Jan 4, 17, 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)
Feb 10, 19, 8:12 am
#1516
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
Chatted with Amex regarding my purchases on 1/31. Asked them about these charges that are usually reimbursed within 2-3 days (didn't say these were for GCs, obviously) and their answer was generic (as I expected): that it usually takes 2-4 weeks to receive them back.
I give up. Will buy another $100 using my Gold and if that works will do the same with Plat and again with Aspire.
I give up. Will buy another $100 using my Gold and if that works will do the same with Plat and again with Aspire.
Feb 10, 19, 9:36 am
#1517
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 47,228
Feb 10, 19, 10:44 am
#1518
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
Feb 11, 19, 4:22 pm
#1519
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 4
I have a PRG and purchased a $50 AA gift card on 2/8(posted 2/9 and currently no reimbursement) and am seeing under the transaction details "Document Type: GIFT CERTIFICATE." I checked last years charge for the same thing and the Document Type was Misc Fees/Taxes. I know it can take a few days/weeks to post but the fact that this specific data is transmitted to AMEX has me worried.
Feb 11, 19, 5:50 pm
#1520
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 6
I have a PRG and purchased a $50 AA gift card on 2/8(posted 2/9 and currently no reimbursement) and am seeing under the transaction details "Document Type: GIFT CERTIFICATE." I checked last years charge for the same thing and the Document Type was Misc Fees/Taxes. I know it can take a few days/weeks to post but the fact that this specific data is transmitted to AMEX has me worried.
Feb 11, 19, 6:49 pm
#1523
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 4
Yeah I'm not sure what's going on. Are there any reports of previously reimbursed purchases where the Document Type is Gift Certificate?
Feb 11, 19, 9:15 pm
#1524
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 1
My most recent purchase also coded as Document Type Gift Certificate, I purchased on 2/9. All of my previous reimbursed ones this year so far were Misc Fees/Taxes. I did do a $200 gift card since I did it 3 times already this year no problem. Guess I'll wait and see if Amex reimburses it.
Feb 11, 19, 9:24 pm
#1525
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
This sounds like the end of AA GCs reimbursements.
Feb 11, 19, 11:14 pm
#1526
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 2,253
Feb 12, 19, 4:39 am
#1527
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 16,872
Must be something new. Here is my recent:
Jan 21 - Document Type: MISCELLANEOUS TAX(S)/FEE(S)
Jan 21 - Document Type: MISCELLANEOUS TAX(S)/FEE(S)
Feb 12, 19, 6:05 am
#1528
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, LH Silver, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, Rad Gold
Posts: 4,596
In all fairness to the bloggers....don't you think AMEX knows about this thread and all the other ones for specific airlines? I would be upset if the option goes away but I hardly would blame the bloggers.
Feb 12, 19, 6:14 am
#1529
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
Personally, I would blame the bloggers and The Points Guy (which I hate for their stupidly high and unrealistic valuations). Most people here play the system but don’t abuse it. Go to Reddit and see r/churning... most people arrive there because of TPG.
Feb 12, 19, 7:20 am
#1530
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 16,872
As said, getting a credit for GC purchases is by definition abusing the system. I too do hope it doesn’t go away but to blame anyone is sort of silly.
