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)
Sep 10, 2019, 11:52 am
#2026
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LAX
Posts: 556
Purchase gift cards from delta clubs?
Ever since Amex Plat not working for purchase $50 gift card online, any other ways to use the 200 credits? I saw delta club sell gift card, Will the transaction consider in club purchase? Anyone has experience? Thanks
Sep 10, 2019, 1:03 pm
#2027
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 2
Not sure if this well known, but got reimbursed $100 on Gold for a $100 Delta Vacations charge (rest was points).
Sep 10, 2019, 1:31 pm
#2028
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
That's an interesting option. Let us know 
Sep 10, 2019, 1:56 pm
#2029
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,959
Sep 11, 2019, 7:06 am
#2030
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,850
If I recall, in another thread under the American Express/Delta Airlines reimbursement forum, the transaction appears on your statement as something other than Delta Airlines. I could be wrong, but many folks like yourself are trying to find ways to use those benefits, including buying a bottle of top shelf wine.
Sep 11, 2019, 10:13 am
#2031
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,959
Sep 11, 2019, 11:18 am
#2032
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: New York City
Programs: TK E/*G, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 151
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
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
Sep 11, 2019, 11:23 am
#2033
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,850
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
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
Sep 11, 2019, 6:50 pm
#2034
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,648
So the new news is that GC are out but the credit will post on tickets/fees up to $200 in a single transaction?
i have $62 left for 2019 and need to buy a one way ticket @$196 next Jan
i have $62 left for 2019 and need to buy a one way ticket @$196 next Jan
Sep 11, 2019, 7:53 pm
#2035
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: 18,947
... provided you only partially pay for the ticket with your AMEX. So far the data points are using a GC or other electronic voucher/exchange from another ticket. I forget if anyone has reported success simply splitting across two different credit cards.
Sep 13, 2019, 10:57 am
#2036
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Somewhere between DCA, LHR, and TLV
Posts: 46
Does anyone have any further data points on the comfort+ issue? I've just done two main cabin -> C+ seat changes and neither triggered the fee; however, AMEX informed me to call/chat them back at the end of the 2 week window when credits are supposed to appear for the credit to be manually applied (I stated that those charges were "seat selection fees"). Has this worked out for anyone, and is there a dollar limit for what they consider a seat selection fee? E.g. will a one ~100 USD raise red flags?
Sep 14, 2019, 6:58 pm
#2037
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 1
Hi, can anyone suggest how to find a refundable ticket on Delta as cheap as possible? Have to get rid of $200 credit on the plat, cheapest I could see was LAX SFO for $272 refundable. Will it be okay to book this for a $50 GC and $222 on card? Or does it have to be within $200 on card to be safe? Any cheaper refundable flights that may exist? Also, does refundable on Delta mean it's actually fully refundable?
Sep 14, 2019, 10:27 pm
#2038
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Hi, can anyone suggest how to find a refundable ticket on Delta as cheap as possible? Have to get rid of $200 credit on the plat, cheapest I could see was LAX SFO for $272 refundable. Will it be okay to book this for a $50 GC and $222 on card? Or does it have to be within $200 on card to be safe? Any cheaper refundable flights that may exist? Also, does refundable on Delta mean it's actually fully refundable?
There isn't really a magic bullet/guarantee of what will work, especially since all of this is well outside the intended purpose of the credit. Read carefully, both here and in the rules of whatever ticket you buy.
Sep 17, 2019, 9:46 am
#2039
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 24
A friend just sent me a video recently posted on Youtube about how this guy bought miles from a kyosk in the Airport and it triggered his credit. I think his airline was JetBlue.. was just wondering if anyone has tried this with Delta, if they even sell miles at the airport. Thanks.
Wasn't sure if the link for the video can be posted here. If anyone wants to see it, PM me and ill send you the link.
Wasn't sure if the link for the video can be posted here. If anyone wants to see it, PM me and ill send you the link.
Sep 17, 2019, 9:56 am
#2040
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,959