Jan 4, 2017, 6:59 am
Last edit by: mia
CAUTION: In February 2019, American Airlines changed the coding of gift card transactions. Although there are a few successful data points since, in general, Gift Card purchases are now explicitly identified, and no longer reimbursed by American Express.
Reminder: you must enroll and select your airline BEFORE making a reimbursable purchase. http://www.americanexpress.com/airlinechoice -or- "Call the number on the back of your Card to select a qualifying airline."
Data Points on automatically reimbursed incidentals since 2017:
Admirals Club Memberships: Admirals Club Passes:
Wifi is provided by one of three third-party providers and is thus not eligible for the incidental credit.
* For items not automatically reimbursed but which are not excluded by Amex, you can try and request manual reimbursement from American Express; however, you may need to wait 14-28 days first.
To review AA reimbursement reports from 2011-2016 as well as information on gift cards, click HERE.
Reminder: you must enroll and select your airline BEFORE making a reimbursable purchase. http://www.americanexpress.com/airlinechoice -or- "Call the number on the back of your Card to select a qualifying airline."
Data Points on automatically reimbursed incidentals since 2017:
Admirals Club Memberships: Admirals Club Passes:
- Yes - Hilton-gold, moe8555
- No - ShrinkTheGlobe, canesfan, jasmians, soy
- Yes - Dedicated, Rakibullslam, tsmith12, lotrbfme, mia, GTITAN, cdoobiest
- No - Alex_I, exmike, jb0506, fangtl, nall, javabytes, chitink
- Mixed - PatrickTM, Visconti, iahphx
- No - cubs105, prhocky2607
- No - PatrickTM, mileshound
- Yes - LuizMiranda, fotoflyer88, nk15, joshvworld, Hilton-gold, captaink, JCN, aftortoriello, nall
- No - pubsmeister
- Yes - jvel
- Yes - JDiver
- No - AUSINSIGHT
- No - mrlemm
- Yes - Segments
- Yes - wireless_999, saunders111, mosfet, Budoka, sdsearch
- Mixed - inevitability
Wifi is provided by one of three third-party providers and is thus not eligible for the incidental credit.
* For items not automatically reimbursed but which are not excluded by Amex, you can try and request manual reimbursement from American Express; however, you may need to wait 14-28 days first.
To review AA reimbursement reports from 2011-2016 as well as information on gift cards, click HERE.
Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: AA only (2017-2019)
Jan 17, 2017, 9:16 am
#166
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 15
Purchased 2x $100 AA gift card on the 14th and reimbursed on the 16th.
Jan 17, 2017, 10:42 am
#167
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 168
Purchased 1x$100 GC on 14th, reimbursed on 16th. It was a NJ purchase.
Last edited by msthegame; Jan 17, 2017 at 10:45 am Reason: To add relevant info
Jan 17, 2017, 5:52 pm
#168
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 7
Purchased 2x $50 AA GC with AMEX PGR on 1/13. Transaction posted on 1/16. Reimbusred 1/17.
Jan 17, 2017, 6:30 pm
#169
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: American Airlaines, Delta SkyMiles, United, BA, HH, Marriott, SPG, Priority Club
Posts: 160
Has anyone attempted to do this? AA was my selection from last year and I have not selected anything this year so it defaults to AA. I would like to get 2 $100 AA gc's again this year right now, but now that there is a 50% rebate on points for selected airline I would prefer to have that for Delta... Since Amex states you can change your airline 1x per year in January (which I have not done) I wonder if it would be possible to buy the AA cards, get the statement credits and then still change to Delta for rest of year for 50% rebate benefit???
Jan 17, 2017, 7:10 pm
#170
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 12
Purchased 1x$100 AA GC with PRG on 1/14, posted 1/16, reimbursed 1/17
Jan 17, 2017, 7:16 pm
#171
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
Jan 17, 2017, 7:18 pm
#172
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: American Airlaines, Delta SkyMiles, United, BA, HH, Marriott, SPG, Priority Club
Posts: 160
Thanks Mia - thought I searched better than that, my bad
Jan 18, 2017, 12:20 pm
#173
Join Date: May 2006
Location: CGK & PBI
Programs: Cruise addict and AirBNB Plat :)
Posts: 3,312
DP: Bought $100 AA GC on 1/12 for my SO's PRG, received credit on 1/14. Even though the credit was dated 1/14, I didn't see it posted online until 1/15 though.
Jan 18, 2017, 6:55 pm
#174
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
DP: $75, $75, $50 in three completely separate transactions on same day. Reimbursed two days later.
Jan 19, 2017, 9:04 am
#175
Join Date: Dec 2003
Programs: AA Plat Pro, United Silver, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,120
I bought $100 a week ago which has not been reimbursed. In trying to figure out the reason, I realized that my husband's card doesn't currently have an airline selected. 
I thought it would default from last year, but apparently it got deleted when we had a problem with the account last year (they had to cancel & reissue the card).
The bright spot in this was that last year they refunded the annual fee when they canceled the card, and were supposed to re-bill it but they never did. But now I have an extra AA card that I don't really need but will be used eventually I guess.
I thought it would default from last year, but apparently it got deleted when we had a problem with the account last year (they had to cancel & reissue the card).The bright spot in this was that last year they refunded the annual fee when they canceled the card, and were supposed to re-bill it but they never did. But now I have an extra AA card that I don't really need but will be used eventually I guess.
Jan 20, 2017, 8:59 am
#176
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3
I just want to reiterate that NJ is not an issue in buying AA gift cards. tested one card recently
Bought one AA gift card for $100 on 01/17
Amex Reimbursed Credit on 01/20.
Confirmed today that I received PIN from AA today.
Bought one AA gift card for $100 on 01/17
Amex Reimbursed Credit on 01/20.
Confirmed today that I received PIN from AA today.
Jan 21, 2017, 10:37 am
#178
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 168
Purchased 2X$100 GC on 1/18 on two different plat cards (2 on each), still no reimbursement but when I check my benefits it says I have exhausted by Airline credit benefit for the year.
Jan 21, 2017, 11:13 pm
#179
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, Park City, UT
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Plat, Marriott Plat,Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat
Posts: 901
Airline fee reimbursement rules
For the AMEX Platinum specifically. If I purchase AA gift cards, and I'm reimbursed as seems typical, will I still receive 5x points for the initial purchase and not reversed?