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 29, 2019, 2:11 pm
#2101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
To each their own. I get exactly $200 of value from my Plat card every year without having to jump through any hoops or really even try, and on things I was buying anyway before I had the Plat.
And I do this as a DM (and previously PM) with all the customary fee waivers, etc. that come with that.
And I do this as a DM (and previously PM) with all the customary fee waivers, etc. that come with that.
Sep 29, 2019, 5:39 pm
#2102
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,897
At the end of the day I’ll probably keep both as long as I am engaged in Membership Rewards
Last edited by Adelphos; Sep 29, 2019 at 5:45 pm
Sep 30, 2019, 7:48 am
#2103
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Somewhere between DCA, LHR, and TLV
Posts: 46
Successful in getting two seat changes from Economy to Comfort+ credited as "seat selection fees" this month, although the credits did not appear manually and I had to contact Amex after 2 weeks to get it manually entered.
Sep 30, 2019, 8:36 am
#2104
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,851
Never call!
Sep 30, 2019, 11:00 am
#2105
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
If everyone called AMEX to get an upgrade (that's what it is), changed to a so-called seat selection so they can have the CSR manually credit the transaction, that just gives AMEX another reason to critique all the other "additional collection" transactions. In doing so, there will be loopholes left!
Never call!
Never call!
No harm in calling to ask AMEX to manually credit an allowable fee.
Sep 30, 2019, 11:06 am
#2106
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
For the purposes of incidental fee credits, AMEX policy has been that movement from one seat to another within the same class of ticket (i.e., economy to "better" economy) is not an "upgrade", it is a seat selection fee. It may be marketed by Delta as an "upgrade" but for AMEX purposes an upgrade is from Y -> J or J -> F.
No harm in calling to ask AMEX to manually credit an allowable fee.
No harm in calling to ask AMEX to manually credit an allowable fee.
Sep 30, 2019, 11:26 am
#2107
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Somewhere between DCA, LHR, and TLV
Posts: 46
True, but DL has muddied the water by talking about the basic economy, main cabin, C+, PS, FC,and D1 "experiences", using different booking classes for C+, and referring to C+ upgrades. Even though there's no physical barrier in the aircraft, marketing suggests that it's a bit more than just a "better" economy seat like the preferred seats in coach.
Sep 30, 2019, 11:40 am
#2108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
True, but DL has muddied the water by talking about the basic economy, main cabin, C+, PS, FC,and D1 "experiences", using different booking classes for C+, and referring to C+ upgrades. Even though there's no physical barrier in the aircraft, marketing suggests that it's a bit more than just a "better" economy seat like the preferred seats in coach.
If we go by the "same cabin" definition, things get fuzzy. But arguably since DL is selling it as a different "experience", selling it in a different fare bucket, and physically segmenting out a separate and consolidated set of seats for it, it could be argued that it is indeed a different "cabin" in the sense of how airline seats are delineated.
Sep 30, 2019, 2:52 pm
#2109
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
This. By diplomatico's very definition, the way DL handles C+ would indeed be considered an upgrade, because DL specifically changes the ticket class (and even issues a new ticket) when someone buys up from MC to C+.
If we go by the "same cabin" definition, things get fuzzy. But arguably since DL is selling it as a different "experience", selling it in a different fare bucket, and physically segmenting out a separate and consolidated set of seats for it, it could be argued that it is indeed a different "cabin" in the sense of how airline seats are delineated.
If we go by the "same cabin" definition, things get fuzzy. But arguably since DL is selling it as a different "experience", selling it in a different fare bucket, and physically segmenting out a separate and consolidated set of seats for it, it could be argued that it is indeed a different "cabin" in the sense of how airline seats are delineated.
Using your definition, United E+ could be "argued" (your word) as a separate "cabin" since UA is selling it as a different "experience" and physically segmenting out a separate and consolidated set of seats for it. I doubt anyone would argue that United E+ is anything but a more expensive economy seat, just as Delta's are simply more expensive economy seats.
Airlines can claim whatever they want in their marketing pitches - doesn't make it true.
Sep 30, 2019, 2:55 pm
#2110
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
Absolutely not. Economy is economy, no matter how the airline tries to massage your shoulder and rub your neck into feeling "special".
Using your definition, United E+ could be "argued" (your word) as a separate "cabin" since UA is selling it as a different "experience" and physically segmenting out a separate and consolidated set of seats for it. I doubt anyone would argue that United E+ is anything but a more expensive economy seat, just as Delta's are simply more expensive economy seats.
Airlines can claim whatever they want in their marketing pitches - doesn't make it true.
Using your definition, United E+ could be "argued" (your word) as a separate "cabin" since UA is selling it as a different "experience" and physically segmenting out a separate and consolidated set of seats for it. I doubt anyone would argue that United E+ is anything but a more expensive economy seat, just as Delta's are simply more expensive economy seats.
Airlines can claim whatever they want in their marketing pitches - doesn't make it true.
Sep 30, 2019, 2:57 pm
#2111
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
Sep 30, 2019, 3:42 pm
#2112
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 6
Has anyone tried to purchase a physical DL gift card at the skyclubs and gotten the credit back? I ran in last night to grab a coffee before a flight and saw them at the counter and wondered if that may work.
Sep 30, 2019, 5:46 pm
#2113
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,959
To read recent discussion scroll back to 1852 and read forward. It seems the physical cards are displayed in the clubs, but paid for online.
Sep 30, 2019, 5:47 pm
#2114
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Absolutely not. Economy is economy, no matter how the airline tries to massage your shoulder and rub your neck into feeling "special".
Using your definition, United E+ could be "argued" (your word) as a separate "cabin" since UA is selling it as a different "experience" and physically segmenting out a separate and consolidated set of seats for it. I doubt anyone would argue that United E+ is anything but a more expensive economy seat, just as Delta's are simply more expensive economy seats.
Airlines can claim whatever they want in their marketing pitches - doesn't make it true.
Using your definition, United E+ could be "argued" (your word) as a separate "cabin" since UA is selling it as a different "experience" and physically segmenting out a separate and consolidated set of seats for it. I doubt anyone would argue that United E+ is anything but a more expensive economy seat, just as Delta's are simply more expensive economy seats.
Airlines can claim whatever they want in their marketing pitches - doesn't make it true.
But, companies are run by human beings, and currently DL uses the word "upgrade" to indicate a move from MC to C+. Amex uses the word "upgrade" to identify something that is explicitly excluded from the airline fee credit. It doesn't take a huge stretch to see a case where someone calls in asking for a credit to be applied to their "upgrade" and a human Amex agent reading the two things and denying it.
Oct 1, 2019, 2:18 pm
#2115
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 23
If I make a purchase now then close it before the reimbursement hits (annual fee already hit), do I still get the reimbursement?