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 24, 2017, 9:56 pm
#376
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 42
Yeah, I'm wondering myself - I figured someone, in all these threads would have tried it by now - especially with goodie like Amazon which you could turn into all kinds of other gift cards, including buying a Southwest gift card if you so desired since they have them regularly.
I'm new to this benefit as I just got the card again, after cancelling years ago since it has more value now! I'd assume it might work if in $50 increments as with the regular Delta eGift card - Let's see if anyone wants to try it!?
I'm new to this benefit as I just got the card again, after cancelling years ago since it has more value now! I'd assume it might work if in $50 increments as with the regular Delta eGift card - Let's see if anyone wants to try it!?
Apr 25, 2017, 1:28 pm
#377
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
To note, the version my friend used was adding Mileage Boosters while purchasing the ticket. Perhaps adding after purchase, or adding EC instead will make a difference. I'll try it out soon..
Last edited by adeebm; Apr 26, 2017 at 10:41 am
Apr 26, 2017, 5:20 am
#378
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Delta Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 362
No reimbursement for foreign transactions
I had a $40 charge from Delta Japan that was recorded as a foreign transaction (although paid on Delta.com in the US). It did not get reimbursed. Supervisor at Amex told me that foreign transactions do not qualify. I could not find that in the T&C from Amex, but he told me it was against the terms in their agreement with Delta.
Apr 26, 2017, 7:31 am
#379
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 89
This may be a totally n00b question that I overlooked, but are you unable to store Delta eGifts in your Wallet? If so, that definitely increases the likelihood of breakage.
Apr 26, 2017, 10:42 am
#380
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
I had a $40 charge from Delta Japan that was recorded as a foreign transaction (although paid on Delta.com in the US). It did not get reimbursed. Supervisor at Amex told me that foreign transactions do not qualify. I could not find that in the T&C from Amex, but he told me it was against the terms in their agreement with Delta.
Apr 26, 2017, 9:46 pm
#384
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: PHL suburbs
Posts: 216
If you're talking about purchasing through the SkyMiles Marketplace, these marketplaces are usually operated by an affiliate marketing program and will not code as travel.
Apr 27, 2017, 9:03 am
#385
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Delta Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 362
Yeah, I realize I could push the issue, maybe win in the end...or not. I can use my credit another time with less aggravation. Just wanted to warn others that getting reimbursed for a Delta foreign transaction may be an uphill battle.
Apr 30, 2017, 6:10 am
#386
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 488
Yes, and as I posted previously, there's nothing you can do to accelerate making the GCs useable sooner. You just need to plan ahead.
May 5, 2017, 6:32 pm
#387
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: LAX, JFK
Programs: AMEX Plat, CSP, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 3
Purchased 4x$50 eGC from Delta last night. Single transaction is still pending @ $200. Hopefully it clears over the next few business days + reimbursements...
May 6, 2017, 9:15 am
#388
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
Programs: DL Plat, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Credit Card Diamond
Posts: 8,788
FWIW, about a month ago, I purchased 3x$50 GCs and got the reimbursement. I was able to use all 3 plus a credit card for my purchase despite the T&Cs stating that only 3 forms of payment can be used.
I did discover that 72 hours really means until midnight on the third day after purchase. Purchased around noon Friday, attempted to use online Mon afternoon and got an error. Called in and was told I couldn't use them until the next day.
May 7, 2017, 10:41 pm
#389
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 42
Weird, at one point they did have Amazon gift cards but clearly they do not now so it appears this option is out.
May 8, 2017, 8:36 am
#390
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: LAX, JFK
Programs: AMEX Plat, CSP, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 3
Success 
