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)
Dec 14, 2019, 6:24 am
#2491
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: Delta, Chase UR, Hyatt
Posts: 30
I'm flying Delta at the end of December and I still have $200 credit on one card and $62 credit on another card. Does Delta have the ability to buy miles? Otherwise I might try to change my airline for the card that still has $200 left as it doesn't seem like I am able to buy a refundable ticket of any kind - otherwise I guess I'm just buying drinks on drinks on drinks!
Dec 14, 2019, 11:23 am
#2492
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 15
I just tried to do this but don't see the option. Also I tried to upgrade to economy from basic economy but one of my flights it says it wasn't eligible. Ugh! So will mileage boosters come into play when I check in?
Dec 14, 2019, 12:56 pm
#2493
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 4
Miles and Cash
Hi everyone, would purchasing a ticket with “miles and cash” work to trigger the reimbursement? Where the cash portion is less than $250 and paid using amex plat.
sorry if this has been posted before but I wasn’t able to find the answer going back dozens of pages or so...
sorry if this has been posted before but I wasn’t able to find the answer going back dozens of pages or so...
Dec 14, 2019, 1:46 pm
#2494
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: PDX
Programs: DL Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, HH Gold, National Executive, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 136
$100 refund on Gold Card
I wanted to confirm that I bought a flight for $166 on my gold card with a $50 Delta GC purchased on their website. The $100 credit went through a week later. Thanks to everyone for the tips!
Dec 14, 2019, 2:33 pm
#2495
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: 100,403
I'm flying Delta at the end of December and I still have $200 credit on one card and $62 credit on another card. Does Delta have the ability to buy miles? Otherwise I might try to change my airline for the card that still has $200 left as it doesn't seem like I am able to buy a refundable ticket of any kind - otherwise I guess I'm just buying drinks on drinks on drinks!
This should work only if it's a domestic itinerary and all flights are DL or DeltaConnection.
Dec 14, 2019, 4:16 pm
#2496
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 1
Was your flight within this year? or can I book for next year
Dec 15, 2019, 11:39 am
#2497
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 1
Split payment w/ GC
Flight costed $439 and applied two $100 GC. The remaining $239 balance charged to personal Plat.
Booked 12/3
Charge posted 12/5
Credit posted: 12/10 ($200)!!
Booked 12/3
Charge posted 12/5
Credit posted: 12/10 ($200)!!
Dec 15, 2019, 10:25 pm
#2499
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: YYZ / NYC
Programs: AC E50K, DL GM , Hyatt Glob.
Posts: 123
Dec 16, 2019, 6:19 am
#2501
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 15
aw crap it's definitely not domestic.
thank you anyway!!
so at this point there's nothing I can do but buy drinks and food? Which they're serving for free anyway!
thank you anyway!!
so at this point there's nothing I can do but buy drinks and food? Which they're serving for free anyway!
Dec 16, 2019, 10:22 am
#2502
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 27
Still got $200 credit left and have an upcoming flight!
The FCM/seat assignment to premium select cost about $168, however since it's departing from another country it will be a foreign currency conversion.
Two questions for any warriors that tried FCM/seat assignment recently:
1. Considering that the total is below $200/250, should I just use the card to pay for the FCM/seat assignment, or get a $50GC then charge the rest to trigger additional collection?
2. Will the foreign currency factor cause any issue?
The FCM/seat assignment to premium select cost about $168, however since it's departing from another country it will be a foreign currency conversion.
Two questions for any warriors that tried FCM/seat assignment recently:
1. Considering that the total is below $200/250, should I just use the card to pay for the FCM/seat assignment, or get a $50GC then charge the rest to trigger additional collection?
2. Will the foreign currency factor cause any issue?
Dec 16, 2019, 1:40 pm
#2503
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
If you have no other options in the next few weeks it might not hurt to try, maybe the foreign transaction fee will muddy the waters, and a call in to get a manual credit might pass as "seat assignment fee"?
What about day passes to the Amex Skyclub for traveling partners? Those are $29/pp and the credit will work.
Dec 16, 2019, 1:59 pm
#2504
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 1,207
Still got $200 credit left and have an upcoming flight!
The FCM/seat assignment to premium select cost about $168, however since it's departing from another country it will be a foreign currency conversion.
Two questions for any warriors that tried FCM/seat assignment recently:
1. Considering that the total is below $200/250, should I just use the card to pay for the FCM/seat assignment, or get a $50GC then charge the rest to trigger additional collection?
2. Will the foreign currency factor cause any issue?
The FCM/seat assignment to premium select cost about $168, however since it's departing from another country it will be a foreign currency conversion.
Two questions for any warriors that tried FCM/seat assignment recently:
1. Considering that the total is below $200/250, should I just use the card to pay for the FCM/seat assignment, or get a $50GC then charge the rest to trigger additional collection?
2. Will the foreign currency factor cause any issue?
2. You might be able to persuade an agent that you paid a fee of some sort, since the cost won't look standard given currency conversion. You're not entitled to reimbursement under the terms, though, and it likely won't happen automatically.
Last edited by JFKLAX321; Dec 16, 2019 at 1:59 pm Reason: typo
Dec 16, 2019, 2:06 pm
#2505
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 137
On Nov 22 I purchased a flight using a $50 DL gift card, with $200 charged to my Amex Plat. It has been over two weeks and I have not seen the credit post yet. Any thoughts on why this might be, and if there is anything I can do to get it to trigger?
Some notes:
- I did set my airline preference to DL
- I split the payment of the ticket ($500+) between 3 cards, one of which was my Amex Gold, and the $100 credit DID post on the Gold
- In order to get exactly $200 charged to my Plat I had to have the full ticket amount (which I had originally purchased the day before) refunded to the Plat, before re-splitting the cost between 3 cards to get the credit amounts to be under $250. Could the refund from DL for the first transaction have somehow canceled out the incoming credit posting?
Some notes:
- I did set my airline preference to DL
- I split the payment of the ticket ($500+) between 3 cards, one of which was my Amex Gold, and the $100 credit DID post on the Gold
- In order to get exactly $200 charged to my Plat I had to have the full ticket amount (which I had originally purchased the day before) refunded to the Plat, before re-splitting the cost between 3 cards to get the credit amounts to be under $250. Could the refund from DL for the first transaction have somehow canceled out the incoming credit posting?
Was wondering if anyone might have some input on my problem?