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.

For other airlines:
AA Thread
AS Thread
B6 Thread
DL Thread
F9 Thread
HA Thread
NK Thread
UA Thread
WN Thread

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

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Nov 5, 2017, 2:44 pm

#481

Diplomatico

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by mirskyc

Does the credit work for the physical gift cards as well?

Unless you purchased the physical gift card directly from Delta Airlines then I doubt it.

Otherwise, it would simply code as a purchase from whatever vendor sold you the gift card (like giftcard.com or whatever).

Nov 5, 2017, 5:49 pm

#482

mirskyc

Join Date: Nov 2016

Posts: 24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diplomatico

I used the link on the wiki on the first page. It takes you to a delta page and it shows they offer both egifts and physical gifts. Id rather buy a physical one so I can sell it to someone with no hassle.

Nov 6, 2017, 10:29 am

#483

venky

Join Date: Nov 2017

Programs: alaska

Posts: 2

NOV 6 - Bought a GC Delta 50$ posted as below , Will update once I get something from Amex in next few days

DELTA AIR LINES 50$

ATLANTA AIRPORT
ATLANTA
GA
30320
UNITED STATES
Category: Travel - Airline

Nov 6, 2017, 10:40 pm

#484

eleboson

Join Date: Nov 2017

Posts: 1

11/2 Made airline selection via online chat
11/2 Waited 20 minutes after selection, purchased 2x$50 Delta eGC, pending as 1x$100
11/3 Charge posted 2x$50
11/4 Credit posted 2x$50

Nov 7, 2017, 6:49 pm

#485

lixiaojuventus

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: PEK, AUS, WAS, HKG

Programs: CX Gold

Posts: 1,122

NOV 7 - Bought two $50 Delta GC using Premier Rewards Gold card. Will report back in a few days on the reimbursement

Nov 8, 2017, 2:10 am

#486

C W

Join Date: Sep 2016

Location: LON, PDX

Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR

Posts: 2,064

Quote:

Originally Posted by eleboson

11/2 Made airline selection via online chat
11/2 Waited 20 minutes after selection, purchased 2x$50 Delta eGC, pending as 1x$100
11/3 Charge posted 2x$50
11/4 Credit posted 2x$50

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

Nov 8, 2017, 7:05 am

#487

lz80521

Join Date: May 2013

Posts: 315

Bought 4*50 Delta egc and transaction posted on 11/05. No credit posted as of today 11/08. I remember it usually posts with 1-2 days of transaction posting date. Not sure about the delay this time.

Nov 8, 2017, 7:12 am

#488

hockeystl

Join Date: May 2002

Location: STL

Programs: DL PM/1MM, DL SkClub LT, Marr LT Plat, IHG Plat, HH Diam

Posts: 2,005

Quote:

Originally Posted by lz80521

Bought 4*50 Delta egc and transaction posted on 11/05. No credit posted as of today 11/08. I remember it usually posts with 1-2 days of transaction posting date. Not sure about the delay this time.

Same. Purchased 4x$50 on 11/5 and still waiting for credit to post.

Nov 8, 2017, 7:43 am

#489

detailz0

Join Date: Nov 2017

Posts: 4

Purchased Nov 1 on Gold Premier Rewards Card - still no credit, called and was told to wait 4 weeks.

NOV1
DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA

$50.00
Doing business as:
DELTA AIR LINES DELTA.COM
View Details on Merchant Website
ATLANTA AIRPORT
-
ATLANTA
GA
30344
UNITED STATES
800.221.1212
Additional Information: 18002211212
DELTA AIR LINES
Reference: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Category: Travel - Airline

Shows as a flight?

Passenger Name: PASSENGER/DELTA
Ticket Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Document Type: PASSENGER TICKET

Do you think I will get the credit?

Nov 8, 2017, 1:08 pm

#490

venky

Join Date: Nov 2017

Programs: alaska

Posts: 2

I am in the same Phase posted 5 days back no credit

Quote:

Originally Posted by detailz0

Nov 8, 2017, 5:29 pm

#491

Maxxis

Join Date: Sep 2013

Location: Taipei

Programs: Asiamiles, OZ Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold

Posts: 116

Looks like the Rat team is working in full force since Nov. 1st.

Nov 8, 2017, 5:52 pm

#492

C W

Join Date: Sep 2016

Location: LON, PDX

Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR

Posts: 2,064

Uh oh... this would take a big bite out of the value for me for the Plat.

Nov 8, 2017, 8:12 pm

#493

Diplomatico

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxxis

Looks like the Rat team is working in full force since Nov. 1st.

I was thinking the same thing but didn't want to post until sufficient time had passed. But, yeah, looks like more loopholes closing.

If this becomes the new norm, the AMEX Plat (and the PRG) loses a lot of its perceived value.

Nov 8, 2017, 9:12 pm

#494

lz80521

Join Date: May 2013

Posts: 315

Hopefully it’s just system glitch. Prior to 11/4 this seems working fine (based on dp #484). If this trick is dead since 11/5, I’m so “lucky” to witness its death

Nov 9, 2017, 5:59 am

#495

guitarguy19

Join Date: Mar 2017

Posts: 69

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxxis

Looks like the Rat team is working in full force since Nov. 1st.

At least one poster above said they got the credit after Nov 1...let's see how things shake out in the next few days!

I still have my full 2017 credit to use