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/$100 reimbursement reports: DL only (2015-2019)
Dec 29, 2017, 4:28 pm
#646
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 2
I bought 2 x 50 gc on 22nd, got it reimbursed on 25th but I bought one more 100$ on 25th and it's still not reimbursed. Not sure of the logic here though . Fingers crossed.
Dec 29, 2017, 4:33 pm
#647
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 85
Following this exact sequence. Moving from an ameriprise to a personal plat as of .. 2 days ago!
Dec 29, 2017, 5:41 pm
#648
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 19
Bought 3x50 on the 26th on laptop, posted the 27th and reimbursed the 28th.
Also, the 38 dollar comfort + upgrade that Delta refunded me on the 22nd is still showing up as reimbursed by Amex on the 23rd, so that's something...
Also, the 38 dollar comfort + upgrade that Delta refunded me on the 22nd is still showing up as reimbursed by Amex on the 23rd, so that's something...
Dec 29, 2017, 6:27 pm
#649
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
$100 Delta GCs don't work. It's in the wiki that says "Denominations over $50 will not generate the credit. Multiple $50 eCerts will."
Dec 30, 2017, 9:46 am
#650
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: MT, USA
Programs: Ex-5C club, Skymiles Gold
Posts: 454
Data Point: Just ordered 2 x $50 from the link in the wiki and the site says on the confirmation page:
The charge will appear as:
DELTA CSTAR GFTCD
There is also what may be a new logo on that page for a company called “Cashstar”. For what it is worth, the AMEX charge is showing as DELTA AIR LINES GC.
I will check back once it is refunded (or not).
The charge will appear as:
DELTA CSTAR GFTCD
There is also what may be a new logo on that page for a company called “Cashstar”. For what it is worth, the AMEX charge is showing as DELTA AIR LINES GC.
I will check back once it is refunded (or not).
Last edited by Flaneurs; Dec 30, 2017 at 9:47 am Reason: Dup
Dec 30, 2017, 9:53 am
#651
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
Data Point: Just ordered 2 x $50 from the link in the wiki and the site says on the confirmation page:
The charge will appear as:
DELTA CSTAR GFTCD
There is also what may be a new logo on that page for a company called “Cashstar”. For what it is worth, the AMEX charge is showing as DELTA AIR LINES GC.
I will check back once it is refunded (or not).
The charge will appear as:
DELTA CSTAR GFTCD
There is also what may be a new logo on that page for a company called “Cashstar”. For what it is worth, the AMEX charge is showing as DELTA AIR LINES GC.
I will check back once it is refunded (or not).
Dec 30, 2017, 6:23 pm
#652
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: MT, USA
Programs: Ex-5C club, Skymiles Gold
Posts: 454
Dec 30, 2017, 7:25 pm
#653
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 37
DP for your reference:
All bought using a computer going to delta.com
Dec 18 bought a $100 Delta GC -- not reimbursed (stupid me)
Dec 26 bought 4x$50 GC in one order ($50, qty set to 4). Appeared as pending $200
Dec 28 posted as four $50 transaction
Dec 29 has four -$50 reimbursement
I have a Delta main cabin reservation paid using cash. Called Delta hotline and asked if there is a way to upgrade my reservation using gift card. He said direct upgrade cannot use GC, but if upgrade it as a new fare (whatever it means) then a GC can be used, but the price is higher. In my case, direct upgrade is $150 cash, but new fare is $217 can use GC.
I wonder if I request a direct upgrade, will AMEX reimburse me as an airline credit -- of course I'll request it only in 2018 when the new $200 credits came.
If anyone as DP please share, happy new year!
All bought using a computer going to delta.com
Dec 18 bought a $100 Delta GC -- not reimbursed (stupid me)
Dec 26 bought 4x$50 GC in one order ($50, qty set to 4). Appeared as pending $200
Dec 28 posted as four $50 transaction
Dec 29 has four -$50 reimbursement
I have a Delta main cabin reservation paid using cash. Called Delta hotline and asked if there is a way to upgrade my reservation using gift card. He said direct upgrade cannot use GC, but if upgrade it as a new fare (whatever it means) then a GC can be used, but the price is higher. In my case, direct upgrade is $150 cash, but new fare is $217 can use GC.
I wonder if I request a direct upgrade, will AMEX reimburse me as an airline credit -- of course I'll request it only in 2018 when the new $200 credits came.
If anyone as DP please share, happy new year!
Dec 31, 2017, 9:19 am
#654
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1
I bought 4 $50 each Delta gift cards on 27 December which posted on 29 December 2017. The charges post on the statement as "Airlines-Travel" and I have not received the credit yet. It appears the gift cards were sold by Delta as the vendor is Delta.com. Did anyone with statement description as "Travel-Airline" receive the credit?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Dec 31, 2017, 9:25 am
#655
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
I bought 4 $50 each Delta gift cards on 27 December which posted on 29 December 2017. The charges post on the statement as "Airlines-Travel" and I have not received the credit yet. It appears the gift cards were sold by Delta as the vendor is Delta.com. Did anyone with statement description as "Travel-Airline" receive the credit?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Dec 31, 2017, 9:29 am
#656
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
If you read through the last couple of pages of this thread, you'll see DPs of people who used mobile devices being routed to the Delta mobile site - and apparently that uses Cashstar to sell the gift certs. If you use the desktop site, you apparently don't get Cashstar as the vendor and the gift certs are still sold directly by Delta (meaning they get reimbursed.) Very small sample size, though.
Dec 31, 2017, 11:12 am
#657
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Programs: AA Plat, UA Silver, DL Silver, Marriott Titanium, etc.
Posts: 4,210
Will $50 Gift card purchases made today count for 2017 credit even though they obviously won't actually post for a couple of days?
Dec 31, 2017, 1:01 pm
#658
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: MT, USA
Programs: Ex-5C club, Skymiles Gold
Posts: 454
If you read through the last couple of pages of this thread, you'll see DPs of people who used mobile devices being routed to the Delta mobile site - and apparently that uses Cashstar to sell the gift certs. If you use the desktop site, you apparently don't get Cashstar as the vendor and the gift certs are still sold directly by Delta (meaning they get reimbursed.) Very small sample size, though.
Dec 31, 2017, 6:25 pm
#659
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1
I purchased four gift cards from the mobile site on Dec 26 and was not reimbursed. I booked a flight on a laptop on Dec 29using 3 of the gift cards and paid for the remainder with my Amex Platinum. I was reimbursed for the remainder which was $26 in the 30th. Use the website for the best results. I am ordering four more gift cards now through a lap top to see how that works. The charge came up as Delta CSTAR GFTCD. Hopefully this works!
Jan 1, 2018, 12:11 am
#660
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: Most of 'em
Posts: 128
Bought 4x50 on desktop on 12/26, posted 12/28, reimbursed 12/29.