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)
Nov 28, 2019, 7:15 am
#2431
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AC SE100K, AA EXP, SPG Plt, HH Dmnd
Posts: 1,507
Nov 28, 2019, 8:21 am
#2432
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,791
Nov 28, 2019, 8:44 am
#2433
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 12
Thanks so much!
Dec 1, 2019, 8:13 pm
#2435
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 15
Update: My meter has moved $209 from my purchase last week showing only $41 in credit remaining. Hasn't shown up on the statement yet but obviously it will now. Woo 
Dec 1, 2019, 8:38 pm
#2436
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
Can a Delta agent apply only part of a gift card on a phone purchase or do you have to use the entire amount?
I bought 2-$500 gift cards from Costco and if I have a $350 fare can I call Delta and ask them to apply $150 of the gift card towards the purchase and the other $200 on my Am Ex to generate the credit?
I bought 2-$500 gift cards from Costco and if I have a $350 fare can I call Delta and ask them to apply $150 of the gift card towards the purchase and the other $200 on my Am Ex to generate the credit?
Dec 2, 2019, 12:21 am
#2437
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
A data point: I've seen the credits automatically come through for award travel taxes, for amounts under $50 in particular. Though I haven't done this since Amex made changes to eliminate gift cards as an option, so don't know if these transactions would have been affected too. (Under the T&Cs, such fees are not officially reimbursable.)........
Last edited by TerryK; Dec 2, 2019 at 12:56 am
Dec 2, 2019, 11:43 am
#2438
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 1
hey I was wondering, did you buy a refundable flight?
Dec 2, 2019, 12:19 pm
#2439
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
I need to cancel Sept. 2020 award tickets on Air France that I obtained last week using Delta miles. Am I correct in assuming that if I designate Delta as the airline for my Hilton Aspire Amex card, my airline fee credit for that card can be applied to the Delta redeposit fee? And is the same true for my Amex Platinum card?
Thanks for any help with this.
Thanks for any help with this.
Dec 2, 2019, 8:04 pm
#2440
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 291
Anyone having issues lately with not being able to use gift cards even after 72 hours? Tried to call in but it's estimating a 2 hour wait time.
Dec 2, 2019, 9:05 pm
#2441
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
I had purchased the GC on a Thursday afternoon so tried to redeem at the same time on Sunday. Was told that my 72 hours were Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and to try again on Monday morning. Sounded like something a rep would make up but on Monday morning - sure enough - GC was redeemable.
Dec 2, 2019, 9:16 pm
#2442
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 291
It's been 98 hours since purchase when I tried to redeem so not sure what's going on. I'll try again tomorrow.
Hate how you can't tell if a gift card is ready to use until after you've gone through the booking process.
Hate how you can't tell if a gift card is ready to use until after you've gone through the booking process.
Dec 3, 2019, 8:35 pm
#2443
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: PDX
Programs: DL Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, HH Gold, National Executive, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 136
Online or Physical GC To Trigger Credit
Does anyone know if you can use a $50 Delta GC that you buy on their website, or if you have to have a physical gift card purchased at a store to trigger the amex credit fee in conjunction with purchasing a flight for less than $250?
"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)"
"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)"
Dec 3, 2019, 11:17 pm
#2444
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
Does anyone know if you can use a $50 Delta GC that you buy on their website, or if you have to have a physical gift card purchased at a store to trigger the amex credit fee in conjunction with purchasing a flight for less than $250?
"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)"
"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)"
Dec 4, 2019, 8:39 am
#2445
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM 1.77MM, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 2,786
Posting this here as I didn't find a definitive answer by searching the thread. I've got $188.80 in credit set to expire that I'd like to use (and preferably not on mileage booster/etc)...
If I try to do an FCM with a GC:
Also, has anyone tried to modify a <$200 flight and trigger the credit (the thought process being that the credit outweighs throwing away the existing ticket and buying a new one, which of course wouldn't trigger the credit)? Assume this would require a CSR. This may be a hair-brained idea, but I'd thought I'd throw it out there for discussion.
If I try to do an FCM with a GC:
- Will this transaction indeed trigger the credit?
- If yes to #1 , can it be done online or does a CSR have to process it?
Also, has anyone tried to modify a <$200 flight and trigger the credit (the thought process being that the credit outweighs throwing away the existing ticket and buying a new one, which of course wouldn't trigger the credit)? Assume this would require a CSR. This may be a hair-brained idea, but I'd thought I'd throw it out there for discussion.