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)
#1966
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 70
Quick question. Day passes to Admiral Clubs I know count, but has anyone tried ACs outside the US? I want to buy a day pass to the AC in Narita T2 the next time I pass through.
#1967
I searched, but didn't find...
Will the Amex Aspire $250 airline credit apply if I have pre-selected AA as airline benefit, and I rent a car through AA.com?
I see on the AA FAQ one can use AA miles, (FAQ: "Yes. You can use AAdvantage miles to purchase hotel stays and rental cars.").
When you book an AA. com car rental, does the charge show up on the Amex? From AA? Or from Hertz/Alamo/whatever?
Will the Amex Aspire $250 airline credit apply if I have pre-selected AA as airline benefit, and I rent a car through AA.com?
I see on the AA FAQ one can use AA miles, (FAQ: "Yes. You can use AAdvantage miles to purchase hotel stays and rental cars.").
When you book an AA. com car rental, does the charge show up on the Amex? From AA? Or from Hertz/Alamo/whatever?
#1969
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
I searched, but didn't find...
Will the Amex Aspire $250 airline credit apply if I have pre-selected AA as airline benefit, and I rent a car through AA.com?
I see on the AA FAQ one can use AA miles, (FAQ: "Yes. You can use AAdvantage miles to purchase hotel stays and rental cars.").
When you book an AA. com car rental, does the charge show up on the Amex? From AA? Or from Hertz/Alamo/whatever?
Will the Amex Aspire $250 airline credit apply if I have pre-selected AA as airline benefit, and I rent a car through AA.com?
I see on the AA FAQ one can use AA miles, (FAQ: "Yes. You can use AAdvantage miles to purchase hotel stays and rental cars.").
When you book an AA. com car rental, does the charge show up on the Amex? From AA? Or from Hertz/Alamo/whatever?
That's the same reason AA.com buying miles hasn't worked as AA purchase for years, because it's been outsourced to points.com. (I don't know if that's still the case or not, I just know it was true for many many years.)
#1970
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
Most car rentals are "pay later" (ie, at the rental counter). Those definitely get billed by Hertz/Alamo/whoever. The only question would be if the AA.com car rental has an option for "pay now" rentals. But then you need to look to see if the AA.com car rental has a banner saying "powered by <some other site>", as the UA.com car rental site does. That probably means all payments are outsourced to that other site.
That's the same reason AA.com buying miles hasn't worked as AA purchase for years, because it's been outsourced to points.com. (I don't know if that's still the case or not, I just know it was true for many many years.)
That's the same reason AA.com buying miles hasn't worked as AA purchase for years, because it's been outsourced to points.com. (I don't know if that's still the case or not, I just know it was true for many many years.)
#1971
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,134
One could rightly assume that when a poster posts in the AA thread that AA reimbursements are what they are referring to.
#1972
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
Except that, when the AA gift cards stopped working, this thread was full of questions about using other airlines for gift cards instead. So that made it relevant to this thread whether other airline's gift cards still work or not.
#1973
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,134
Never mind the fact that the poster made the statement 5 months after they stopped working as if it was breaking news, the poster posted in the AA thread, and they didn't ask about other airlines. But yeah, stick with that..
#1974
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 1,664
A data point:
Bought Basic Economy Fare. At the 7 day window, was able to go in and buy seats using the Amex Aspire (not the card I bought the ticket with) - seat fee reimbursed.
Bought premium wine at Admirals Club - took a few days but reimbursed.
Bought Basic Economy Fare. At the 7 day window, was able to go in and buy seats using the Amex Aspire (not the card I bought the ticket with) - seat fee reimbursed.
Bought premium wine at Admirals Club - took a few days but reimbursed.
#1975
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: ORD (formerly SAN)
Programs: Hilton Diamond; IHG Platinum; Bonvoy Gold; AA Platinum Pro and United Premier Silver (DH = AA EXP)
Posts: 1,929
#1976
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: CP-ASEL,AMEL,G-IA in Tucson, Arizona, United States
Posts: 1,124
Baggage, MCE, and Elite Challenge
Back in May paid for MCE (Shows on statement as: "Additional Collection") and checked bags (Shows up as: "Excess Baggage"). Fee credits appeared three days later.
Earlier this month signed-up for an elite challenge (Shows up as: "Frequent Flyer Fee/Purchase"). No credit after over 2.5 weeks. Don't see this as explicitly excluded under the T&Cs so I may call them after the four-week point.
Earlier this month signed-up for an elite challenge (Shows up as: "Frequent Flyer Fee/Purchase"). No credit after over 2.5 weeks. Don't see this as explicitly excluded under the T&Cs so I may call them after the four-week point.
#1977
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
$200 Airline Fee Credit
Benefit is available to Consumer and Business Platinum Card® and Centurion® Members only. To receive statement credits of up to $200 per calendar year toward incidental air travel fees, Card Member must select one qualifying airline at www.americanexpress.com/airlinechoice. Qualifying airlines include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. Only the Basic Card Member or Authorized Account Manager(s) on the Card Account can select the qualifying airline. Card Members who have not chosen one qualifying airline will be able to do so at any time. Card Members who have already selected one qualifying airline will be able to change their choice one time each year in January at www.americanexpress.com/airlinechoice or by calling the number on the back of the Card. Card Members who do not change their airline selection will remain with their current airline. Statement Credits: Incidental air travel fees must be charged to the Card Member on the eligible Card Account for the benefit to apply. Incidental air travel fees charged by both the Basic and Additional Card Members on the eligible Card Account are eligible for statement credits. However, each Card Account is eligible for up to a total of $200 per calendar year in statement credits across all Cards on the Account. Incidental air travel fees must be separate charges from airline ticket charges. Fees not charged by the Card Member's airline of choice (e.g. wireless internet and fees incurred with airline alliance partners) do not qualify for statement credits. Incidental air travel fees charged prior to selection of a qualifying airline are not eligible for statement credits. Airline tickets, upgrades, mileage points purchases, mileage points transfer fees, gift cards, duty free purchases, and award tickets are not deemed to be incidental fees. The airline must submit the charge under the appropriate merchant code, industry code, or required service or product identifier for the charge to be recognized as an incidental air travel fee. Please allow 2-4 weeks after the qualifying incidental air travel fee is charged to your Card Account for statement credit(s) to be posted to the Account. We rely on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions, so please call the number on the back of the Card if statement credits have not posted after 4 weeks from the date of purchase. Card Members remain responsible for timely payment of all charges. To be eligible for this benefit, Card Account(s) must be not canceled and not past due at the time of statement credit fulfillment.
Benefit is available to Consumer and Business Platinum Card® and Centurion® Members only. To receive statement credits of up to $200 per calendar year toward incidental air travel fees, Card Member must select one qualifying airline at www.americanexpress.com/airlinechoice. Qualifying airlines include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. Only the Basic Card Member or Authorized Account Manager(s) on the Card Account can select the qualifying airline. Card Members who have not chosen one qualifying airline will be able to do so at any time. Card Members who have already selected one qualifying airline will be able to change their choice one time each year in January at www.americanexpress.com/airlinechoice or by calling the number on the back of the Card. Card Members who do not change their airline selection will remain with their current airline. Statement Credits: Incidental air travel fees must be charged to the Card Member on the eligible Card Account for the benefit to apply. Incidental air travel fees charged by both the Basic and Additional Card Members on the eligible Card Account are eligible for statement credits. However, each Card Account is eligible for up to a total of $200 per calendar year in statement credits across all Cards on the Account. Incidental air travel fees must be separate charges from airline ticket charges. Fees not charged by the Card Member's airline of choice (e.g. wireless internet and fees incurred with airline alliance partners) do not qualify for statement credits. Incidental air travel fees charged prior to selection of a qualifying airline are not eligible for statement credits. Airline tickets, upgrades, mileage points purchases, mileage points transfer fees, gift cards, duty free purchases, and award tickets are not deemed to be incidental fees. The airline must submit the charge under the appropriate merchant code, industry code, or required service or product identifier for the charge to be recognized as an incidental air travel fee. Please allow 2-4 weeks after the qualifying incidental air travel fee is charged to your Card Account for statement credit(s) to be posted to the Account. We rely on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions, so please call the number on the back of the Card if statement credits have not posted after 4 weeks from the date of purchase. Card Members remain responsible for timely payment of all charges. To be eligible for this benefit, Card Account(s) must be not canceled and not past due at the time of statement credit fulfillment.
#1978
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: CP-ASEL,AMEL,G-IA in Tucson, Arizona, United States
Posts: 1,124
Does AMEX consider an elite challenge to be an award ticket or is it simply because of how AA coded the transaction?
#1979
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
They have some other "mileage" exclusions, which indicates (to me) that they don't want to cover anything that pertains to frequent flyer programs, but of course you may succeed if you call.
#1980
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Safe Travels