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)
Nov 5, 2019, 8:52 am
#2266
Join Date: Nov 2019
Programs: allllllll of them
Posts: 2
Purchased Mileage Booster for $59.00 on 11/01 posted 11/04 as Miscellaneous Tax(S)/Fee(S) on Gold amex, meter hasn't moved. 
Nov 5, 2019, 11:20 am
#2267
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 137
I have a $308 DL flight to book, and I have $300 in total credits (across Plat and Gold) to spend for this year. Could I:
- purchase a $50 GC,
- use the GC to pay for part of this flight,
- and have $200 credited to my Plat, and $58 credited to my Gold? (assuming DL would allow payment across two credit cards)?
- purchase a $50 GC,
- use the GC to pay for part of this flight,
- and have $200 credited to my Plat, and $58 credited to my Gold? (assuming DL would allow payment across two credit cards)?
Nov 5, 2019, 11:23 am
#2268
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: 18,928
I have a $308 DL flight to book, and I have $300 in total credits (across Plat and Gold) to spend for this year. Could I:
- purchase a $50 GC,
- use the GC to pay for part of this flight,
- and have $200 credited to my Plat, and $58 credited to my Gold? (assuming DL would allow payment across two credit cards)?
- purchase a $50 GC,
- use the GC to pay for part of this flight,
- and have $200 credited to my Plat, and $58 credited to my Gold? (assuming DL would allow payment across two credit cards)?
Nov 5, 2019, 11:39 am
#2270
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: 18,928
Right, I just meant that last I remember the website will do GC + CC but it doesn't handle any combination involving multiple credit cards so you'll have to call in to do GC + 2 CCs. You shouldn't need to say anything to the phone agent about add/collect (nor would I anyway, it'd probably just confuse matters) -- it should just automatically happen that way.
Nov 5, 2019, 12:18 pm
#2271
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 137
Right, I just meant that last I remember the website will do GC + CC but it doesn't handle any combination involving multiple credit cards so you'll have to call in to do GC + 2 CCs. You shouldn't need to say anything to the phone agent about add/collect (nor would I anyway, it'd probably just confuse matters) -- it should just automatically happen that way.
Nov 5, 2019, 1:15 pm
#2272
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
A little OT but is a 72 hour wait to use a gift card purchased on Delta.com a new policy? There is a flight I wanted to book and bought a gift card last night and was told to allow at least 72 hours for the gift card to be active. I never remembered that before when buying a gift card and seeing it's purchased directly through Delta not sure why it's not available immediately.
Nov 5, 2019, 1:19 pm
#2273
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
Nov 5, 2019, 6:46 pm
#2274
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Delta PM
Posts: 323
Nov 6, 2019, 7:16 am
#2275
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: n/a
Posts: 41
Don’t see many reports recently of delta comfort + triggering the credit. Have some flights in late January that I plan on upgrading with the reset credit. Anyone have recent DPs?
Nov 6, 2019, 7:32 am
#2276
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: BOS
Programs: DL SILVER AMEX MRHH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 186
Did not work
No reimbursement and it has been ten days.
I read somewhere in a comment here, it only seems to work for those with no medallion status.
Nov 6, 2019, 8:11 am
#2277
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
I upgraded from a C+ to first and it didn't post. The C+ was an immediate upgrade though so not sure if that had anything to do with it. I had to call Am Ex with another question on that statement and the rep said the $69 should have posted as a credit and she put in a manual adjustment that posted two days later. I know it's a YMMV situation, but you aren't out calling.
Nov 6, 2019, 8:22 am
#2278
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 19
I upgraded to Comfort + for a flight back in September (purchased in August). It was $40. The credit didn't trigger. I web chatted with Amex and told them it was a seat selection, and they told me to wait until my next statement. It still didn't post and I web chatted again and told them my "seat selection" wasn't credited. They credited it right away. (I don't have Delta status btw).
Nov 6, 2019, 8:33 am
#2279
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 396
Sorry if this has already been asked/answered. I'm relatively new to the Amex Plat card.
I have both the Amex Plat and Delta Amex Plat with the companion certificate. The T&Cs on the Cert say you must pay with the Delta Amex Plat but is that enforced?
Here's what I'd like to do...would it work?
Airfare i want is $398.
I want to use the BOGO to buy both tickets. I have 5 - $50 Delta gift cards already purchased. I'm assuming my total will be a little over $400 after the companion's taxes.
Use all 5 gift cards to bring the total under $200 and pay that with the Amex Plat; and hopefully get close to $200 is incidental credits back. I assume I'd have to call to use all 5 gift cards at once?
Advice?
I have both the Amex Plat and Delta Amex Plat with the companion certificate. The T&Cs on the Cert say you must pay with the Delta Amex Plat but is that enforced?
Here's what I'd like to do...would it work?
Airfare i want is $398.
I want to use the BOGO to buy both tickets. I have 5 - $50 Delta gift cards already purchased. I'm assuming my total will be a little over $400 after the companion's taxes.
Use all 5 gift cards to bring the total under $200 and pay that with the Amex Plat; and hopefully get close to $200 is incidental credits back. I assume I'd have to call to use all 5 gift cards at once?
Advice?
Nov 6, 2019, 8:41 am
#2280
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: 18,928
EDIT: although the booking flow is slightly different for companion certs than normal tickets in that you have to visit your wallet and check the box for the certificate before searching. I think you'll still be able to apply a GC for partial payment and the rest on a CC but not 100% sure.