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

Jan 9, 20, 12:52 am - Wikipost

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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.

For other airlines:
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Dec 22, 16, 6:06 pm

#211

DeltaFlyer IntrepidClass

formerly known as s2kdriver80

Join Date: Nov 2014

Location: Long Island, New York, USA (JFK <--> OTP)

Programs: Delta SkyMiles, SPG, Marriott Rewards, Amex MR, Chase UR

Posts: 303

Eligible for Amex airline credit with partner airline if on same itinerary ?

I have a round trip itinerary purchased from Delta's website, from JFK New York to OTP Bucharest and back.

I'll be paying for excess checked-in luggage both ways, so it's an opportunity to make use of the airline credits from 3 of my cards (Platinum, Business Platinum, PRG).

I chose Delta as my airline for all 3 cards.

When paying for excess luggage at JFK, obviously there is no issue. But on the way back, KLM or TAROM will be the originating airline. If I used any of those 3 cards to pay for excess luggage at the airport in Bucharest, would I be eligible for the credit?

I know that KLM or TAROM isn't Delta, but I purchased the whole itinerary initially from Delta's site.

Thanks!

Dec 22, 16, 7:46 pm

#212

tonei

Formerly known as stellertony

Join Date: Oct 2006

Location: MEX

Programs: UA Gold, DL Gold, NEXUS, APEC

Posts: 1,131

The credits will only trigger for charges posted by your selected airline - in this case Delta.

Dec 22, 16, 7:53 pm

#213

DeltaFlyer IntrepidClass

formerly known as s2kdriver80

Join Date: Nov 2014

Location: Long Island, New York, USA (JFK <--> OTP)

Programs: Delta SkyMiles, SPG, Marriott Rewards, Amex MR, Chase UR

Posts: 303

Ahh thanks

Dec 23, 16, 5:16 pm

#214

Zach Resnick

Join Date: Aug 2016

Location: AMM/NYC/SFO

Posts: 23

Anyone know if I haven't used my airline credit for amex platinum yet do I still have time to switch my airline and get the $200 credit? I tried to use united mpx and gift registry in the last month but looks both failed and was planning on switching to delta and buying 4 $50 gift cards in separate purchases

Dec 24, 16, 7:29 am

#215

yupenn

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: CHI, NYC, SHA/PVG, PEK/PKX

Programs: DL PM, Hertz 5*, Hilton Gold

Posts: 61

i was able to switch my airline from SW to DL by complaining to customer service desk

Dec 24, 16, 7:42 am

#216

wiivile

Join Date: Nov 2013

Location: NYC

Programs: BA

Posts: 930

Is there still a limit of 3 eCerts per transaction? No way to combine them? If you book a flight with 3 eCerts, cancel within 24 hours, will they give you one $150 eCert back that you can use?

Dec 24, 16, 8:36 am

#217

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: 45,147

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiivile

Is there still a limit of 3 eCerts per transaction?

Scroll back to December 21 for discussion of different rules which apply to telephone vs online transactions. Online limit is three per booking; telephone is three per ticket.

Dec 24, 16, 8:41 am

#218

wiivile

Join Date: Nov 2013

Location: NYC

Programs: BA

Posts: 930

Quote:

Originally Posted by mia

Scroll back to December 21 for discussion of different rules which apply to telephone vs online transactions. Online limit is three per booking; telephone is three per ticket.

Ok, so beyond filing a complaint about them making it harder to redeem multiple small gift cards by refusing to combine them and imposing a limit on the number that can be redeemed, can they be combined by the above-mentioned method of booking a flight and then cancelling? Will they refund it as one larger cert? Or will they simply refund the original $50 eCerts?

Last edited by wiivile; Dec 24, 16 at 8:58 am

Dec 24, 16, 8:56 am

#219

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: 45,147

Terms do not directly address your scenario:

Quote:

Where eGifts or Cards are redeemed for a ticket, but travel is not taken, the value of the redeemed ticket (after any applicable penalties) will be provided in accordance with Delta Air Lines’ standard policy regarding ticket refunds.

Elsewhere I see this FAQ, but it doesn't explain how 24 hour cancellations are actually processed:

Quote:

If my eCredit covers the cost of my ticket, why do I need to provide credit card information?

Credit card information is required for all flight purchases in order to be eligible for Risk Free Cancellation online.

Dec 24, 16, 9:04 am

#220

wiivile

Join Date: Nov 2013

Location: NYC

Programs: BA

Posts: 930

Quote:

Originally Posted by mia

Terms do not directly address your scenario:

Elsewhere I see this FAQ, but it doesn't explain how 24 hour cancellations are actually processed:

If anyone wants to try booking a Delta flight with two $50 eCerts and a credit card, then cancelling within 24 hours, and letting me know if the eCerts get refunded as one $100 eCert or back to the same $50 eCerts, I would be very grateful

I really don't fly revenue fares on Delta enough to use a bunch of $50 eCerts- I would pick United instead for the TravelBank. (but prefer Delta to United if the eCerts can be combined using this method)

Dec 25, 16, 12:47 am

#221

arctann

Join Date: Oct 2014

Programs: AA Gold

Posts: 50

Successfully changed my dad's airline from UA to DL using the online chat just now. Simple and quick. He got rejected trying to do that when calling in a few days back.

Just put in an order for 4x$50 eCerts. Will post back with results.

Dec 29, 16, 11:05 am

#222

amexmember12

Join Date: Dec 2016

Posts: 2

Data point - Amex Platinum

Worked for me - did a test transaction of $50 on the 27th and the credit posted the next day. Going to do my next 3 now.

Dec 30, 16, 7:39 pm

#223

yoome

Join Date: Dec 2016

Posts: 1

Amex prg airline credit

Hi,

I purchased a one day pass for delta sky club which was $59 and got reimbursed. However, if I buy another one day pass, do I get to pay $59-$41=$18 or do I have to pay the full amount since it exceeds my remaining airline credit?