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)
Jan 9, 2018, 7:18 am
#721
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
Programs: DL FO 1MM
Posts: 1,761
so far, larger than $50 has not been reimbursed. this could change at any time, though.
Jan 9, 2018, 11:29 am
#722
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVPG - *wood Plat
Posts: 4
Purchased 4 x $50 DL GC on desktop site using Amex Platinum.
Purchased 1/6 as one transaction.
Posted 1/7 as four transactions DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA
Credited 1/8 for all four.
Purchased 1/6 as one transaction.
Posted 1/7 as four transactions DELTA AIR LINES - ATLANTA
Credited 1/8 for all four.
Jan 9, 2018, 12:01 pm
#723
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: IHG AMB/Spire, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 204
Sorry to bump my question, but surely someone knows if purchases larger than $50 are reimbursed? As I mentioned, there's no way I could go through eight GCs. Given that the wiki says up to 3 GCs can be used per ticket, I could make six purchases ($75/$75/$50 x 2) work on a single r/t, but buying four $100 GCs would be much easier. First, though, I'd need confirmation that $75 or $100 purchases are reimbursable.
Thanks so much for any help.
Thanks so much for any help.
price out the ticket as 2 one ways. usually prices out fairly close if not identical to the same price. example JFK to LAX as ticket one and LAX to JFK as ticket two. use 2 $50 gift cards on each purchase. round trip airfare purchased
sometimes this hobby does not allow for the easier process to function
Jan 9, 2018, 12:04 pm
#724
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
The only way we would know is if someone made, say, a $100 purchase and reported the outcome. There isn't much motivation to attempt a larger transaction when the $50 amount has been known to work reliably for years.
Jan 9, 2018, 12:12 pm
#725
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 613
I made a purchase of a Delta gift card on 7/23/17 for $135 that was not reimbursed. I subsequently purchasef 4 X $50 Delta cards that were reimbursed.
Jan 10, 2018, 8:50 am
#726
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
Now this is an odd one -- bought 2 tickets for TPA-BOS, non-stop, for 2 passengers on the Ameriprise Platinum. Should have come to ~$500 total.
Oddly, Delta sent it to Amex in 2 transactions. One for ~$300 and one for $205. The $300 showed the ticket as I would expect with the two cities clearly visible on the amex website, but the $205 registered as an "Additional collection" and triggered my $200 credit for 2018. This was a plain vanilla economy ticket.
Oddly, Delta sent it to Amex in 2 transactions. One for ~$300 and one for $205. The $300 showed the ticket as I would expect with the two cities clearly visible on the amex website, but the $205 registered as an "Additional collection" and triggered my $200 credit for 2018. This was a plain vanilla economy ticket.
Jan 10, 2018, 11:35 am
#727
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 2
On 1/7, I purchased 4X$50 Delta e-gift cards with my Amex MB Plat, and 2X$50 Delta GCs with my Amex PRG.
Today, 1/10, the full reimbursements posted.
Today, 1/10, the full reimbursements posted.
Jan 10, 2018, 2:40 pm
#728
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: DL DM; Hyatt Globalist; etc
Posts: 540
I'm sure these Data Points get annoying, but I guess it can't hurt:
Bought 4x$50 in one transaction on 1/5, posted reimbursement for all of them on 1/7
Bought 4x$50 in one transaction on 1/5, posted reimbursement for all of them on 1/7
Jan 10, 2018, 3:35 pm
#729
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
Thanks all. And yup, as my posted indicated I'm well aware that buying two one-ways on many routes prices out the same as a round-trip. Unfortunately that'd still leave me with $100 in credits to burn! 
Eh, I'll figure something out.
Eh, I'll figure something out.
Jan 12, 2018, 1:12 am
#730
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Disc
Posts: 56
After booking, you should be able to call Delta and link the 2 outbound reservations, if you want.
If you don't want to book separate reservations or if your spouse is not traveling on that trip, you could use 6 GCs ($300) as described before and then send the other 2x $50 GCs to me. I'll happily use them for you. :P
Jan 12, 2018, 1:06 pm
#731
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
How does DL refund a fully refundable ticket when eGift Certs are part of the payment?
Do you get 3 certs back or one with $150 value?
If it is $150 value, may be this is a process one could consolidate the $50 certs into more meaningful amount so easier to use them up?
Do you get 3 certs back or one with $150 value?
If it is $150 value, may be this is a process one could consolidate the $50 certs into more meaningful amount so easier to use them up?
Jan 14, 2018, 12:19 pm
#734
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Racine Wi
Programs: Amex Centurion
Posts: 60
Bought 4 $50 ecerts on 12/30, and they posted 12/30. No credits as of today.
Jan 14, 2018, 1:58 pm
#735
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: New York, New York
Programs: AA Gold, Alaska MVP; Free Agent Super Duper Diamond Treasure Chest ;)
Posts: 4,682
Now this is an odd one -- bought 2 tickets for TPA-BOS, non-stop, for 2 passengers on the Ameriprise Platinum. Should have come to ~$500 total.
Oddly, Delta sent it to Amex in 2 transactions. One for ~$300 and one for $205. The $300 showed the ticket as I would expect with the two cities clearly visible on the amex website, but the $205 registered as an "Additional collection" and triggered my $200 credit for 2018. This was a plain vanilla economy ticket.
Oddly, Delta sent it to Amex in 2 transactions. One for ~$300 and one for $205. The $300 showed the ticket as I would expect with the two cities clearly visible on the amex website, but the $205 registered as an "Additional collection" and triggered my $200 credit for 2018. This was a plain vanilla economy ticket.
Would you please post if that is ever rectified.
Question for the wider forum:
Has the airline credit worked when paying fees associated with award redemption?