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)
Apr 7, 2019, 12:03 am
#1471
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Back in January I promptly bought my GCs. But since then I've bought a few FCMs and even extra baggage fees so I guess I could spend it organically, not that there's a huge incentive to at the moment.
(probably nobody cares)
(probably nobody cares)
Apr 7, 2019, 1:09 am
#1472
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Tampa
Programs: Hilton Gold
Posts: 155
Can the DL gift certificates only be used to purchase delta flights?
Apr 7, 2019, 1:31 am
#1473
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,933
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...card-faqs.html
"Gift Cards may only be redeemed for the cost of air transportation, including taxes, fees, and surcharges imposed on the air transportation. They may not be used for any additional fees (including baggage fees) or for any other products or services (including upgrades, in-flight purchases, premium seating, mileage booster, SkyMiles Cruises, cargo, hotel stays, or car rentals)."
"Gift Cards may only be redeemed for the cost of air transportation, including taxes, fees, and surcharges imposed on the air transportation. They may not be used for any additional fees (including baggage fees) or for any other products or services (including upgrades, in-flight purchases, premium seating, mileage booster, SkyMiles Cruises, cargo, hotel stays, or car rentals)."
Apr 8, 2019, 8:38 am
#1474
Join Date: Sep 2018
Programs: DELTA, IHG GOLD, HILTON GOLD, MARRIOTT/SPG GOLD
Posts: 7
Delta gold
Took longer than usual but received AMEX Plat and Gold credits.
Just opened Delta Gold for 60,000 bonus miles ($2000 spend), $50 Delta credit after 1st Delta purchase.....
- 4/4//19 Bought $50 Delta gift card
- 4/5/19 Charge posted
- 4/7/19 $50 Delta Credit posted
Just opened Delta Gold for 60,000 bonus miles ($2000 spend), $50 Delta credit after 1st Delta purchase.....
- 4/4//19 Bought $50 Delta gift card
- 4/5/19 Charge posted
- 4/7/19 $50 Delta Credit posted
Apr 8, 2019, 2:26 pm
#1475
Join Date: Feb 2019
Programs: AS MVP Gold
Posts: 146
DP:
Got a new Aspire card.
4/3: Enrolled for Delta credit and immediately purchased 5 x $50 GC in one transaction. A pending $250 transaction shows up.
4/5: Transaction breaks up to five $50 transactions, dated 4/4.
4/8: Five $50 reimbursements posted, dated 4/7.
Got a new Aspire card.
4/3: Enrolled for Delta credit and immediately purchased 5 x $50 GC in one transaction. A pending $250 transaction shows up.
4/5: Transaction breaks up to five $50 transactions, dated 4/4.
4/8: Five $50 reimbursements posted, dated 4/7.
Apr 9, 2019, 1:22 am
#1476
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,933
Correction just for posterity -- in reviewing my charges I realized the above is inaccurate; the "slightly over $200" was a new ticket purchased outright. The charge that triggered the $136 credit was most likely one that was just a hair under $200, so this would still be consistent with a theoretical threshold of $200. Will edit my previous post.
Apr 9, 2019, 2:45 pm
#1477
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 696
DP on the Amex Hilton Aspire Card
04/01: Purchased 2 Delta $50 gift cards in one transaction. Amex listed the transaction as 2 separate transactions.
04/03: Reimbursed $50 each.
04/03: Purchased extra 3 Delta $50 gift cards in one transaction. Amex listed the transactions again as 3 separate transactions.
04/05: Got reimbursed. $50 each.
Under the benefits it clearly states that: You have used all of your $250 Airline Fee Credit for this year.
04/01: Purchased 2 Delta $50 gift cards in one transaction. Amex listed the transaction as 2 separate transactions.
04/03: Reimbursed $50 each.
04/03: Purchased extra 3 Delta $50 gift cards in one transaction. Amex listed the transactions again as 3 separate transactions.
04/05: Got reimbursed. $50 each.
Under the benefits it clearly states that: You have used all of your $250 Airline Fee Credit for this year.
Apr 10, 2019, 7:25 am
#1478
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,999
Paid $60 to select a Preferred seat in Y for my mother, reimbursed 3 business days later. Didn't want to risk a C+ charge not being reimbursed.
Apr 10, 2019, 7:51 pm
#1479
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
Did 5x$50 on Aspire, 2x$50 on PRG last week. All have credited. As usual, they first showed up as one cumulative transaction, but posted as individual $50 transactions.
Apr 13, 2019, 2:52 pm
#1480
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 29
Does anyone know if usage of the gift cards during airline purchase will trigger the credit? Amex Platinum.
Apr 13, 2019, 5:59 pm
#1481
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: ATL, BHM, DUB, County Wexford
Programs: DL DM, AA ExPlt, Diamond HH, HY, BW, & Titanium Elite Marriott
Posts: 4,864
Apr 14, 2019, 1:05 pm
#1483
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,933
Apr 14, 2019, 4:45 pm
#1484
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Apr 15, 2019, 12:37 am
#1485
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 6
Purchased 2x $50 gc on 4/10
Charge posted on 4/12
Amex credited on 4/14
Charge posted on 4/12
Amex credited on 4/14