Jan 18, 2016, 10:57 am
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
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)
other non Gift Card options
(DEAD) eGift Card (eCert) details
This Section is not applicable effective 2019/06/22!
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.
Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: DL only (2015-2019)
Jul 10, 2019, 2:09 pm
#1681
Join Date: May 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Hilton Lifetime Diamond, DL Diamond & 2M Miler, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 683
Earlier this year the Amex Plat credit was triggered by a $56 fare difference on top of a $200 Delta e-cert and a $225 additional collection for a new ticket where I had used a credit from a refundable ticket. That one triggered the remaining $143 of the credit. Paying with some type of e-cert and then using the Amex for the remaining amount under $250 seems to do the trick.
That may be why someone in another thread today was asking about a cheap refundable ticket with no city in mind.
That may be why someone in another thread today was asking about a cheap refundable ticket with no city in mind.
Last edited by BNAChairman; Jul 10, 2019 at 2:13 pm Reason: Clarity
Jul 10, 2019, 2:54 pm
#1683
Join Date: May 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Hilton Lifetime Diamond, DL Diamond & 2M Miler, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 683
I think the trick with a cheaper refundable is to only purchase a one way fare. Especially on competitive routes out of SEA, there are deals to be had.
Jul 10, 2019, 3:44 pm
#1684
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 1,982
I do find myself questioning the usefulness of this credit, when people are being told for example, SkyClub admittance is covered, but Skyclub beverages will not be. Especially since Amex is constantly trying to persuade you to not only have a Platinum Card for yourself, but to pay a secondary user fee for your S.O., children, etc.
I guess change fees and baggage fees are the only things this fee is really guaranteed to always work for. is that correct?
I guess change fees and baggage fees are the only things this fee is really guaranteed to always work for. is that correct?
Jul 10, 2019, 4:39 pm
#1685
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,931
Cheapest refundable ticket with delta - Appreciate any help.
they later said "to maintain Medallion gold" so it's unclear whether they thought they could earn MQMs without flying or if they just meant they aren't sure yet whether they need to do a mileage run.
Either way that thread was probably not related to fee reimbursements.
Jul 10, 2019, 8:47 pm
#1686
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
So far the search alone for that elusive usefulness has generated much needless spending, while not chipping away at the breakage of this "credit". Perhaps this outcome was the real objective of all the changes this year from both AmEx and their airline partners. The net result here is beginning to look similar to the Uber credit situation.
Last edited by MaxVO; Jul 11, 2019 at 1:26 am
Jul 11, 2019, 6:03 am
#1687
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 4
So it turns out it did work, on the mobile app it said Airline -Travel but on the desktop website it said Additional Collection. My meter ended up going to zero today.
Purchased 7/8
Posted 7/10
Meter Moved 7/12
Last edited by viincent; Jul 12, 2019 at 6:06 am
Jul 11, 2019, 11:54 am
#1688
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 75
and btw, personally, i would do this with partial fare ranging from 50 to 100. Over 200 seems a bit risky.
Jul 11, 2019, 12:00 pm
#1689
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 4
Partial payment succeeded:
Purchased 7/8
Posted 7/10
Meter moved 7/12
Purchased 7/8
Posted 7/10
Meter moved 7/12
Last edited by viincent; Jul 12, 2019 at 6:08 am
Jul 11, 2019, 12:11 pm
#1690
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 17
Jul 11, 2019, 4:25 pm
#1691
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
Disappointing that they closed the loophole - inability to credit GCs greatly diminishes value for me. I was going to cancel the PRG anyway but this just reinforces that decision, and I may cancel my Aspire too.
I did just apply existing GCs to two flight purchases that brought the leftover charge to <$200 on each, so I'll report back the classification once the charge posts.
I did just apply existing GCs to two flight purchases that brought the leftover charge to <$200 on each, so I'll report back the classification once the charge posts.
Jul 11, 2019, 5:10 pm
#1692
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Amex deciding to close a loophole and make people actually use this credit as intended is nothing like the struggles Uber is causing for people legitimately trying to use that credit exactly as intended.
Jul 11, 2019, 5:21 pm
#1693
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
The "narratives" in the 2 situations are different. But the net effects are virtually identical: people are spending more with Uber and the airlines just trying to figure out the appearing and disappearing loopholes. At some point AmEx customers need to wake up and realize that we're being gamed to behave exactly in this way.
Jul 11, 2019, 5:50 pm
#1694
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,931
I avoid the Uber credits headache by simply not using Uber at all. There's no rule that you have to squeeze every last cent out of everything.
If the risk is no longer palatable then switch airline affinity on the card, or stop chasing it. And in turn if losing the $200 credit means the value proposition of the card isn't there for you anymore, then cancel it. Seems simple enough.
Jul 11, 2019, 6:10 pm
#1695
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
Correct, that was the implicit point. Some comments seem to go in the direction that we should desperately try to find a useless expense just to trigger a credit. For many including myself, it would actually be most cost effective to cancel the high-AF cards at renewal time.