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

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

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Old Jan 9, 20, 12:52 am   -   Wikipost
Please read: This is a community-maintained wiki post containing the most important information from this thread. You may edit the Wiki once you have been on FT for 90 days and have made 90 posts.
  
Last edit by: MaxVO
Wiki Link
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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Old Aug 15, 16, 9:27 am
  #151  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hilton Plastic, Delta Silver Emeritus
Posts: 991
Originally Posted by FireEmblemPride View Post
I read that, but don't actually understand what that means in practice. So just book two different itineraries? It's a poor value on international flights, right? (I'm based in Tokyo)
I'm not sure. One way doesn't seem to always be more expensive like it was years ago. But, sometimes it still is.

It probably isn't worth another $50-$150 of redemption anyway because if the a delay on the front end turns it into a trip in vain I do not believe you are protected on the return.

I fly enough on Delta (live near DTW) that it is not that hard to use them even with the three at a time limit.
highops is offline  
Old Sep 14, 16, 5:39 pm
  #152  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: NYC
Programs: DL ✈️
Posts: 625
Maybe I screwed it but well, it's worth asking here rather than asking AmEx.

I bought 2x$50 in March. Received the credit just 3 days after charge posted.
My PRG renewed in August. I bought 2x$50 last week. Credit not received (yet.)

I was wondering, according to the wiki it says "per calendar year" - so you could actually get the benefit twice in your first membership year? And get screwed like I did, paying the annual fee and only getting it once per year?
tomasdev is offline  
Old Sep 14, 16, 6:13 pm
  #153  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Alaska, Delta, Southwest
Posts: 1,507
Originally Posted by tomasdev View Post
Maybe I screwed it but well, it's worth asking here rather than asking AmEx.

I bought 2x$50 in March. Received the credit just 3 days after charge posted.
My PRG renewed in August. I bought 2x$50 last week. Credit not received (yet.)

I was wondering, according to the wiki it says "per calendar year" - so you could actually get the benefit twice in your first membership year? And get screwed like I did, paying the annual fee and only getting it once per year?
Im afraid so... The credit renews every year on January 1 regardless of when your annual fee hits.
strickerj is offline  
Old Sep 16, 16, 7:45 am
  #154  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,677
Originally Posted by tomasdev View Post
Maybe I screwed it but well, it's worth asking here rather than asking AmEx.

I bought 2x$50 in March. Received the credit just 3 days after charge posted.
My PRG renewed in August. I bought 2x$50 last week. Credit not received (yet.)

I was wondering, according to the wiki it says "per calendar year" - so you could actually get the benefit twice in your first membership year? And get screwed like I did, paying the annual fee and only getting it once per year?
The wiki is correct - you get the benefit once per calendar year (renewing 1/1), not per membership year. If you got credits in March 2016, you don't get more until 1/1/17.

But, it's not like you got "screwed". You still have $100 in DL GCs that I'd assume you were going to spend anyway. Or maybe now you have a nice Christmas/birthday/whatever present for someone already squared away.
gooselee is offline  
Old Sep 23, 16, 8:56 am
  #155  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: UA, SW, US, DL
Posts: 109
Not the most appropriate forum for my question, but still.
I tried to use these DL certificates on an international flight (MSP-CAN) on DL (with 1 code shared leg) for someone else's flight (not me). It didn't let me use them, saying 'Unable to use. Try later'. I just went ahead and use my CC to pay all the fare. Has anyone seen this message before? Was it just a website issue or more like restrictions on where I can use the certificates for?
slbnoob is offline  
Old Sep 25, 16, 1:50 pm
  #156  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 9,281
Originally Posted by work2fly View Post
I have a DL itin with 4 pax and the charge to change to Comfort + is $150 each.

Has anyone had recent experience getting reimbursed for similar charges of this magnitude?
Bump any update on this. Looking at 2x 89 Euro for C+ on a daytime TATL home from Europe. Purchase is separate from the actual award booking and would be 2 separate charges (thanks to DL an their awesome dynamic pricing I've had to book one at a time as they let saver awards dribble out).
Last edited by Duke787; Sep 25, 16 at 2:18 pm
Duke787 is offline  
Old Sep 26, 16, 4:48 am
  #157  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: Hertz PC, National EE, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 171
How many $50 Delta eCerts can be used in one booking?
Nat25 is offline  
Old Sep 26, 16, 7:17 am
  #158  
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: 45,219
Originally Posted by Nat25 View Post
How many $50 Delta eCerts can be used in one booking?
Read HERE. 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.
mia is online now  
Old Oct 19, 16, 7:36 am
  #159  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 47
Is PGGM dead?
I booked a delta ticket with economy comfort (at about 4pm one day) then cancel the ticket the next day (at about 1pm). The ticket charge is posted in credit card then refunded, but economy comfort only showed up as pending transaction (i.e. it is never posted) then disappered from pending transaction. So I do not receive the $200 credit. I tried twice, both are the same.

It was the other way around in the past - economy comfort charge was posted as a transaction then refunded, ticket charge was pending then disappered.
mango305 is offline  
Old Oct 22, 16, 5:48 pm
  #160  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 588
Seems like everyone is purchasing e-certs in $50x4 increments to activate credit benefit. Anyone have luck purchasing 1 $200 or 2x $100?
mrstraveler is offline  
Old Oct 22, 16, 5:50 pm
  #161  
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: 45,219
Originally Posted by mrstraveler View Post
...purchasing 1 $200 or 2x $100?
This does not work. Please read the Wikipost at the top of the thread.
mia is online now  
Old Oct 31, 16, 11:52 am
  #162  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 588
Booked two DL award seats, credit covered upgrades to Delta Comfort and a portion of the taxes.
mrstraveler is offline  
Old Nov 1, 16, 12:02 pm
  #163  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 766
Can you combine redeeming the e-certs with the Delta Reserve BOGO offer?
THEsocalledfan is offline  
Old Nov 3, 16, 8:32 am
  #164  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 9,281
Originally Posted by mrstraveler View Post
Booked two DL award seats, credit covered upgrades to Delta Comfort and a portion of the taxes.
How long did it take the credit to post? I bought 2x C+ for a TATL a couple days ago which both have posted at $100 each (as expected) but no credit yet.
Duke787 is offline  
Old Nov 3, 16, 11:51 am
  #165  
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:Lifetime Plat DL:Lifetime Silver UA:1P MAR:Lifetime Tit
Posts: 8,288
Originally Posted by Duke787 View Post
How long did it take the credit to post? I bought 2x C+ for a TATL a couple days ago which both have posted at $100 each (as expected) but no credit yet.
Please see Wiki. A couple days isn't enough of a wait - can take much longer than that, but typically a week or two will suffice.

Originally Posted by THEsocalledfan View Post
Can you combine redeeming the e-certs with the Delta Reserve BOGO offer?
AFAIK, you can't apply e-certs to the companion cert purchases.
mooper is offline  

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