Jan 18, 2016, 10:57 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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

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.

For other airlines:
AA Thread
AS Thread
B6 Thread
DL Thread
F9 Thread
HA Thread
NK Thread
UA Thread
WN Thread

Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: DL only (2015-2019)

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Nov 21, 2018, 8:55 pm

#1036

Diplomatico

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpcj

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?

If the charge posted as being from "Cashstar" then you used the mobile site and you are out of luck. If the charge posted as "Delta airlines" then you still have a chance for reimbursement.

The fact that you read the wiki and knew that mobile devices would not trigger the credit - but used a mobile device anyway - is mind-boggling.

I hope you get the credit. Good luck.

Last edited by Diplomatico; Nov 21, 2018 at 9:00 pm

Nov 21, 2018, 9:13 pm

#1037

jpcj

Join Date: Dec 2017

Posts: 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diplomatico

Fair point, however using chrome on iPad to request the desktop version has always worked on other sites. In fact a lot of the time you still get the desktop version by default on tablets, unlike phones. Regardless, lesson learned.

Nov 22, 2018, 6:41 pm

#1038

EZTraveler

Join Date: Sep 2018

Posts: 150

I have less than a 50 dollar credit and want to use it up

If anyone cares to advise, I have about 30 left on my Amex reimbursement account. Has anyone tested to see what will happen if I order a 50 dollar GC? Will I get the remaining reimbursement applied or will I get nothing since the reimbursement account can’t completely cover the transaction by itself?

Nov 22, 2018, 6:51 pm

#1039

Diplomatico

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by EZTraveler

I'm relatively certain you'll be partially reimbursed for whatever credit you have remaining.

Nov 23, 2018, 1:12 am

#1040

Sung Sam

Join Date: Jun 2018

Posts: 113

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakhfue

Yes it was an electronic gift card, the same method I used a few months ago with my gold card, and I used a computer and I live in Kentucky.

Did you end up getting a refund when it was coded as “DELTA AIR LINES GC”?

Nov 24, 2018, 2:06 am

#1041

EZTraveler

Join Date: Sep 2018

Posts: 150

And I just saw that on the Delta proper site, you can get the card in any 5 dollar increment. I can just make it 30 and my worries are over.

Diplomatico likes this.

Nov 26, 2018, 11:03 am

#1042

Beat2Def

Join Date: Dec 2016

Location: Kansas City

Posts: 44

I have a companion certificate I was wanting to use SIMULTANEOUSLY with eGift Cards (just checked and I don't think we can, do you have suggestions as a workaround?).
Can you use the combination?

Last edited by Beat2Def; Nov 26, 2018 at 11:16 am Reason: Found an answer

Nov 26, 2018, 12:01 pm

#1043

uclacolumbiaunc

Join Date: Apr 2014

Posts: 1,774

Can the Delta gift card purchased via this link trigger statement credit? (https://promo.giftcards.delta.com/st...t?locale=en-us)

you get $25 AirBnB gift card if you buy $250 delta gift card from that link.

Nov 26, 2018, 2:44 pm

#1044

Diplomatico

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by uclacolumbiaunc

Can the Delta gift card purchased via this link trigger statement credit? (https://promo.giftcards.delta.com/st...t?locale=en-us)

you get $25 AirBnB gift card if you buy $250 delta gift card from that link.

Not likely. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you'll see the word "Cashstar". Historically speaking, purchases through Cashstar have not coded as a Delta airline purchase with AMEX and thus have not triggered the statement credit.

Nov 26, 2018, 2:53 pm

#1045

EZTraveler

Join Date: Sep 2018

Posts: 150

Companion Certificate

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beat2Def

I have a companion certificate I was wanting to use SIMULTANEOUSLY with eGift Cards (just checked and I don't think we can, do you have suggestions as a workaround?).
Can you use the combination?

yes, I also would like to hear about some people’s recent experiences with companion certificates. I will have one to use coming up in a few months.

Nov 26, 2018, 6:41 pm

#1046

gooselee

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2011

Location: ATL

Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card

Posts: 10,745

I've not found a way to combine a companion cert with any form of payment other than an Amex credit/charge card.

Nov 27, 2018, 7:30 am

#1047

tom.chason

Join Date: Nov 2018

Programs: Delta Diamond MM, Marriott Lifetime Premier Platinum, Hertz President's Circle

Posts: 1

Does anyone know if the $200 credit can be claimed twice if you have another card on the account? My wife's card has her name and a different account number. Seems like it would and I'm going to try it but wanted to see if anyone had tried it already.

Also as an fyi, I bought a $50 credit on the web version of the Credit sight yesterday and when I looked on my Statement it appears as:

Doing business as:
DELTA AIR LINES GC
25 PEARL STREET
PORTLAND
ME
04101
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (THE)
207.549.2200
Category: Merchandise & Supplies - Internet Purchase

I'll update this thread once I get the credit (or not).

Nov 27, 2018, 8:35 am

#1048

Diplomatico

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom.chason

I don't think you'll be getting reimbursed for that purchase. Go back to page 20 of this thread and begin reading at post #581 .

Also, regarding your question about whether you can claim the credit twice with "another card on the account" - if you mean you added your wife as an authorized user on your account, then no, both of you will not receive the statement credit in full. If you mean your wife has her own AMEX Platinum card, then yes, she would also receive the annual airline statement credit.

Nov 27, 2018, 10:56 am

#1049

acarney

Join Date: Sep 2007

Posts: 998

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom.chason

To counter this point, just purchased a $50 eGift card using the direct link found in the wiki here and it's pending as "DELTA AIR LINES" Atlanta Airport, Atlanta, GA and as "Travel - Airline". Hopefully it posts and then credits in a couple days.

Nov 27, 2018, 7:02 pm

#1050

mia

Moderator

Original Poster

Join Date: Jun 2003

Location: Miami, Mpls & London

Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold

Posts: 48,955

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom.chason

Does anyone know if the $200 credit can be claimed twice if you have another card on the account? .....

Welcome to Flyertalk. If your wife has a supplementary card on the same account she can use the credit, but it is capped at $200 per account, not per card. American Express always assigns a different card number to supplementary cards, but that does not create an additional account.