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 28, 2018, 12:51 am
#1126
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3
Thought I would see if the Internet pass would qualify if purchased directly from Delta as a "trip extra" rather than from Gogo directly or in the air. Just checked my American Express account and, while the charge hasn't posted yet, I have an entry for "Gogoair Com In Flight Internet $16.00" 
so they must hand certain types of transactions off to their partners or bill them differently. One wonders why they do it since it can only help Delta and Gogo both to get people in the habit of going online "for free" because they'll likely continue even upon exceeding the benefit cap. Oh well.
so they must hand certain types of transactions off to their partners or bill them differently. One wonders why they do it since it can only help Delta and Gogo both to get people in the habit of going online "for free" because they'll likely continue even upon exceeding the benefit cap. Oh well.
Dec 28, 2018, 8:07 am
#1127
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,959
I doubt anyone at any airline has given American Express' airline fee reimbursement feature any thought when it comes to setting up their billing systems.
Dec 28, 2018, 8:48 am
#1128
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Delta SkyMiles
Posts: 5
I purchased 5 $50 gift cards on my Amex Hilton Aspire card on 12/24. They were purchased as separate transactions. I received the statement credits 3 days later on 12/27.
Dec 28, 2018, 8:51 am
#1129
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,953
Wiki has conflicting info re transaction vs posting date for reimbursement. If I get new Amex Gold today 12/28 and use temp number to purchase, will I get credit in 2018? What if it doesn’t post till 1/1?
Dec 28, 2018, 11:49 am
#1130
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: 100,417
PSA: My gift card purchase took several days to post. So if you want to do this for 2018, do it ASAP.
Dec 28, 2018, 2:15 pm
#1131
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 6
I purchased x2 $50 eCerts a few days ago. They charge is still pending but it is listed as a single $100 transaction listed as Delta Airlines www.delta.com.
I recall the last time I used this, they were all separate $50 transacations and it didnt say it was from www.delta.com.
Is anyone seeing the same?
I recall the last time I used this, they were all separate $50 transacations and it didnt say it was from www.delta.com.
Is anyone seeing the same?
Dec 28, 2018, 2:58 pm
#1132
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,959
This is normal and mentioned in the Wikipost at the top of this thread:
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.
Dec 28, 2018, 4:26 pm
#1133
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Delta
Posts: 61
Worked as expected
I bought 3 $50 gift cards form Delta Website. All three were credited back. I had used about $20 already as some charges were covered by this benefit when booking a flight. The remainder $30 will be for food on the plane...long flight to Hawaii.
Dec 28, 2018, 4:35 pm
#1134
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Figured this would be a good place to ask: Would someone mind posting a screenshot or representation of what the receipt looks like when you use an eGC for part of a ticket?
I received one for Christmas, but most of my personal trips are done with miles. I'd like to just use it for a work trip but want to make sure it doesn't make the receipt too wonky when I send it to a client. I normally download the PDF receipt so that's what I'd be interested in seeing.
I received one for Christmas, but most of my personal trips are done with miles. I'd like to just use it for a work trip but want to make sure it doesn't make the receipt too wonky when I send it to a client. I normally download the PDF receipt so that's what I'd be interested in seeing.
Dec 28, 2018, 4:56 pm
#1135
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: Most of 'em
Posts: 128
Book a regular ticket, print the receipt, cancel within 24hrs and book with gift cards?
Dec 29, 2018, 6:56 am
#1136
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Besides, should some stickler try to look up a ticket # or PNR for some reason and see it cancelled, that's a much bigger hassle than $50 is worth.
Dec 29, 2018, 7:22 am
#1137
formerly willbbiddy
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 208
Figured this would be a good place to ask: Would someone mind posting a screenshot or representation of what the receipt looks like when you use an eGC for part of a ticket?
I received one for Christmas, but most of my personal trips are done with miles. I'd like to just use it for a work trip but want to make sure it doesn't make the receipt too wonky when I send it to a client. I normally download the PDF receipt so that's what I'd be interested in seeing.
I received one for Christmas, but most of my personal trips are done with miles. I'd like to just use it for a work trip but want to make sure it doesn't make the receipt too wonky when I send it to a client. I normally download the PDF receipt so that's what I'd be interested in seeing.
Dec 29, 2018, 7:26 am
#1138
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Dec 29, 2018, 10:02 am
#1139
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 150
DELTA / PARTIAL CREDIT / AMEX PLATINUM
Weeks ago I asked about using my less than 50 dollar credit remaining on my platinum card. Recently I put in for a single e gift card. While I did not use the above link, I inadvertantly logged into my Skymiles account and clicked through to the gift card portal from there. I did use a computer and not a tablet or phone. I bought a single gift card worth more than my remaininng AMEX PLAT airline reimbursement amount. The transaction initially posted PENDING as something like "Airfare." A few days later it posted FINAL as "Travel-Airline." That is when the reimbursement also posted for the entire remaining reimbursement account balance which was exactly the amount I was expecting (more honestly... hoping for.)
Weeks ago I asked about using my less than 50 dollar credit remaining on my platinum card. Recently I put in for a single e gift card. While I did not use the above link, I inadvertantly logged into my Skymiles account and clicked through to the gift card portal from there. I did use a computer and not a tablet or phone. I bought a single gift card worth more than my remaininng AMEX PLAT airline reimbursement amount. The transaction initially posted PENDING as something like "Airfare." A few days later it posted FINAL as "Travel-Airline." That is when the reimbursement also posted for the entire remaining reimbursement account balance which was exactly the amount I was expecting (more honestly... hoping for.)
Dec 29, 2018, 10:06 am
#1140
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: 100,417
Then one would be submitting a different receipt for reimbursement than the one for the ticket that was actually flown. People have gotten into trouble for this.
The giftcards don't expire, so one can keep them until they can be used for a leisure trip. With the AmEx credit, they're free so there's no loss if you hold them for a long time.
The giftcards don't expire, so one can keep them until they can be used for a leisure trip. With the AmEx credit, they're free so there's no loss if you hold them for a long time.