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

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Old Jan 18, 2016, 10:57 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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
  • 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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Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: DL only (2015-2019)

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Old Oct 10, 2019, 8:56 am
  #2131  
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 148
So if I need to book two tickets, I should book them separately with two different gift cards?
UAFLYER22 is offline  
Old Oct 10, 2019, 9:04 am
  #2132  
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
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Originally Posted by UAFLYER22
So if I need to book two tickets, I should book them separately with two different gift cards?
If you are hoping to split the reimbursement across both tickets, then yes.
Zorak is offline  
Old Oct 10, 2019, 1:05 pm
  #2133  
formerly DustyFoot
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SFO/OAK/SMF
Programs: UA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 99
Talking Successful Credit!

OW flight was $224.05. Used $50 GC and then used AMEX Plat for remaining $174.05.
  • $174.05 posted Oct. 6
  • -174.05 credited, meter moved. "Enjoy this credit courtesy of your $200 Airline Fee Credit benefit."
Gonna dump my AMEX Plat and just stick with CSR. I may join in as an AU with a friend on their AMEX Plat though. I gotta say, you guys are awesome for all of the knowledge and DPs you provide.
TheEscapeArtist is offline  
Old Oct 11, 2019, 9:23 am
  #2134  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: BSB
Posts: 260
.....

Last edited by Carq; Oct 11, 2019 at 9:32 am Reason: Dumb question.
Carq is offline  
Old Oct 11, 2019, 10:17 am
  #2135  
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 1
Wink Amex Airline Travel Credit

Does anyone know how to get reimbursed by using Amex airline travel credit (100$ for gold and 200$ for platinum) to purchase flights on Delta, United or American?
sjleric is offline  
Old Oct 11, 2019, 11:39 am
  #2136  
mia
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
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Posts: 48,958
Originally Posted by sjleric
.... Delta, United or American?
Welcome to Flyertalk. You have posted this question in the Delta thread. There are separate threads for American and United:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...s-aa-only.html

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...s-ua-only.html

Read the most recent posts in each thread, at a minimum a few dozen posts in each, to see what works. Then, if you have specific questions post in the thread for that airline.
gooselee likes this.
mia is offline  
Old Oct 12, 2019, 6:20 pm
  #2137  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Seattle, WA. USA
Programs: MR, AA, UA, DL, AVIS and growing
Posts: 1,172
Originally Posted by amolkold
I know Econ Comfort used to be reimbursed, has anything changed for Comfort + upgrade? Have a flight I want to upgrade and wonder if Amex will reimburse.
Bought DL award traveling C+ and AMEX covered fees $61.13.
Called to ask if I could do a seat upgrade which meant C+ to DL-1 using AMEX card and was denied as all of the upgrade would have to be paid with additional points. Also not sure but C+ cabin is different than DL-1 cabin which probably means fees would not be reimbursed on a seat upgrade purchased separately.
Any one know?
euromannn is offline  
Old Oct 12, 2019, 7:26 pm
  #2138  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
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Originally Posted by euromannn
Bought DL award traveling C+ and AMEX covered fees $61.13.
Called to ask if I could do a seat upgrade which meant C+ to DL-1 using AMEX card and was denied as all of the upgrade would have to be paid with additional points. Also not sure but C+ cabin is different than DL-1 cabin which probably means fees would not be reimbursed on a seat upgrade purchased separately.
Any one know?
Generally speaking, AMEX will not reimburse an "upgrade" which they define as moving to another cabin (i.e., Y -> J or J -> F.)

Edit: If you wanted to risk it, you'd pay for the upgrade with your card, then call AMEX and ask them to reimburse your "seat selection fee."

Last edited by Diplomatico; Oct 12, 2019 at 7:31 pm
Diplomatico is offline  
Old Oct 13, 2019, 1:39 am
  #2139  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Seattle, WA. USA
Programs: MR, AA, UA, DL, AVIS and growing
Posts: 1,172
Originally Posted by Diplomatico
Generally speaking, AMEX will not reimburse an "upgrade" which they define as moving to another cabin (i.e., Y -> J or J -> F.)

Edit: If you wanted to risk it, you'd pay for the upgrade with your card, then call AMEX and ask them to reimburse your "seat selection fee."
If the initial ticket is bought with award points(miles) only mile can be used for upgrade no cash or cc.
euromannn is offline  
Old Oct 13, 2019, 9:20 am
  #2140  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
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Originally Posted by euromannn
If the initial ticket is bought with award points(miles) only mile can be used for upgrade no cash or cc.
YMMV on that unless the policy has changed very recently. I’ve seen cash upgrade offers on the app and at kiosk check in on award tickets, most recently in July of this year.
PV_Premier is offline  
Old Oct 15, 2019, 6:04 am
  #2141  
GRG
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: TVC
Programs: DL SM
Posts: 39
Originally Posted by PV_Premier
YMMV on that unless the policy has changed very recently. I’ve seen cash upgrade offers on the app and at kiosk check in on award tickets, most recently in July of this year.
I recently booked two award tickets in main cabin and was immediately given cash FCM offers, which I took.

On another note, does anyone know if Mileage Boost charges are still reimbursed? If so, if I were to make two separate MB purchases at $59 each with my Gold card, how would AMEX handle the reimbursement? Would the second purchase see at $41 reimbursement does the total have to be exactly $100?

Thanks,
G
GRG is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2019, 8:31 am
  #2142  
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 7
Clawback datapoint?

Has there been any datapoint of a clawback after cancelling a fully refundable ticket? And is it possible to have delta refund you back in the form of a giftcard instead of a refund to the card?
flybye1567 is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2019, 12:01 pm
  #2143  
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 16
Bought a $200 ticket with $50 GC right after making the airline selection (email confirmation). Will report back if it comes through or not.
ynsep is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2019, 12:49 pm
  #2144  
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,610
If I have a $50 gift card, and the delta flight is $225, is it possible to only use $25 from the gift card and charge the rest to a credit card? Or must I deplete the maximum possible on my gift card?
nomiiiii is offline  
Old Oct 18, 2019, 7:35 am
  #2145  
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 3
it also worked for me with Delta Vacations packages partially paid with miles. If I’d known that, I would have used fewer miles!
MaxVO likes this.
Jlynmrie is offline  


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