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 29, 2018, 10:11 am
#1141
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: 100,404
Mine posted separately as four $50 transactions, but I was careful to do each purchase separately, X-ing out of the DL website and re-entering it from the link in the wiki each time. I also avoided logging into my DL account as I didn't want to risk charging this stuff to my DL Reserve card instead. YMMV.
Dec 29, 2018, 10:12 am
#1142
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
Success
- Purchased 4 x $50 in one transaction on 12/26 using steps in the Wiki.
- Reimbursed this morning (12/29).
- Account activity posted with 4 purchase transactions and 4 reimbursement transactions.
Dec 29, 2018, 10:20 am
#1143
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 149
its your mone
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.
Dec 29, 2018, 10:35 am
#1144
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: 100,404
However, my employer reimburses me only in actual USD by direct deposit into my bank account (and for certain other business trips, I receive a check denominated in the local currency, sometimes cash, or sometimes a direct bank transfer). I've never been repaid in gift cards, chickens, or goats, although on some business trips my hotel is paid directly rather than charged to my credit card and reimbursed. If I "earn" something like a credit or money on a business trip (such as VDB/IDV compensation), I'm supposed to use it toward future business travel (or return the refund to my employer) just the same as I'm supposed to use FF miles earned on employer-reimbursed business travel for future business travel. My understanding is that I am entitled to reimbursement of the actual amount I paid, not some price which is then reduced for me in some way.....and BTW I don't use cashback credit cards for the same reason, nor would I normally accept a VDB on a trip that's being reimbursed by my employer. [I also must submit boarding passes as well as receipts, so I write an explanation whenever my plane ticket has been reissued, which is usually the case.] YMMV.
Dec 29, 2018, 1:48 pm
#1145
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
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
Not that it matters, but in this case I received it as a Christmas gift from a family member. I just posted here because I knew folks in this thread had the GCs.
For whatever its worth, an employer should not care how you pay for it as long as YOU paid for it with YOUR cash, gift cards, credit cards, chickens or goats. Your gift cards are your money. (now if they require you to put it on a corporate card... well.... disregard my point if thats the case.)
Dec 29, 2018, 2:02 pm
#1146
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: 100,404
Don't you think your favorite client would send farm animals as your reimbursement?
BTW, nice family to give you such a Christmas gift.
BTW, nice family to give you such a Christmas gift.
Dec 30, 2018, 3:41 am
#1147
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: many
Posts: 1,437
METHOD OF PAYMENT (example with Amex you described) AX **********1234 and amount.
Under that, it will state;
ECREDITS APPLIED
ecredits number XXXXXXXXXXX
passenger name
the amount (example $50)
and applied to ticket number XXXXXXXXXXX
Then after that is the CHARGES section with breakdown
Dec 30, 2018, 6:14 am
#1148
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
On the Flight Receipt it will show the normal things you are used to seeing, then under
METHOD OF PAYMENT (example with Amex you described) AX **********1234 and amount.
Under that, it will state;
ECREDITS APPLIED
ecredits number XXXXXXXXXXX
passenger name
the amount (example $50)
and applied to ticket number XXXXXXXXXXX
Then after that is the CHARGES section with breakdown
METHOD OF PAYMENT (example with Amex you described) AX **********1234 and amount.
Under that, it will state;
ECREDITS APPLIED
ecredits number XXXXXXXXXXX
passenger name
the amount (example $50)
and applied to ticket number XXXXXXXXXXX
Then after that is the CHARGES section with breakdown
Dec 30, 2018, 11:56 am
#1150
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Dec 30, 2018, 7:56 pm
#1151
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,210
FCM
If I buy up to F, are there enough data points to suggest that I will be reimbursed?
Dec 30, 2018, 9:46 pm
#1152
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 3
- Purchased 3X $50 GC on Thurs evening 12/27
- Charges posted to Amex account Friday 12/28
- Reimbursed on Sat 12/29
Dec 31, 2018, 7:57 am
#1153
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 4
- Purchased 3X $50 GC on Thurs evening 12/27
- Charges posted to Amex account Friday 12/28
- Reimbursed on Sat 12/29
Dec 31, 2018, 9:38 am
#1154
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: NW Florida
Posts: 283
I have $190 left on my credit for this calendar year... If I buy 3 $50 eGCs with the steps in the wiki do you think they will come off of this years credit or next years credit being that it is Dec 31st today?
Dec 31, 2018, 10:06 am
#1155
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
1. If you buy and they credit to 2018, you've captured the 2018 credit. Yay!
2. If you buy and they credit to 2019, you've lost the 2018 credit. Oh well, at least you tried.
3. If you do nothing, you've lost the 2018 credit. But...you have no idea if #1 would have occurred.