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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 Apr 17, 2017, 7:12 am
  #361  
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 21
Purchased 4 x $50 on Friday, April 14 with my personal platinum
Posted on Saturday, April 15
Credited on Sunday, April 16
jimboski93 is offline  
Old Apr 17, 2017, 2:08 pm
  #362  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Originally Posted by jimboski93
Purchased 4 x $50 on Friday, April 14 with my personal platinum
Posted on Saturday, April 15
Credited on Sunday, April 16
Just did 4x50. Did your initial charge show as 200 Delta Airlines?
dinanm3atl is offline  
Old Apr 18, 2017, 4:13 pm
  #363  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 22
Better late than never.

Purchased 4x$50, on 2/14.

Purchases posted on 2/15

2/16 received credit.
Bananastand1984 is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2017, 12:02 pm
  #364  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 8
Purchased 4x $50 delta gift cards

Posted on 18 April, still no credit back
star fox is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2017, 2:55 pm
  #365  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Originally Posted by star fox
Purchased 4x $50 delta gift cards

Posted on 18 April, still no credit back
Mine posted April 19th. Waiting on credit. Wait and see. It seems from this thread it takes 2-3 days.

*edit*

Benefits page now says:

"You have exhausted the $200 Airline Fee Credit for this current year. The $200 Airline Fee Credit will be available to you again starting Jan 2018.‡"

So it worked... but has not posted credits yet.

Last edited by dinanm3atl; Apr 20, 2017 at 3:37 pm
dinanm3atl is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2017, 4:02 pm
  #366  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by dinanm3atl
Mine posted April 19th. Waiting on credit. Wait and see. It seems from this thread it takes 2-3 days.

*edit*

Benefits page now says:

"You have exhausted the $200 Airline Fee Credit for this current year. The $200 Airline Fee Credit will be available to you again starting Jan 2018.‡"

So it worked... but has not posted credits yet.
I checked as well, and it also says that I have exhausted the credit. I am hoping that I did not previously exhaust my credit when I had the credit in 2016 trigger on December 1st...
I should have checked the credit beforehand. However, that was in between my November and December statements, so hopefully I'll get credits posted tomorrow.

Last edited by star fox; Apr 20, 2017 at 6:22 pm
star fox is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2017, 6:01 pm
  #367  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 89
Originally Posted by dinanm3atl
Just did 4x50. Did your initial charge show as 200 Delta Airlines?
Yes, while still pending it showed as 1x200. Then posted as 4x50.
Bobberjet is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2017, 8:04 am
  #368  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Reimbursement posted today.

So 3 business days total from eCerts being purchased and the credit going onto account. Which is interested that it takes 72 hours for the eCerts to be active.
dinanm3atl is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2017, 9:31 am
  #369  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by dinanm3atl
Reimbursement posted today.

So 3 business days total from eCerts being purchased and the credit going onto account. Which is interested that it takes 72 hours for the eCerts to be active.
Mine as well. Very interesting, considering how quickly they posted last year.
star fox is offline  
Old Apr 24, 2017, 11:01 am
  #370  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 42
Question - Can you purchase any egift card from Delta and have it qualify as long as they are in $50 increments?
Fly_Me_Home is offline  
Old Apr 24, 2017, 8:31 pm
  #371  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Originally Posted by Fly_Me_Home
Question - Can you purchase any egift card from Delta and have it qualify as long as they are in $50 increments?
What do you mean?
dinanm3atl is offline  
Old Apr 24, 2017, 9:00 pm
  #372  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 42
There are dozens of other gift cards to choose from on Delta, such as Amazon. So the question is, can we redeem for say, an Amazon one in $50 increments?
Fly_Me_Home is offline  
Old Apr 24, 2017, 9:01 pm
  #373  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: PHL suburbs
Posts: 216
Originally Posted by Fly_Me_Home
Question - Can you purchase any egift card from Delta and have it qualify as long as they are in $50 increments?
Yes, but Delta only sells Delta egift cards!
ntr91 is offline  
Old Apr 24, 2017, 9:02 pm
  #374  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Originally Posted by Fly_Me_Home
There are dozens of other gift cards to choose from on Delta, such as Amazon. So the question is, can we redeem for say, an Amazon one in $50 increments?
Ah gotcha.

Not sure... want to be the guinea pig?
dinanm3atl is offline  
Old Apr 24, 2017, 9:54 pm
  #375  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 42
You are incorrect, Delta sells tons of eGift cards, including for Amazon as I mentioned, as well as others - all sold and delivered from the Delta eGift card store.

Originally Posted by ntr91
Yes, but Delta only sells Delta egift cards!
Fly_Me_Home is offline  


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