Platinum $200 Airline Credit Strategy? [Read message #1 before posting]
Aug 28, 2011, 10:22 am
#196
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/15357406-post144.html
Aug 29, 2011, 6:04 am
#197
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 77
Does this count towards the spend requirement?...I'm about $300 away from my spend requirement and purchased 1 AA GC so far (will get 3 more shortly) but I wanted to know if this would count...thanks.
Aug 31, 2011, 5:53 pm
#198
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Nashville
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Omni Plat, Southwest A+ Pref
Posts: 31
FYI, I bought a $75 dollar SW gift card end of July and it did the same thing; sat in pending for about a week then disappeared. However, it did reappear a couple weeks(ish) later as a confirmed charge. I did get a $75 reversal at the same time.
So mid August, I did another $75 and a $50. Same thing, sat in pending then disappeared. Except this time, when it did reappear in confirmed charges, I did NOT get the reversal. Looks exactly like the reversed charge, except these didn't get reversed.
The takeaway is these charges are not gone or lost...just in limbo for around 10-14 days. And apparently YMMV (even my mileage varied) when it comes to getting the reversal.
So mid August, I did another $75 and a $50. Same thing, sat in pending then disappeared. Except this time, when it did reappear in confirmed charges, I did NOT get the reversal. Looks exactly like the reversed charge, except these didn't get reversed.
The takeaway is these charges are not gone or lost...just in limbo for around 10-14 days. And apparently YMMV (even my mileage varied) when it comes to getting the reversal.
Sep 1, 2011, 2:32 pm
#199
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,634
Not yet. I bought the miles on 8/27, and the charge posted on 8/28. Four days later, both charges are still there ($225 for the miles, $10 award booking fee). Judging from the prior posts, it seems like it could take a couple of weeks for this to fall off, so I'll probably wait until mid-September before looking into it further. Ideally this would resolve before my bill is due so I don't have to pay this at all (as opposed to paying and getting a credit later in the year).
Sep 2, 2011, 3:31 pm
#200
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AA,DL,BA,UA,SPG, and any other free trip!
Posts: 1,803
Plat. Card Overlooked..DOH!
I cant believe it took me this long to figure out this is indeed a great deal! I shouldve applied for this Platinum Card before ( I have the Premier Gold Rewards Card & got the bump up to 75K)
I fly Alaska all the time PDX-LAS and im encouraged to hear I can drop the $200 credit on gift cards.....and if Im reading these posts correctly, I should apply for this card in Late November...(2011) and get the card hopefully by December (2011) and buy my $200 worth of Alaska E-Certs, and then also get another $200 worth in Jan 2012??...That is assuming the deal will still be alive...
I fly Alaska all the time PDX-LAS and im encouraged to hear I can drop the $200 credit on gift cards.....and if Im reading these posts correctly, I should apply for this card in Late November...(2011) and get the card hopefully by December (2011) and buy my $200 worth of Alaska E-Certs, and then also get another $200 worth in Jan 2012??...That is assuming the deal will still be alive...
Sep 2, 2011, 7:41 pm
#201
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
Why wait till November? If you apply now, you will still have $200 for 2011 and $200 for 2012.
I bought Alaska Airlines E certification. First time was $50 GC. After being reimbursed next day, I had two seperate orders for $100 and $50 and both were reimbursed next day.
I bought Alaska Airlines E certification. First time was $50 GC. After being reimbursed next day, I had two seperate orders for $100 and $50 and both were reimbursed next day.
Sep 3, 2011, 10:58 pm
#202
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: everywhere
Programs: UA, US, DL, AMEX Plat, AMEX Centurion, SPG Gold
Posts: 54
though a ticket may be purchased on another card (i.e. visa), will amex plat reimburse eligible fees that are charged to one's amex? anyone have experience with this?
also, what's the calendar year for one's airline choice -- i was told nov 1 - october 31 by an amex rep, but this sounds questionable
thanks.
also, what's the calendar year for one's airline choice -- i was told nov 1 - october 31 by an amex rep, but this sounds questionable
thanks.
My logic is to use my personal Plat that I pay the annual fee for and use it to pay for my baggage fee on my business trip. My company will reimburse me for the baggage fee. So the $200.00 airline credit + $200.00 of reimbursed baggage fees = $400.00. So I feel like it really only cost me $50.00 to have the Plat card.
Sep 3, 2011, 11:31 pm
#203
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
have to use AMEX Platinum to purchase to have reimbursement. It is $200 airline credit per calendar year from jan 1 to Dec 31
Sep 4, 2011, 8:23 am
#204
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: everywhere
Programs: UA, US, DL, AMEX Plat, AMEX Centurion, SPG Gold
Posts: 54
Sep 4, 2011, 10:43 am
#205
Join Date: May 2004
Location: PWM
Programs: Marriott Platinum Hyatt Diamond Hilton Gold SPG Gold National Executive Avis Preferred Hertz Gold
Posts: 633
I've had $199.47 reimbursed to me--guess I'll let the $.53 slip
Sep 4, 2011, 2:57 pm
#206
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Sep 4, 2011, 4:15 pm
#207
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: everywhere
Programs: UA, US, DL, AMEX Plat, AMEX Centurion, SPG Gold
Posts: 54
thanks, you're very right - got this info confirmed by amex, too.
Sep 4, 2011, 9:03 pm
#208
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,634
Huh. So, by way of update, I got reimbursed for the $10 award booking fee, but not the $225 miles purchase! Both charges posted on 8/28 and the reimbursement on the fee came through on 9/1. I'm considering calling them to see if they'll reimburse ($190 of) the other charge as well...
I did notice, though, that the award fee posts as "Additional Collection" whereas the miles post as "Frequent Flyer Fee/Purchase". I wonder if that makes a difference? (I'll be annoyed if the miles don't reimburse, because that means I would have paid ~$235 for my award ticket, not much cheaper than the ~$300 it was regularly)
I did notice, though, that the award fee posts as "Additional Collection" whereas the miles post as "Frequent Flyer Fee/Purchase". I wonder if that makes a difference? (I'll be annoyed if the miles don't reimburse, because that means I would have paid ~$235 for my award ticket, not much cheaper than the ~$300 it was regularly)
Sep 6, 2011, 5:47 pm
#209
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1
I originally picked Delta, but after reading this thread, I called up Amex and asked to change my airline. They said since I hadn't had any charges reimbursed yet, they could do it. In fact, if no charges have been reimbursed for the current fiscal year, you can hold off until 24 hours before you fly, call up Amex, make your selection and you're covered. Going to wait until tomorrow to buy my AA tickets 
I got my Plat card earlier this week and selected Delta airlines as my airlines of choice for $200 credit, primarily because Delta is my prefered carrier. I read this entire thread last night to see how people are redeeming this $200 credit. I summarized here short bullet points about how ppl were successful receiving credit through Delta. If there are any more, please update the list as it will help everyone -
1. Domestic Award fee of $10
2. Tax on International award ticket
3. cost of ticket price as long as net amount paid by AMEX plat is <$100 (rest may be paid through ecrdit or vouchers)
4. In aircraft food and entertainment (meals, drinks, headsets etc but no GoGO)
5. Baggage fee
6. Award ticket change fee ($150)
My bags are free as I am a FO. I rarely change the reservation. I know I will be booking atleast three domestic award tickets this year so that's $30. Add another $50 for meals/drinks on these flights. That's still just $80. There gotta be some more ways.
Idea/Question - I have some DL evouchers. If I book a one-way fully refundable ticket 2-3 months out, use vouchers to bring net cost down <$100. charge it to Plat AMEX and cancel once I receive the credit from AMEX? I know its not ethical but will it fly? Will I get my vouchers/amount of ticket back once I cancel?
1. Domestic Award fee of $10
2. Tax on International award ticket
3. cost of ticket price as long as net amount paid by AMEX plat is <$100 (rest may be paid through ecrdit or vouchers)
4. In aircraft food and entertainment (meals, drinks, headsets etc but no GoGO)
5. Baggage fee
6. Award ticket change fee ($150)
My bags are free as I am a FO. I rarely change the reservation. I know I will be booking atleast three domestic award tickets this year so that's $30. Add another $50 for meals/drinks on these flights. That's still just $80. There gotta be some more ways
. Idea/Question - I have some DL evouchers. If I book a one-way fully refundable ticket 2-3 months out, use vouchers to bring net cost down <$100. charge it to Plat AMEX and cancel once I receive the credit from AMEX? I know its not ethical but will it fly? Will I get my vouchers/amount of ticket back once I cancel?
Sep 6, 2011, 11:38 pm
#210
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Okinawa
Posts: 2,611
Doesn't look promising... miles purchases are being categorized as "Document Type : FREQUENT FLYER FEE/PURCHASE", which the system doesn't seem to pick up as an "incidental expense".
See data point here: Post 447.
See data point here: Post 447.