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 22, 2017, 9:48 am
#181
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
does it work with either a virtual or physical AA gift card?
Just want to also confirm that I would make one $100 purchase with Amex Plat card.
Go back again to gift card page and make another.
Can the gift card be for anyone?
Just trying to help boyfriend out who is new on this.
Just want to also confirm that I would make one $100 purchase with Amex Plat card.
Go back again to gift card page and make another.
Can the gift card be for anyone?
Just trying to help boyfriend out who is new on this.
Jan 22, 2017, 7:09 pm
#182
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 168
Whew, saw credit for my 4x$100 AA purchases on two cards. Purchase was on 1/18, credited on 1/21.
Jan 22, 2017, 7:13 pm
#183
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 10
Hey guys..
I just changed my airline from United to AA....
Last year i got $100 benefit with united...
can i buy AA gift cards 2x50 right now to get $100 benefit of this calendar year... or i need to wait till tomorrow ?
asking i updated airlines just now so not sure if it takes time to reflect new one..
I just changed my airline from United to AA....
Last year i got $100 benefit with united...
can i buy AA gift cards 2x50 right now to get $100 benefit of this calendar year... or i need to wait till tomorrow ?
asking i updated airlines just now so not sure if it takes time to reflect new one..
Jan 22, 2017, 7:31 pm
#184
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 10
does it work with either a virtual or physical AA gift card?
Just want to also confirm that I would make one $100 purchase with Amex Plat card.
Go back again to gift card page and make another.
Can the gift card be for anyone?
Just trying to help boyfriend out who is new on this.
Just want to also confirm that I would make one $100 purchase with Amex Plat card.
Go back again to gift card page and make another.
Can the gift card be for anyone?
Just trying to help boyfriend out who is new on this.
Jan 22, 2017, 7:55 pm
#186
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: So Cal
Posts: 937
I have 3 Platinum cards in my household and I received the credit last week on $100 virtual gift cards.
Jan 22, 2017, 8:49 pm
#187
Jan 22, 2017, 8:54 pm
#188
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP, lowly UA 1K; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold; National EC, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,215
Jan 23, 2017, 9:43 am
#189
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 66
Personal Platinum, purchased 2x$75 and 1x$50 on 1/18.
Today is 1/23, and no credit received yet...
Today is 1/23, and no credit received yet...
Jan 24, 2017, 1:00 am
#190
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Everyone reporting success, did you use the link in Wiki to buy?
Jan 24, 2017, 6:52 am
#192
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,959
Clicking the link in the Wiki is no different than navigating to the AA giftcard site, BUT you must buy the cards directly from AA because the reimbursement is only triggered by an American Airlines card transaction. In other words, if you buy the cards at a supermarket or office supply it will not be an airline transaction, and will not be reimbursed.
Last edited by mia; Jan 24, 2017 at 12:20 pm
Jan 24, 2017, 8:40 am
#193
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 66
Yes, purchased posted as American Airlines, which is also my selected airline for the benefit.
I purchased on mobile, but that should not make any difference, just a data point.
Still no credit and under benefits it says I still have $200 to use on American Airlines.
I purchased on mobile, but that should not make any difference, just a data point.
Still no credit and under benefits it says I still have $200 to use on American Airlines.
Jan 24, 2017, 5:50 pm
#194
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 89
Bought 2x$100 on 1/17, both reimbursed 1/19.
Speedy!
I bought from the link on AA's page, not through the wiki.
Speedy!
I bought from the link on AA's page, not through the wiki.
Jan 24, 2017, 7:34 pm
#195
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
Don't panic if you don't see the reimbursement immediately.
Last year sometime I bought a $100 virtual gift card on a Saturday, and the same day it showed up as posted the reimbursement also showed up.
But this past week, I bought a $100 virtual gift card on Friday, it didn't show up as posted until Monday, but the reimbursement didn't show up until Tuesday (today).
So sometimes the reimbursement is a wee bit slower than other times.
Last year sometime I bought a $100 virtual gift card on a Saturday, and the same day it showed up as posted the reimbursement also showed up.
But this past week, I bought a $100 virtual gift card on Friday, it didn't show up as posted until Monday, but the reimbursement didn't show up until Tuesday (today).
So sometimes the reimbursement is a wee bit slower than other times.