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)
Feb 7, 2018, 1:53 pm
#796
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
Random thought but I am realizing that now that the Amex Platinum gives 5x points on airfare, I might be better off in future just waiting until the end of the year to buy gift cards instead of doing it in January -- I always used to do it in January since I would never think to remember to use my Amex Platinum when I happened to have change fees and other qualifying charges during the year, but now with the 5x points on airfare the Platinum card is the first one I go to for any airline spend.
I actually ended up having a $100 change fee that I made at the same time as buying gift cards without even thinking about it, and the change fee happened to be reimbursed first and thus some of the gift cards did not. (I'm no worse off on net, but simply pointing out that if I had waited, I could have not bothered to have the hassle of holding gift cards altogether.) And of course, sometimes the credit is automatically awarded for other types of routine spending that aren't officially supposed to qualify, like award ticket fees and particularly cheap fares.
I actually ended up having a $100 change fee that I made at the same time as buying gift cards without even thinking about it, and the change fee happened to be reimbursed first and thus some of the gift cards did not. (I'm no worse off on net, but simply pointing out that if I had waited, I could have not bothered to have the hassle of holding gift cards altogether.) And of course, sometimes the credit is automatically awarded for other types of routine spending that aren't officially supposed to qualify, like award ticket fees and particularly cheap fares.
Feb 7, 2018, 2:48 pm
#797
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: New York, New York
Programs: AA Gold, Alaska MVP; Free Agent Super Duper Diamond Treasure Chest ;)
Posts: 4,682
Yes, $50 gift cards are reimbursed barring a few that did not at the end of last year because of how they were purchased (check wiki at the top of the thread)
Feb 7, 2018, 10:51 pm
#798
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Platinum and Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 39
My lucky day bought my mother in law $219 RT ticket on 2/4 and got reimbursed full $200 on 2/6. I was not expecting this. Guess I'm done for the year 😀
Feb 8, 2018, 7:32 am
#799
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: BOS
Programs: DL SILVER AMEX MRHH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 186
Went 8/8 on 50.00 gift cards. I have two Platinums.
On one, I did get charged for Travel Delay and Travel Insurance so I had to request a credit 8 times which was also allowed.
On one, I did get charged for Travel Delay and Travel Insurance so I had to request a credit 8 times which was also allowed.
Feb 8, 2018, 3:37 pm
#800
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: New York, New York
Programs: AA Gold, Alaska MVP; Free Agent Super Duper Diamond Treasure Chest ;)
Posts: 4,682
And here I was hoping to get credit for two $95 charges as award fees that I didn't-- going on ten days or so.
Very inconsistent, unfortunately.
Feb 9, 2018, 11:48 am
#801
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 23
Sigh.... tried to purchase 2x $100 gc on delta using my MacBook and amex plat did not reimburse me 
shows as delta Atlanta or something but it' been 9 days already.. DO NOT BUY IN $100s.... my fault... I did this last year and it worked but Idk why it didn' work this time
shows as delta Atlanta or something but it' been 9 days already.. DO NOT BUY IN $100s.... my fault... I did this last year and it worked but Idk why it didn' work this time
Feb 9, 2018, 6:45 pm
#802
Join Date: May 2004
Location: formerly Gold now Diamond, formerly MSY, now LAX, formerly NW, now DL
Programs: Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Delta Diamond/1MM
Posts: 4,635
Has any tried with a Hilton Aspire which has the $250 airline fee benefit?? Seems you can buy up to 5 ecerts at a time with Delta. I assume everyone did 4 x $50 due to the $200 benefit for other cards
Feb 9, 2018, 9:10 pm
#804
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,789
Random thought but I am realizing that now that the Amex Platinum gives 5x points on airfare, I might be better off in future just waiting until the end of the year to buy gift cards instead of doing it in January -- I always used to do it in January since I would never think to remember to use my Amex Platinum when I happened to have change fees and other qualifying charges during the year, but now with the 5x points on airfare the Platinum card is the first one I go to for any airline spend.
I actually ended up having a $100 change fee that I made at the same time as buying gift cards without even thinking about it, and the change fee happened to be reimbursed first and thus some of the gift cards did not. (I'm no worse off on net, but simply pointing out that if I had waited, I could have not bothered to have the hassle of holding gift cards altogether.) And of course, sometimes the credit is automatically awarded for other types of routine spending that aren't officially supposed to qualify, like award ticket fees and particularly cheap fares.
I actually ended up having a $100 change fee that I made at the same time as buying gift cards without even thinking about it, and the change fee happened to be reimbursed first and thus some of the gift cards did not. (I'm no worse off on net, but simply pointing out that if I had waited, I could have not bothered to have the hassle of holding gift cards altogether.) And of course, sometimes the credit is automatically awarded for other types of routine spending that aren't officially supposed to qualify, like award ticket fees and particularly cheap fares.
Feb 10, 2018, 9:17 pm
#806
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Disc
Posts: 56
Kind of amusing one: I purchased a round-trip flight for $312.60. I had a $300 Delta gift card that I had purchased with an AmEx Offer that I applied toward the flight, then put the rest on my Platinum Card for the 5x points. The $12.60 was reimbursed under the fee credit. Wasn't expecting that, by, hey, I'll take it.
Feb 11, 2018, 2:53 pm
#807
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Sunny So Cal
Programs: SPG, HH, IHG, BA, DL
Posts: 192
Feb 11, 2018, 3:14 pm
#808
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Feb 14, 2018, 3:12 pm
#809
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 413
Trying to purchase the egfitcards from Delta website.
I signed in, put in all my info. The moment I hit confirm, the page just refreshes itself without sending me any confirmation.
I'm purchasing with a AMEX bis card here, what am I doing wrong?
This is really frustrating, as the webpage itself doesn't prompt me any error message whatsoever.
I also tried using different browser for the payment, it gives me the same problem in purchasing.
Is there like a hotline to call to make this gift card purchase?
Feb 14, 2018, 3:17 pm
#810
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Have you tried the transaction using a Private or Incognito browser window?