Only eligible purchases count towards meeting spending threshold. It is plain and simple.

Even without reading the Ts and Cs, common sense would tell you Fees of any kind, do not count as they are NOT PURCHASES.

When any normally "does not count" items are countable, the Ts and Cs would spell out the abnormality - most commonly it is the Balance Transfer, but only the amount transferred and NOT includes the often 3% fee.

It is amazing that such question would come up every now and then - does Annual Fee counts? Does Forex Fee counts?

What those who ask, should ask this: Do Fees equal to Purchases? The answer is so obvious that I could not believe anyone could have to ask further.