This is why you need travel protections

Goooooooood morning and happy hump day, folks. 🐪

We’ve got some tips for protecting your trips and a fun look at a new airline product, so let’s dive in:

• ❄️ This is why you need travel protections

• ✈️ Is premium economy worth it?

• 📈 A different way to think about “diversification”

❄️ This is why you need travel protections

This past weekend’s winter storm turned half the continent into a real-life airport sleepover simulator.

I dealt with the chaos myself – traveling between Canada and New England on planes, buses, and Ubers, and it was… rough.

And here’s the thing many people forget:

When weather destroys your travel plans, airlines don’t have to compensate you for much beyond getting you to your destination.

This is exactly why I’m such a broken record about booking flights with a card that has actual travel protections.

I’ve used these protections myself plenty of times, including the time this card recently reimbursed me $1,300.

Anyway, here are some reasons it pays to have a similar card for yourself:

1. Travel cards are a good backup option

Most major travel cards cover delays or interruptions caused by things like inclement weather, missed connections, mechanical issues, or unexpected events outside the traveler’s control.

While the specifics always depend on your card’s terms, common categories typically include:

• Trip delay reimbursement (hotel, meals, toiletries, transportation)

• Trip interruption/cancellation for major unforeseen events

• Baggage delay/loss coverage

• Emergency expenses if your trip suddenly derails

The key point: When the airline isn’t obligated to help, your card may be.

2. Booking smart can usually pay more than booking for points

Here’s the easy rule of thumb: Always book flights with a card that has solid built-in travel protections.

Not the card that gives you 1 extra point. Not the card that happens to be closest to your hand.

The card that actually protects you when stuff goes sideways.

Thankfully, there are cards that offer both solid protection and solid rewards. Personally, I use this card to earn 4x on flights and hotels and get the best protections.

3. When a storm is coming, check for airline waivers

This step alone can save you so much pain.

When big storms are forecasted, airlines often issue weather waivers that let you adjust your plans with reduced or waived fees.

Depending on the situation, waivers may allow you to:

• Change your flight for free (even for nonrefundable/basic fares)

• Move your departure earlier or later

• Reroute through a different airport

• Avoid sitting around waiting for a mass cancellation

It’s basically a proactive way to take control of the situation before getting slapped with a cancellation at the airport.

4. If you get delayed…

A few universal tips that apply across almost all card issuers:

• Save every receipt. (Meals, hotel, transportation, etc.)

• Document the delay. Take screenshots of flight status or emails from the airline.

• Know the delay threshold. Many protections begin after a certain number of hours, but that threshold varies.

• Make sure the trip was paid for with the card that offers the protection (or that your taxes/fees were).

• Submit the claim promptly – deadlines are a thing.

I can’t stress that last point enough… I’ve been in situations where I’ve almost lost reimbursement because I waited too long to submit the initial claim.

5. Third-party insurance exists for a reason

Credit card protections are great, but they aren’t a magic all-purpose shield. There are real scenarios where:

• The airline doesn’t owe you anything

• Your card won’t cover the situation

• Or you simply don’t want to rely on a card that costs as much as a round trip to Mexico just for the protections

That’s where third-party travel insurance comes into play.

These plans can offer more robust coverage than what most cards include, and they often apply when you book using cash, points, or a mix.

It’s not for everyone, but it’s a solid middle ground between “$800 annual fee card” and “hoping nothing goes wrong.”

6. The bottom line

Storms happen every year, travel chaos is inevitable, and airlines aren’t always required to cover the expenses that hurt the most.

But the right credit card actually can, and I’m living proof, since it’s happened to me at least once… every year.

So if this weekend’s winter storm reminded you how fragile travel can be, take it as your annual nudge to:

• ✅ Book flights with a card that has real protections

• ✅ Watch for waivers when bad weather is coming

• ✅ Know your benefits before you need them

• ✅ Consider third-party insurance when you want fuller coverage

Your future self will thank you.

✈️ Is premium economy worth it?

We spend a lot of time in the points and miles world talking about saving money by booking cheap economy flights or getting once-in-a-lifetime experiences by shelling out big points for business and first class.

But there’s a middle-ground option that gets less attention… Premium economy.

In this week’s Daily Drop YouTube video, we’ll show you American Airlines’ new premium economy seat on a long-ass flight – and tell you if it’s worth the upgrade.

PRESENTED BY PERCENT

📈 A different way to think about “diversification”

If your entire portfolio lives in stocks and bonds, here’s a mildly uncomfortable stat: most companies aren’t even public.

This means a huge chunk of the economy (and opportunity) never shows up on a ticker.

That’s where Percent comes in.

Percent is a platform that gives accredited investors access to private credit deals –shorter-term, asset-backed investments designed to generate income, not just vibes.

Instead of waiting years and hoping the market cooperates, these deals typically run for months (the average is around nine) and are structured to pay interest along the way.

A few highlights:

• Deals with short-term durations (some as short as six months)

• Asset-based structures, not speculative equity bets

• A relatively low $500 minimum to get started

• In 2024, Percent investors saw 14.9% average net returns

Percent has facilitated over $2B in transactions since 2018, with full transparency into each deal – borrower info, structure, and risk factors included.

If you’re looking to diversify beyond the public markets (without locking your money up for a decade), this is worth a look.

Alternative investments are speculative and possess a high level of risk. No assurance can be given that investors will receive a return of their capital. Those investors who cannot afford to lose their entire investment should not invest. Investments in private placements are highly illiquid and those investors who cannot hold an investment for an indefinite term should not invest. Private credit investments may be complex investments and they are subject to default risk.

That’s it for today, my friends. I hope you learned a thing or two about how to protect your travels, and I’ll see you again tomorrow.

Cheers,

42.9956° N, 71.4548° W

With contributions by McKay Moffitt