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Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: DL only (2015-2019)

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Old Jan 18, 2016, 10:57 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: MaxVO
This thread is a continuation of: Airline fee $200/$100 reimbursement reports: DL only [2011 - 2015]

Credit posting delays range from several business days (typical) to several weeks (seen in Oct 2015). The T&Cs state that it could take up to four weeks, so wait at least that long before worrying, and certainly don't contact Amex prematurely

Caution: effective from 22 June 2019, gift card purchases from Delta do not get reimbursed.

Read this primer first
  • In the Amex Membership Rewards family, both the Consumer and Business versions of the Platinum and Centurion cards qualify for a $200 airline credit. The Premier Rewards Gold (PRG) card is eligible for a $100 airline credit.
  • You must click here to <--(link dead) select Delta as your enrolled airline before you make a reimbursable purchase, else the benefit won't apply. The feature is activated immediately upon airline designation. Try logging in to your AMEX account and selecting the airline. This link may work
  • If you've selected DL in the past and don't wish to change airlines, there's no need to select again; current selection rolls into future years until modified.
  • The T&Cs state the eligible charges, but YMMV, so don't call and ask especially about the fuzzier cases below because that will probably hasten closing of any loopholes.
  • The credit is per account, not per card. If the main account has authorized users with additional cards, eligible charges may still be made on those cards, but they'll count jointly towards the same account limit.
  • Credits are capped per calendar year, meaning you could tap the full amount on Dec 31st and again on Jan 1st in the extreme. Transaction date, not posting date, determines the year. Note: This is not my experience. I purchased Dec 31, 2016, posted Jan 1, 2017 and went against my 2017 credit. (TheMadBrewer)
  • You will get a partial credit to bring your total annual reimbursements to the limit exactly if a qualifying charge takes you past the limit.
  • After four weeks, if you've read this Wiki carefully and posted here seeking assistance but the credit still has not arrived, consider chatting with Amex online. Politely mention the "Delta extras" you thought would be reimbursed within four weeks and they'll handle it.


additional collections/split tender

THIS IS A LOOPHOLE. BE DISCREET

Anything coded as an additional collection (aka add/collect or a/c), including difference in fare when changing flights, and accepting an FCM offer, also triggers the credit and will be reimbursed; this may (insufficient data) only happen if the additional amount collected is below ~$250 (regardless of card type, e.g. there have been reports of full $100 credit for Gold card on a/c over $100 and full $200 credit for Plat on a/c over $200 but less than $250)
  • Relevantly, split tender where you partially pay with a gift card, existing credit, VDB voucher etc. and partly charged to your card, are processed by DL as an add/collect and trigger the credit per above.
  • Thus if you anticipate actually buying, say, a $200 DL ticket, you could buy a single $50 gift card, then buy the ticket using $50 GC and $150 on your card (the $150 will be reimbursed)
  • Canceling a ticket within the 24-hour risk-free period generally results in funds being returned to where they came from (GC back to GC and CC back to CC). If you have no immediate travel plans but anticipate travel in the next year, consider buying a fully refundable ticket and then changing it later once you know your future travel dates. IF a lot of people suddenly start refunding tickets after getting the credit reimbursement this may hasten the demise of this particular loophole.
  • Caution when buying multiple tickets: for example if you buy two $125 tickets in one transaction (total $250) and use one $100 GC or even two $50 GCs, they will all be applied to the same ticket and you would see one additional collection for $25 on that ticket and a separate "normal" charge for $125 for the second ticket. In this scenario only $25 will be reimbursed (instead of the $150 you might be expecting)

other non Gift Card options
  • baggage and other service fees (same day change/standby, change fees, etc.)
  • taxes on award flights
  • in-flight purchases (EXCEPT wifi)
  • SkyClub access/guest fees (but NOT gift cards purchased at a SC, which are actually activated at a 3rd party web site)
  • mileage boosts (post 2499)
  • The $59 for Delta Skymiles Select is reimbursed (posts 2180, 2182)
  • seat assignment fees (may need to call in to have processed manually)

(DEAD) eGift Card (eCert) details
This Section is not applicable effective 2019/06/22!
  • Delta eGift Cards (eCerts) have been reimbursed in practice, even though technically they do not meet the criteria listed by Amex for reimbursement. The name on the eCerts doesn't matter and need not match your card, but you must purchase using an eligible Amex card and meet the other criteria detailed in this Wiki.
  • Denominations over $50 will not generate the credit. Multiple $50 eCerts will. The smallest denomination available is $50.
  • To order, use this direct link to the eGift cert order page, or navigate via Delta.com>Shop>eGift Certificate.
  • No need to place separate orders using multiple carts/checkouts. By adding multiple certs to one order (e.g., 4 x $50), even though they are in the same cart, the certs will post as separate transactions and still generate a credit for each.
  • eCert purchases may initially authorize (show pending) as ticket purchases before posting to (finalize on) your statement. Multiple-eCert orders may authorize the combined value as a single pending ticket purchase. Don't worry; they'll post later as separate eCert charges in the qualifying amounts.
  • eCerts are generated instantly, but the codes are not valid for use until 72 hours after purchase, so don't order expecting to use them in a pinch.
  • A maximum of three eCerts may be redeemed per online transaction. Splitting a round-trip into two one-ways will allow you to use additional eCerts, but in some cases two one-ways may cost more than a single roundtrip so compare carefully to decide whether using more than 3 certs on a single trip is worthwhile.
  • If purchasing a ticket for more than 1 person, splitting the purchase into a separate transaction for each person would also allow the use of more than 3 certs on a single trip at (usually) no additional cost. However this could have an adverse effect on ability to upgrade, upgrade priority, and other elite benefits, and on the likelihood of being reaccommodated on the same flight in the event of a flight cancellation.
  • There is one recent REPORT of a telephone agent allowing more than three eCerts to be used when purchasing one ticket.
  • eCerts do not expire. Their T&Cs are listed here.
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Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: DL only (2015-2019)

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Old Jan 1, 2018, 9:09 am
  #661  
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 2
I bought 4x50bthe other day on the mobile site (attempted to use desktop site but it reroutes you automatically). I didn't have access to a computer and it was the last day to use my credit. It posted as Delta GC on my Amex. Three days later it changed the charges to Delta CSTAR GFTCRD
Afhover08 is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2018, 12:32 pm
  #662  
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 85
Originally Posted by rubenswm
Following this exact sequence. Moving from an ameriprise to a personal plat as of .. 2 days ago!
Following up the credits posted 12/30
rubenswm is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2018, 12:33 pm
  #663  
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 85
Originally Posted by Afhover08
I bought 4x50bthe other day on the mobile site (attempted to use desktop site but it reroutes you automatically). I didn't have access to a computer and it was the last day to use my credit. It posted as Delta GC on my Amex. Three days later it changed the charges to Delta CSTAR GFTCRD
Don't mean to burst your bubble, but that sounds like a third party processor. Here is how the charges are supposed to post using the web site

DEC30
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement
-$50.00
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement DEC30
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement
-$50.00
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement DEC30
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement
-$50.00
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement DEC30
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement
-$50.00
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA DEC29
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA
$50.00
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA DEC29
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA
$50.00
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA DEC29
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA
$50.00
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA DEC29
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA
$50.00
rubenswm is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2018, 12:49 pm
  #664  
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 2
Originally Posted by rubenswm
Don't mean to burst your bubble, but that sounds like a third party processor. Here is how the charges are supposed to post using the web site

DEC30
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement
-$50.00
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement DEC30
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement
-$50.00
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement DEC30
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement
-$50.00
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement DEC30
AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement
-$50.00
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA DEC29
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA
$50.00
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA DEC29
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA
$50.00
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA DEC29
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA
$50.00
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA DEC29
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA
$50.00
I know it's a third party processor, my hope is that it is still reimbursed because it says Delta. It is strange though that it processed as Delta then 3 days later changed to Delta CSTAR
Afhover08 is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2018, 3:19 pm
  #665  
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 85
Originally Posted by Afhover08
I know it's a third party processor, my hope is that it is still reimbursed because it says Delta. It is strange though that it processed as Delta then 3 days later changed to Delta CSTAR
Either way I suspect you could call after the fact to try and figure out
rubenswm is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2018, 3:35 pm
  #666  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
Originally Posted by rubenswm
Either way I suspect you could call after the fact to try and figure out
Call who? AMEX? Gift cards are technically not reimbursable expenses so there isn't much to discuss.
Diplomatico is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2018, 4:47 pm
  #667  
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 24
Just bought 2 x $50 gift cards on the full site on my desktop computer. 1 Jan. Ill let you know what happens. Currently Pending as DELTA AIR LINES
64Driver is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2018, 5:55 pm
  #668  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: MT, USA
Programs: Ex-5C club, Skymiles Gold
Posts: 454
Originally Posted by Flaneurs
Data Point: Just ordered 2 x $50 from the link in the wiki and the site says on the confirmation page:

The charge will appear as:
DELTA CSTAR GFTCD


There is also what may be a new logo on that page for a company called “Cashstar”. For what it is worth, the AMEX charge is showing as DELTA AIR LINES GC.

I will check back once it is refunded (or not).
Interestingly I bought the above GCs on 12/30/17 and they stayed pending until today 1/1/18. They just flipped over from pending to posted with a date of 12/30/17 so it seems last minute might work to still get the charge in the current year. They are still not reimbursed but I dumbly bought them through the mobile site instead of the desktop site. Will check back in if they do get reimbursed. Worst case is that I have some GCs to use that only cost me face value.
Flaneurs is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2018, 12:05 am
  #669  
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 1
Bought 4 x $50 Delta e-gift cards through the direct Delta website 12/27. Showed up as a Delta Airlines charge. Posted as four separate transactions 12/28. Reimbursed four times 12/29.
Happy New Year!
beautebrune is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2018, 1:09 am
  #670  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Midwest
Programs: Delta PM, Hhonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 114
Just bought four. They show as Delta Air Lines in the pending charges section.
Henla is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2018, 12:22 pm
  #671  
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 3
Per the wiki, I purchased 2x $50 gift cards in the same transaction, using the desktop site for $100 total. Pending charge came through as a single $100 transaction, not 2 $50 transactions (anyone else see this?). Hopefully it splits and I get the 2 $50 reimbursements... will let you know but just an FYI. if i could go back i would have just done 2 separate transaction.
p_rad is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2018, 12:24 pm
  #672  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
Originally Posted by GrizShel
Will $50 Gift card purchases made today count for 2017 credit even though they obviously won't actually post for a couple of days?
likely, as transaction date is counted
danhouston is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2018, 12:39 pm
  #673  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 15
Originally Posted by p_rad
Per the wiki, I purchased 2x $50 gift cards in the same transaction, using the desktop site for $100 total. Pending charge came through as a single $100 transaction, not 2 $50 transactions (anyone else see this?). Hopefully it splits and I get the 2 $50 reimbursements... will let you know but just an FYI. if i could go back i would have just done 2 separate transaction.
Yea. Happened to me too today. Fingers crossed.
seinfeld4 is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2018, 2:53 pm
  #674  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
Originally Posted by p_rad
Per the wiki, I purchased 2x $50 gift cards in the same transaction, using the desktop site for $100 total. Pending charge came through as a single $100 transaction, not 2 $50 transactions (anyone else see this?). Hopefully it splits and I get the 2 $50 reimbursements... will let you know but just an FYI. if i could go back i would have just done 2 separate transaction.
This is normal. The transactions should split when they post.
Diplomatico is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2018, 3:11 pm
  #675  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,942
Originally Posted by p_rad
Per the wiki, I purchased 2x $50 gift cards in the same transaction, using the desktop site for $100 total. Pending charge came through as a single $100 transaction, not 2 $50 transactions (anyone else see this?). Hopefully it splits and I get the 2 $50 reimbursements... will let you know but just an FYI. if i could go back i would have just done 2 separate transaction.
This is always how mine has worked. And I've gotten the credit.
Stgermainparis is offline  


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