety agency at the Covered Traveler’s Trip destination.
■ A terrorist incident certified by a government agency, occurs in
the Covered Traveler’s Trip destination.

WHAT’S COVERED
This benefit covers the following expenses, as long as they are
reasonable and necessary for the Covered Traveler to incur during
the delay:
■ Lodging.
■ Ground Transportation.
■ Meals.
■ Personal or business necessities, such as toiletries, or items
that the Covered Traveler(s) needs when delayed.
The coverage provided by this benefit is secondary. This means if the
Common Carrier or another source reimburses the Covered Traveler(s)
for any expenses, this benefit will cover only unreimbursed amounts.
To take advantage of this benefit, the following conditions must apply:
■ The delay is caused by the Common Carrier.
■ The Covered Traveler’s passport, money or other travel
documents are lost or stolen.
■ The Covered Traveler(s) are not able to board because of
overbooking.
■ The Covered Traveler’s Trip is delayed because of severe
weather, a natural disaster, a previously unannounced strike,
a quarantine or hijacking.

> WHAT’S NOT COVERED
The following conditions are excluded from coverage:
■ The Covered Traveler(s) accepted an offer or coupon in
exchange for not boarding an overbooked flight.
■ The Covered Traveler(s) is delayed due to being involved
in or under suspicion of any criminal act, illegal activities,
or disruptive/abusive behavior.