Sep 17, 2014, 10:49 am
Last edit by: VegasGambler
Reminder: you must enroll and select AS as your airline BEFORE making a reimbursable purchase. Click HERE to enroll.
As of June 2017 gift certificates are no longer reimbursed. Link to buy gift certicates
According to this thread in the Alaska forum the reimbursement of Alaska Club memberships is no longer a problem. To see how much of your annual credit you've used, log in to AmEx, select the card in question, choose "Membership->Benefits" off the menu bar, scroll down to see the travel credit benefit. (with thanks to Lumpylump76)
Tickets cancelled within 24 hours are refunded back to the card used for the purchase.Tickets for travel dates > 60 days out can be deposited to your wallet when cancelled (this has not been true for some time). Change fees may apply depending on your status. Change fees are waived for MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members according to this page: https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...ID:MileagePlan (expand "service benefits" towards the bottom of the page). The wallet funds will expire one year after the issue date of the original ticket.
As of June 2017 gift certificates are no longer reimbursed. Link to buy gift certicates
According to this thread in the Alaska forum the reimbursement of Alaska Club memberships is no longer a problem. To see how much of your annual credit you've used, log in to AmEx, select the card in question, choose "Membership->Benefits" off the menu bar, scroll down to see the travel credit benefit. (with thanks to Lumpylump76)
Tickets cancelled within 24 hours are refunded back to the card used for the purchase.
Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: AS only (2011-2019)
Dec 22, 2019, 12:31 am
#1306
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: NY
Posts: 19
Just tried this.
Hilton Aspire:
Dec 16th - Booked a flight for $78, ugpraded seat for $44
Dec 20th, just got credit for both.
Not canceling as i actually need the flight.
Hilton Aspire:
Dec 16th - Booked a flight for $78, ugpraded seat for $44
Dec 20th, just got credit for both.
Not canceling as i actually need the flight.
Dec 22, 2019, 4:06 pm
#1308
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
Dec 22, 2019, 8:04 pm
#1309
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 86
I currently have economy seats booked but have an option to purchase Premium Class seats for $109/person. Are those considered seat selection purchases and eligible for reimbursement? Thanks.
Dec 22, 2019, 10:35 pm
#1310
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 35
i created an account just to thank you for this. as a 75k with two plats, two golds and an aspire b/w myself and p2, i'm very concerned about the dwindling options to get any value out of the credits. been watching this thread like a hawk since aug-ish hoping a workaround would pop up for those like myself.
For instance, I just booked a trans-con flight for $119. After purchasing, I purchased PC for $109. After 24 hours and calling in, is the goal to get both the $119 and $109 by tying elite account # to reservation such that both $119 and $109 goes to account wallet, and weeks later recouping the $109 PC upgrade with AMEX while essentially "eating" the initial $119 paid towards the flight itself?
Ultimately, for 1 given flight, the PC is reimbursed by AMEX as an incidental expense but the flight itself is paid for as a form of future wallet credit?
Last edited by juncakes; Dec 22, 2019 at 10:42 pm
Dec 24, 2019, 1:44 pm
#1311
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 28
correct on all counts. unless you're fortunate enough to get credit for amex for the flight ticket itself (assuming you have enough credit on the respective card), one would "eat" the flight cost in form of wallet funds
Dec 25, 2019, 3:46 pm
#1312
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 35
Thank you. An Alaska CSR mentioned that cancelling after 24 hours would mean the PC upgrade goes back to card, and fare towards itinerary will be credited to Alaska wallet. Is this correct? This means the AMEX transaction that remains is the fare, not the seat selection. Unsure if CSR @ Amex would approve a manual credit?
Dec 26, 2019, 10:28 pm
#1313
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 47
I can't say definitively, but I just did the same thing for a flight in January. Two passengers on one reservation. I bought the $109 Premium Class seats for both of us. The charge posted as two $109 purchases described as "Flight on January 9". Each listed the Passenger Name, a ticket number (that doesn't match the e-ticket number for my flight), and it shows me getting 7x Hilton Honors Points for Airfare. Clearly, AMEX sees it as a flight; however, when I go to Benefits>$250 Airline Fee Credit, it shows $32.00 Credit Available through Dec 2019. This is the only applicable purchase I've made all year. $250 - ($109x2) = $32. So... I'm optimistic that it'll all work out automatically. If it matters, my class didn't change after buying the "Premium Class" seats: Main (R). IMHO, it's just marketing that Alaska Airlines calls it an "upgrade"... it's not the intent of the Airline Fee Credit program to exclude this type of incidental premium seat fee.
Dec 27, 2019, 12:33 am
#1314
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 984
I can't say definitively, but I just did the same thing for a flight in January. Two passengers on one reservation. I bought the $109 Premium Class seats for both of us. The charge posted as two $109 purchases described as "Flight on January 9". Each listed the Passenger Name, a ticket number (that doesn't match the e-ticket number for my flight), and it shows me getting 7x Hilton Honors Points for Airfare. Clearly, AMEX sees it as a flight; however, when I go to Benefits>$250 Airline Fee Credit, it shows $32.00 Credit Available through Dec 2019. This is the only applicable purchase I've made all year. $250 - ($109x2) = $32. So... I'm optimistic that it'll all work out automatically. If it matters, my class didn't change after buying the "Premium Class" seats: Main (R). IMHO, it's just marketing that Alaska Airlines calls it an "upgrade"... it's not the intent of the Airline Fee Credit program to exclude this type of incidental premium seat fee.
Dec 27, 2019, 2:17 pm
#1315
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 10
DP for Sub $39 charge
Bofa Premium Rewards card ($100)
Dec 24: Bought Saver ticket for $38.30 then cancelled ticket an hour later
Dec 24: Bought Main ticket for $68.30 then cancelled ticket an hour later
Dec 27: Meter has moved by $38.30 but awaiting credit to show up
If anyone wants to try this, AS is having a sale today and there are $38.30 Saver fares between LAX-LAS, and LAX-SJC. Just make sure you cancel your Saver ticket within 24 hours
Dec 24: Bought Saver ticket for $38.30 then cancelled ticket an hour later
Dec 24: Bought Main ticket for $68.30 then cancelled ticket an hour later
Dec 27: Meter has moved by $38.30 but awaiting credit to show up
If anyone wants to try this, AS is having a sale today and there are $38.30 Saver fares between LAX-LAS, and LAX-SJC. Just make sure you cancel your Saver ticket within 24 hours
Dec 27, 2019, 2:36 pm
#1316
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Gold...
Posts: 56
Waited Long Enough for Reimbursement... So I Called
Hilton Aspire: Airline credit timeline...
Interestingly, I never had issues with the airline credit with AS using my "AMEX Plat". For the last 3 years I've always purchased and cancelled the One Way tickets around the 23 hr mark after purchase. However, with the Hilton Aspire card I have had the same results. This fall I was stuck with my One Way purchases because a reimbursement NEVER posted. So, this time around I decided to call Aspire customer service after waiting over 2 weeks. I'll update the my post/thread on whether the credits post to my account.
- Dec. 8, 2019: Purchased 2 AS seat upgrades. Separate transactions... $69/$109
- Dec. 11, 2019: Fees posted
- Dec. 27, 2019: Still NO reimbursement
- Dec. 27, 2019: Called customer service number on the back of the Aspire card. Told the representative that I made two separate purchases, which she could see. Explained that they were purchased on my selected airline (AS) for my annual credit. She asked, "what were the purchases for"? I said "seat upgrades". She needed to input the reasoning to request the "manual credit". The rep. said I should see the credit within 5 business days.
Interestingly, I never had issues with the airline credit with AS using my "AMEX Plat". For the last 3 years I've always purchased and cancelled the One Way tickets around the 23 hr mark after purchase. However, with the Hilton Aspire card I have had the same results. This fall I was stuck with my One Way purchases because a reimbursement NEVER posted. So, this time around I decided to call Aspire customer service after waiting over 2 weeks. I'll update the my post/thread on whether the credits post to my account.
Dec 27, 2019, 5:53 pm
#1317
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 984
Hilton Aspire: Airline credit timeline...
Interestingly, I never had issues with the airline credit with AS using my "AMEX Plat". For the last 3 years I've always purchased and cancelled the One Way tickets around the 23 hr mark after purchase. However, with the Hilton Aspire card I have had the same results. This fall I was stuck with my One Way purchases because a reimbursement NEVER posted. So, this time around I decided to call Aspire customer service after waiting over 2 weeks. I'll update the my post/thread on whether the credits post to my account.
- Dec. 8, 2019: Purchased 2 AS seat upgrades. Separate transactions... $69/$109
- Dec. 11, 2019: Fees posted
- Dec. 27, 2019: Still NO reimbursement
- Dec. 27, 2019: Called customer service number on the back of the Aspire card. Told the representative that I made two separate purchases, which she could see. Explained that they were purchased on my selected airline (AS) for my annual credit. She asked, "what were the purchases for"? I said "seat upgrades". She needed to input the reasoning to request the "manual credit". The rep. said I should see the credit within 5 business days.
Interestingly, I never had issues with the airline credit with AS using my "AMEX Plat". For the last 3 years I've always purchased and cancelled the One Way tickets around the 23 hr mark after purchase. However, with the Hilton Aspire card I have had the same results. This fall I was stuck with my One Way purchases because a reimbursement NEVER posted. So, this time around I decided to call Aspire customer service after waiting over 2 weeks. I'll update the my post/thread on whether the credits post to my account.
Dec 27, 2019, 9:53 pm
#1318
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Hyatt Glb, MR Plat
Posts: 2,577
Bofa Premium Rewards card ($100)
Dec 24: Bought Saver ticket for $38.30 then cancelled ticket an hour later
Dec 24: Bought Main ticket for $68.30 then cancelled ticket an hour later
Dec 27: Meter has moved by $38.30 but awaiting credit to show up
If anyone wants to try this, AS is having a sale today and there are $38.30 Saver fares between LAX-LAS, and LAX-SJC. Just make sure you cancel your Saver ticket within 24 hours
Dec 24: Bought Saver ticket for $38.30 then cancelled ticket an hour later
Dec 24: Bought Main ticket for $68.30 then cancelled ticket an hour later
Dec 27: Meter has moved by $38.30 but awaiting credit to show up
If anyone wants to try this, AS is having a sale today and there are $38.30 Saver fares between LAX-LAS, and LAX-SJC. Just make sure you cancel your Saver ticket within 24 hours
Dec 27, 2019, 10:18 pm
#1319
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 28
Thank you. An Alaska CSR mentioned that cancelling after 24 hours would mean the PC upgrade goes back to card, and fare towards itinerary will be credited to Alaska wallet. Is this correct? This means the AMEX transaction that remains is the fare, not the seat selection. Unsure if CSR @ Amex would approve a manual credit?
Dec 28, 2019, 1:54 pm
#1320
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 35
For others deploying this strategy: there are $104 Main Cabin fares from LAX - BWI in February & March.