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 20, 2019, 6:54 am
#2551
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 223
Not that another DP is needed, but here it is anyway:
12/14 purchased $150 GC on the mobile site which activates the GC after 24 hours
12/15 called for $259 fare which charged as $109 after GC, $109 showed as additional collection
12/19 Meter showed credit used
12/20 Credit posted
12/14 purchased $150 GC on the mobile site which activates the GC after 24 hours
12/15 called for $259 fare which charged as $109 after GC, $109 showed as additional collection
12/19 Meter showed credit used
12/20 Credit posted
Dec 20, 2019, 9:02 am
#2552
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Boston
Programs: AMEX plat
Posts: 10
12/14: Purchased $256 RT ticket using $50 Delta GC (from last year's benefits) and Amex plat, posted as "additional collection" of $206.
12/18: $200 airline credit posted.
Thanks for all the info shared here.
12/18: $200 airline credit posted.
Thanks for all the info shared here.
Dec 20, 2019, 2:36 pm
#2553
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
Am I correct in assuming that I can't specify how much of a large balance gift card to use? I bought one of those $1000 DL gift cards from Costco (10% off). I'd like to use it in 2020 for an additional collection split tender, but don't think there's a way. Maybe on the phone?
Dec 20, 2019, 2:46 pm
#2554
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,224
I just booked a flight (literally this morning) with 3x$50 gift cards (so lower amount) - it did not let me specify an amount to use - made the gift card balance go to $0
Dec 20, 2019, 3:09 pm
#2555
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,932
Am I correct in assuming that I can't specify how much of a large balance gift card to use? I bought one of those $1000 DL gift cards from Costco (10% off). I'd like to use it in 2020 for an additional collection split tender, but don't think there's a way. Maybe on the phone?
Dec 20, 2019, 4:33 pm
#2557
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Terminus
Posts: 29
correct, after using some miles to bring the balance below $250 i used the card to pay the rest, triggering the credit
Dec 20, 2019, 5:09 pm
#2558
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
Dec 20, 2019, 9:20 pm
#2559
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 8
Amex Platinum - Delta comfort+ (success)
Here's a data point that worked (manually):
I booked a flight and then bought comfort plus on a separate transaction for $148. It did not trigger but was fairly easy to get amex to approve it for the airline credit. Be careful with Delta because they seem to use the word "upgrade" a lot. In a small crj, they actually use the term "upgrade to preferred" just to choose and pay for the exit row. This transaction was categorized as an upgrade, which is why it didn't trigger. When calling, never use the word upgrade but stress that it's just a "seat selection" and it's in the same cabin and class.
Dec 3: Posted transaction of $148 (labeled "upgrade")
Dec 10: I call for inquiry. He said that they have to wait 4 weeks. Since it's close to the end of the year, that they will do it in 2 weeks. He made a note on my record that said to call back after 2 weeks of the posted transaction and they will honor the credit.
Dec 18: I call back. She said that they really should wait for the 4 weeks but she was very nice and did it anyway.
Dec 19: Gauge moved.
Dec 20: Airline credit posted for $148!
I booked a flight and then bought comfort plus on a separate transaction for $148. It did not trigger but was fairly easy to get amex to approve it for the airline credit. Be careful with Delta because they seem to use the word "upgrade" a lot. In a small crj, they actually use the term "upgrade to preferred" just to choose and pay for the exit row. This transaction was categorized as an upgrade, which is why it didn't trigger. When calling, never use the word upgrade but stress that it's just a "seat selection" and it's in the same cabin and class.
Dec 3: Posted transaction of $148 (labeled "upgrade")
Dec 10: I call for inquiry. He said that they have to wait 4 weeks. Since it's close to the end of the year, that they will do it in 2 weeks. He made a note on my record that said to call back after 2 weeks of the posted transaction and they will honor the credit.
Dec 18: I call back. She said that they really should wait for the 4 weeks but she was very nice and did it anyway.
Dec 19: Gauge moved.
Dec 20: Airline credit posted for $148!
Dec 22, 2019, 9:50 am
#2560
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 3
I'm sure this has been answered but I couldn't find it!
Does anyone know if a charge that posts in 2019 will definitely count towards your 2019 credit? I will be flying Delta on 12/29 and was planning on using my last ~$25 for skyclub access for my wife. Thanks!
Does anyone know if a charge that posts in 2019 will definitely count towards your 2019 credit? I will be flying Delta on 12/29 and was planning on using my last ~$25 for skyclub access for my wife. Thanks!
Dec 22, 2019, 10:32 am
#2561
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Delta
Posts: 61
Bought the mileage booster for $59 x 2 and got $118 credit on my Amex. At least you can use the credit for extra miles, however I had to cancel my trip last minute...that's a different story. Waiting to see if luggage also gets a credit as I haven't hit my $200 limit yet. Cancelling the card tomorrow, the $500 fee just isn't worth the hassle to use these impossible to use credits.
Dec 22, 2019, 2:12 pm
#2562
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Mexico City, MX
Programs: No airline/hotel status use, Chase UR, Amex MR, CapOne etc
Posts: 266
Does anyone have any data points about purchasing award flights using skymiles and having the taxes refunded? my annual fee just hit a few days ago and i have until Jan 8 to get the full $595 refund. I was thinking about purchasing this award flight that has a $150 copay on Jan 1st, and hope it posts by Jan 6 or 7 and immediately cancel the card
Even if this does work what are the chances of this posting before the jan 6-7 due date?
In the past amex platinum refunded skymile award taxes but its been a while dunno if this has changed.
Even if this does work what are the chances of this posting before the jan 6-7 due date?
In the past amex platinum refunded skymile award taxes but its been a while dunno if this has changed.
Last edited by PointsPanda; Dec 22, 2019 at 2:20 pm
Dec 22, 2019, 11:40 pm
#2563
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Am I correct in assuming that I can't specify how much of a large balance gift card to use? I bought one of those $1000 DL gift cards from Costco (10% off). I'd like to use it in 2020 for an additional collection split tender, but don't think there's a way. Maybe on the phone?
Dec 23, 2019, 12:07 am
#2564
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Left Coast
Programs: UA 1K & 1MM, HH Diamond, Marriott/SPG Gold (UA comp)
Posts: 1,354
Here's my experience:
12-16- Purchased $50 DL gift card from Target.com (language there says up to 24h to activate, better than the 3d @ it can take per DL agents [and per FT posts])
12-17- Purchased a $270 fare with $50 GC and $220 charge to Aspire; posted $220 as pending immediately
12-18- still pending
12-19- no longer pending but no credit showing
12-20- no longer pending but no credit showing
12-21- $220 credit showed up; have $30 left over
12-16- Purchased $50 DL gift card from Target.com (language there says up to 24h to activate, better than the 3d @ it can take per DL agents [and per FT posts])
12-17- Purchased a $270 fare with $50 GC and $220 charge to Aspire; posted $220 as pending immediately
12-18- still pending
12-19- no longer pending but no credit showing
12-20- no longer pending but no credit showing
12-21- $220 credit showed up; have $30 left over
Dec 23, 2019, 1:32 am
#2565
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 14
Does anyone have any data points about purchasing award flights using skymiles and having the taxes refunded? my annual fee just hit a few days ago and i have until Jan 8 to get the full $595 refund. I was thinking about purchasing this award flight that has a $150 copay on Jan 1st, and hope it posts by Jan 6 or 7 and immediately cancel the card
Even if this does work what are the chances of this posting before the jan 6-7 due date?
In the past amex platinum refunded skymile award taxes but its been a while dunno if this has changed.
Even if this does work what are the chances of this posting before the jan 6-7 due date?
In the past amex platinum refunded skymile award taxes but its been a while dunno if this has changed.