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

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)

Old Sep 17, 2019, 9:49 pm
  #2041  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 15
Originally Posted by Sinter
2 data points, wife and I each purchased separate $50 gift cards and purchased flights separately on each of our Hilton Amex Aspire cards.

9/8 - Purchased Delta Ticket with $50 GC and $191.60 on AMEX Hilton Aspire

9/9 - Charge switched from PENDING to POSTED - charge listed as Delta Airlines Atlanta for statement purposes and was worried it wouldn't trigger credit

9/11 - Reimbursement Posted for both of us for full $191.60 and meter moved


So I'm buying a $600 Delta ticket. I have 2 amex plat cards to use up the credit. I wonder if I split the flights and buy one there, one return, and buy 2 $50 gift card and put the REST on the CC if that will work?

EDIT: Never mind - cannot book one ways - but I'm hoping if I split across two credit cards with $200 credit each + gift cards maybe that'll trigger?

EDIT EDIT: Never mind. YOu can't use two CCs

Last edited by gracetheyoung; Sep 17, 2019 at 11:06 pm
gracetheyoung is offline  
Old Sep 17, 2019, 9:52 pm
  #2042  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 15
Originally Posted by liwaya
Datapoint:
1. Sep 4, I bought a returnable ticket of $821.30, with GC $575 and Hilton Aspire $246.3
2. Sep 4, I called the Delta call center and changed the ticket to another one, and charged me the price difference of $51.93 with Hilton Aspire
3. Both the transactions were posted on Sep 6, with Document Type: ADDITIONAL COLLECTION
4. Sep 7, the meter moved and shows that You have used all of your $250 Airline Fee Credit for this year.

So BOTH of your transactions triggered it? If I have to buy a $400 ticket, do I need to buy a $50 and put $350 on the card, or do I need to buy a $250 gift card and put $150 on my card [if my card offers $200 credit]
gracetheyoung is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2019, 4:06 am
  #2043  
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: 18,819
Originally Posted by gracetheyoung
EDIT EDIT: Never mind. YOu can't use two CCs
Maybe if booked over the phone?

Originally Posted by gracetheyoung
So BOTH of your transactions triggered it? If I have to buy a $400 ticket, do I need to buy a $50 and put $350 on the card, or do I need to buy a $250 gift card and put $150 on my card [if my card offers $200 credit]
Based on what we know I think the latter is a safer choice.
Zorak is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2019, 9:24 am
  #2044  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 53
Originally Posted by gracetheyoung
So I'm buying a $600 Delta ticket. I have 2 amex plat cards to use up the credit. I wonder if I split the flights and buy one there, one return, and buy 2 $50 gift card and put the REST on the CC if that will work?

EDIT: Never mind - cannot book one ways - but I'm hoping if I split across two credit cards with $200 credit each + gift cards maybe that'll trigger?

EDIT EDIT: Never mind. YOu can't use two CCs
Why cannot book one ways? Are there data points showing this does not work with one ways?
fastpoint is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2019, 9:32 am
  #2045  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 600
9/14: used points for two one-way award tickets and paid the taxes and fees ($119 each) using Amex Platinum and Gold.

9/18: credited $100 on Gold and the remaining balance of $81 on Platinum today.
Statman is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 1:05 am
  #2046  
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 1
I'm going to try to make a roughly $1100 purchase using $900 in GCs/eGCs - is there any consensus on whether it matters if you use a physical Gift Card or an e-GC yet? I still need to purchase my GC or eGC and I'm trying to figure out if it matters which I use. Everyone has been using the shorthand GC for everything but I don't know if that's just typing convenience or if everyone has been using true GCs.
Charvey92 is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 1:07 am
  #2047  
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: 18,819
Originally Posted by Charvey92
I'm going to try to make a roughly $1100 purchase using $900 in GCs/eGCs - is there any consensus on whether it matters if you use a physical Gift Card or an e-GC yet?
Shouldn't matter.
Zorak is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 5:16 am
  #2048  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Seattle, WA. USA
Programs: MR, AA, UA, DL, AVIS and growing
Posts: 1,172
  • "Caution: effective from 22 June 2019, gift card purchases from Delta do not get reimbursed."
Enrolled in Schwab Amex Plat Sept 17, 2019 and based on thread $200 airline credit from AMEX resets calendar year not anniversary date.

Does AMEX reimbursement for GC purchase ($50) work on different airlines (AA, AS etc) still with AMEX reimbursement for GC purchased on other airlines just not DL?

​​​​​​​Can I for example buy x4($50) GC on AA in 2019 get reimburse then buy x4($50) GC starting Jan 1, 2020?
euromannn is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 7:48 am
  #2049  
mia
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,884
Originally Posted by euromannn
Does AMEX reimbursement for GC purchase ($50) work on different airlines
No. American Express always excluded gift cards by rule, and practice is now aligned with policy - they are not reimbursed for any airline. The workaround is to use a giftcard to pay a portion of the cost of a ticket, and then pay the balance with the Platinum card. The system may mistake that transaction for a fee and reimburse. The specifics vary by airline, read the appropriate thread.
mia is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 11:15 am
  #2050  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Seattle, WA. USA
Programs: MR, AA, UA, DL, AVIS and growing
Posts: 1,172
Originally Posted by Zorak
Shouldn't matter.
How does award travel work if no payment for ticket but fees $34.00 one way?
Seems awkward to part pay $34.00 GC and part remaining with CC (especially on internet booking)and then get reimbursed.
Also AMEX Plat voids trip insurance on award travel if as full ticket must be paid with card AMEX claims.
Chase CSR card only requires partial payment so paying only fees apply to get trip coverage.
euromannn is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 1:21 pm
  #2051  
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: New York City
Programs: TK E/*G, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 151
Originally Posted by gracetheyoung
So BOTH of your transactions triggered it? If I have to buy a $400 ticket, do I need to buy a $50 and put $350 on the card, or do I need to buy a $250 gift card and put $150 on my card [if my card offers $200 credit]
Both triggered it correct. From what I've seen in this thread, the general consensus is that any remaining balance under $200 after applying gift cards should trigger the credit. A few people have had it work over $200, but that seems to be the exception rather than the norm.
Sinter is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 1:28 pm
  #2052  
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: 18,819
Originally Posted by euromannn
How does award travel work if no payment for ticket but fees $34.00 one way?
Seems awkward to part pay $34.00 GC and part remaining with CC (especially on internet booking)and then get reimbursed.
Searching the thread for "award" would show that, in practice, recent experience is that the full amount of taxes and fees gets reimbursed on an award ticket, so there's no need to split payment with a gift card.
Zorak is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 1:36 pm
  #2053  
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 2
Trying to get my Platinum bonus... I bought a $50 eGift card, and when I went to the Review and Pay section, under Payment, it said I had to redeem the gift card under delta.com/redeem. Whereas in the email it said I could apply the eGift card at the payment page. Am I missing something here?
oekalb is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 1:41 pm
  #2054  
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: 18,819
Originally Posted by oekalb
Trying to get my Platinum bonus... I bought a $50 eGift card, and when I went to the Review and Pay section, under Payment, it said I had to redeem the gift card under delta.com/redeem. Whereas in the email it said I could apply the eGift card at the payment page. Am I missing something here?
Delta recently "enhanced" the web site and, for a while, made it so that you had to *start* from the /redeem link in order to redeem a GC. If you went through the booking process and wanted to apply a GC at checkout, it'd make you click through to that link and start everything over again

So it's probably just a matter of the email template not catching up to the latest web site "features" -- except on the last couple weeks or so it appeared that they had (at least temporarily) fixed the checkout flow so that it was over again possible to apply a GC without losing your selected flight etc.

Bottom line, YMMV and it's subject to the whims of DL's crack squad of web designers and UI/UX experts
Zorak is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 1:45 pm
  #2055  
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 2
Originally Posted by Zorak
So it's probably just a matter of the email template not catching up to the latest web site "features" -- except on the last couple weeks or so it appeared that they had (at least temporarily) fixed the checkout flow so that it was over again possible to apply a GC without losing your selected flight etc.
Yeah, I went through the redeem link they had in the checkout. This time I didn't log in, and it seemed that it applied it properly like I had seen previously in the thread. I think last time I tried (a few weeks ago), I had been logged in and it tried to apply the GC to my account, and then it made the payment weird, and didn't trigger the incidental reimbursement. But this time it looked different so it may work.
oekalb is offline  

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