BigOAir

Thanks!

I'm not at the point where I'm worried about adding on EMS to an B6 award ticket. I'm really worried about how ensure getting the Amex Platinum reimbursement for just the EMS portion of a B6 ticket purchased on my Amex Plat:

Can I get it by purchasing the EMS portion at the same time as the basic economy fare?

Do I have to wait until after buying the basic economy fare first, and then go back a few days later and buy the EMS portion?

What about simultaneous purchases of my and a companion's ticket (can you buy the EMS for both when buying the initial tickets ... or do you have to make the initial economy purchases for both tickets first and then go back later and buy both EMS additions)?

Many thanks to anyone who can assist.

I don't mind dealing with the ins and outs of this stuff, but I kind of resent it when the ins and outs are not consistent.

MaxVO

When you use a benefit "off label", inconsistencies are guaranteed.
It's a marketing genius in a way, that allows the bank to tout their benefits, yet make them so difficult to use that only a few will try.

BigOAir

I hear you. The thing for me is that I'd read beforehand what I thought was solid info that paying extra for an even more space seat on B6 was not an "off label" attempt to get the reimbursement, and so I thought it was "kosher" in effect. Stupid me ... guess not.

friedablass

+1. Had to be done manually for me one time for EMS seat but they did it very easily and effortlessly. I got it both for EMS on award as well as revenue.

friedablass

EMS is not "off-label" and is 100% "kosher", just like buying economy plus or similar on United, Delta, etc. Otherwise they wouldn't have applied it manually for me.

SideShowBob

Even more space was purchased separately from tickets (tickets were purchased well in advance, even more maybe 2-3 weeks before the flight).

I'd recommend buying it at least a day later -- maybe wait until the original tickets post to be sure?

OSG

This makes sense to me, except JetBlue's website says that when you cancel within the 24 hour window your credit card is refunded, rather than the amount being credited to your Travel Bank. Is there an option when you cancel your ticket to force them to put it in your Travel Bank rather than refunding the original card?

I just opened my Amex Gold because I was targeted for the 50,000 point bonus, and I'd rather not do any shenanigans to jeopardize that bonus. It feels like if JetBlue credits my Travel Bank, then Amex is none the wiser and I'm safe. But if they refund my card and I still get the reimbursement, that could get flagged as shady behavior.

EDIT: As long as I'm asking questions - does it matter what kind of fare you book on JetBlue? Refundable or non-refundable? Blue, Blue Flex, etc? Also, do credits in your TravelBank ever expire?

friedablass

I'd like to try this idea to refund to Travel Bank too pending the answers to the above questions

The funds do expire in 1 year.

htran88

accidentally bought a duplicate ticket for $107.29 on 11/7/2019. immediately refunded to travel bank online. will update if Amex credit comes through

elected to refund to travel bank because i need to purchase another flight for ~$178

ginsu

New data point:

11/3 Purchased one-way flight for $148
11/3 Purchased second one-way flight for $148
11/5 Flight purchases posted
11/7 $200 credit posted

culdeus

I know for the Ritz Credit the best way to do it is on jet blue refundable fares, but are people doing refundable fares for amex or is that just playing with fire?

htran88

11/7/2019 Purchased $107.29
11/7/2019 Immediately (within 20 minutes) went back to refund and elected to credit to Travel Bank (accidentally booked a duplicate reservation, all actions completed online)
11/11/2019 Credit for $91 (what's remaining of my $100 credit) posted 11/09/2019

david.anto7

Thanks to FlyerTalk members who shared DPs, I could utilize my Amex Aspire credit.


My data point:
11/6 Purchased three basic economy one-way flights for $99, $99 and $88
11/7 Ticket purchases posted on my account. The transactions included all details (Ticket No, Passenger, Flight Origin-Destination)
11/9 $250 credit posted

sSSspidermanNNn

Anyone wants to try to refund the ticket back to credit card within 24 hours, like what we do with AS?

syalam

Apologies if this is too obvious - to get refunds to travel bank, does it make sense to only book Blue Extra (no change fees)?