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 23, 2019, 12:35 pm
#2071
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 206
239 dollar ticket - bought a 50 dollar gift card off of raise (no local stores sold) getting 3 percent off. Used a card that gets 3x points online shopping. Applied 50 dollar gift card and put 189 on amex platinum. Posted 9/18. Reimbursement 9/22.
Sep 23, 2019, 3:06 pm
#2072
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: American Airline
Posts: 12
9/17 - Purchased Delta ticket with two $50 GC and $147.60 on AMEX Platinum
9/19 - Reimbursement posted for $147.60.
9/19 - Reimbursement posted for $147.60.
Sep 23, 2019, 9:46 pm
#2073
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 337
I bought two one-way tickets that total over $700. Used $350 gift card and paid the balance $380 on personal platinum. It did not reimburse automatically. I waited two weeks and chatted to get the credit, telling the agent it is for seat upgrade as the charge was posted as "additional collection".
Sep 24, 2019, 6:40 pm
#2074
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Gold, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,360
Ticket from ATL-LAX was $433. Went to the grocery store and bought 2 $100 Delta gift cards with my Gold Amex (quad points). Went home to book and discovered you have to give those gift cards overnight to activate. Grrrr!
Next morning, got up and the gift cards were active. But the fare went down to $355! So now I couldn't max out the reimbursement. I went to the store and bought ANOTHER $50 gift card. Waited all evening for activation, to no avail. So I went ahead and booked it with the 2 $100 cards. (The available flights kept changing during the day, and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to get what I wanted if I waited.)
Booked 9/17.
Posted 9/18
Meter didn't move until 9/23.
Reimbursement of $155 posted 9/24.
I guess I can use some of the rest on "Food for Purchase" if I get hungry.
Next morning, got up and the gift cards were active. But the fare went down to $355! So now I couldn't max out the reimbursement. I went to the store and bought ANOTHER $50 gift card. Waited all evening for activation, to no avail. So I went ahead and booked it with the 2 $100 cards. (The available flights kept changing during the day, and I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to get what I wanted if I waited.)
Booked 9/17.
Posted 9/18
Meter didn't move until 9/23.
Reimbursement of $155 posted 9/24.
I guess I can use some of the rest on "Food for Purchase" if I get hungry.
Sep 24, 2019, 10:39 pm
#2075
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
I bought two one-way tickets that total over $700. Used $350 gift card and paid the balance $380 on personal platinum. It did not reimburse automatically. I waited two weeks and chatted to get the credit, telling the agent it is for seat upgrade as the charge was posted as "additional collection".
If Amex takes this benefit away, this will be part of the reason why.
Sep 25, 2019, 9:39 am
#2076
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Metro ATL
Posts: 359
DP:
Bought 2 separate round trip tickets with $117.10 remaining balances after applying $50 DLGC and paid with Personal Amex Gold CC.
4 days later $100 credit posted on both cards.
Bought 2 separate round trip tickets with $117.10 remaining balances after applying $50 DLGC and paid with Personal Amex Gold CC.
4 days later $100 credit posted on both cards.
Last edited by touristtrap; Sep 25, 2019 at 9:41 am Reason: Clarify
Sep 25, 2019, 9:45 am
#2077
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Sep 25, 2019, 10:15 pm
#2078
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: DL, WoH
Posts: 1,253
All seat upgrades get reimbursed right?
Sep 26, 2019, 8:12 am
#2080
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: United 1P
Posts: 688
Is the time period that we cannot use e-gift cards after their purchase 24 hours or 72 hours? Thank you.
Sep 26, 2019, 8:16 am
#2081
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,851
Sep 26, 2019, 9:34 am
#2082
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,195
Seventy-two hours if you purchase an e-gift card online; twenty-four hours if you purchase a physical gift card at a retail store.
Last edited by Diplomatico; Sep 26, 2019 at 1:11 pm
Sep 26, 2019, 11:15 am
#2083
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,044
Sep 26, 2019, 1:10 pm
#2084
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,195
Edited my previous post to reflect that physical cards purchased in retailers have a 24 hour wait period.
Sep 26, 2019, 5:12 pm
#2085
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745