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)
Nov 12, 2018, 4:36 pm
#1022
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 63
AMX Platinum Delta Reimbursement
Hi all. I have $113 for my DL AMX reimbursement, and I'm not using DL again this year. Can I use the $113 on anything that doesn't require me to physically be traveling on DL? If not, can I help anyone on here out and perhaps pre-pay for your baggage or something? I just don't want it to go to waste. Thanks.
Nov 12, 2018, 5:19 pm
#1023
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
You can buy Delta giftcards as explained in the Wikipost at the top of this thread. You will need to buy two or three $50 cards. To redeem those cards you will need to fly on Delta, but not this year.
Nov 13, 2018, 10:46 am
#1024
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: HNL / SIN
Posts: 87
AH i didn't catch that. thanks for pointing it out! will try again with a PC later. i wonder if i even used "desktop mode" in my chrome browser - probably not i suppose
Nov 13, 2018, 2:53 pm
#1025
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: ORD
Posts: 77
Bought 4 $50 DL giftcards on desktop website. Posted yesterday, reimbursed today.
Nov 15, 2018, 11:28 am
#1026
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 24
Bought 4 $50 DL gift cards on desktop website (in Safari) in one transaction--Amex Platinum. Purchased Nov 10, initially posted as $200 purchase. Then November 12 posted as 4 separate purchases from Delta Airlines. Reimbursed November 14.
Nov 15, 2018, 8:15 pm
#1027
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: DL DM, 1.5 MM; AS MVP Gold 100K; HHonors Diamond; AMEX Platinum
Posts: 487
Bought 5 $50 gift certificates on Aspire 11/13. Reimbursement came today, 11/15.
Nov 16, 2018, 8:26 am
#1028
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 24
I'm looking at trying to make the most of my GCs since we can only use three at a time. If I'm in an economy seat now, can I make the purchase to Economy Comfort with one transaction, and then make the purchase to Business/First with another transaction? Or is only one "pay to upgrade' level allowed?
Nov 16, 2018, 8:31 am
#1029
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
eGifts and Cards may only be used for the total purchase price 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 class upgrades, in-flight purchases, premium seating, mileage booster, SkyMiles Cruises, cargo, hotel stays, or car rentals).
Nov 16, 2018, 8:42 am
#1030
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 24
Ok, in the Wiki it talked about being able to us the eCertificates to upgrade to Economy Comfort. I thought maybe the paid upgrades in general will work. I guess I will try and then report back! 
Thanks!
Thanks!
Nov 16, 2018, 11:44 am
#1031
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
Nov 17, 2018, 1:48 pm
#1033
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: American Express
Posts: 2
Actually I think it really depend on the customer service agent if they willing to help you manual credit the delta charge. I had done upgrade seat and charge it on both platinum and aspire card and kindly ask them to credit for the airline incidentally credit. Both times the agent was able to manual credit for me.
Nov 20, 2018, 6:37 pm
#1034
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 13
New Amex Plat customer as of last week. Per above advice, bought a $50 DL gift card on desktop (not via app/mobile) to see if I'd be reimbursed. Worked like a charm! Transaction posted November 18 and was credited November 19. Purchased 3 more $50 cards today and am confident they'll also be squared away. Also, I'll note that I also did my Global Entry app the other day and it's been reimbursed already -- 2-3 day turnaround total. Easy!
Nov 21, 2018, 8:30 pm
#1035
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 26
is this the proof it was done from the mobile site? I was aware of this after reading the wiki, and I purchased from iPad and even did “request desktop site” on chrome. Thought it looked like the desktop site, but I have the same purchase description. $100 charge hasn’t split yet after a few days, guess I’m out of luck?