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)
Aug 2, 2019, 1:40 pm
#1981
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: AA, Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 501
I did something similar with AA gift card purchase and Amex Platinum for the balance and it has been 5 days and no credit on either one. They are showing up as passenger tickets in my account, so I doubt a credit is going to come through. The one that you got reimbursed...what is that showing up under?
Aug 2, 2019, 5:23 pm
#1982
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Called AMEX to plead my case on the elite challenge for the Aspire and the $250 reimbursement fee (challenge was $240). Agent said he would raise it internally. He agreed with me that it is not excluded, but said it was not expressly covered either and would credit or not in 4 weeks. In a day or two, should I employ the time honored and battle tested AA tactic of HUCA? 
Safe Travels
Safe Travels
Aug 3, 2019, 2:49 am
#1983
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,900
Is it confirmed that buying a physical AA giftcard at an AA lounge is dead?
Last edited by mia; Aug 3, 2019 at 12:33 pm Reason: Combine consecutive posts.
Aug 3, 2019, 12:32 pm
#1984
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Aug 3, 2019, 2:46 pm
#1985
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
Data points...
Award ticket taxes/fees: No
Upfare (more than $100): No
Upfare (less than $50): Yes
Award ticket taxes/fees: No
Upfare (more than $100): No
Upfare (less than $50): Yes
Aug 3, 2019, 5:17 pm
#1986
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: PNW
Programs: BAEC Silver, DL GM, AA Plat, NEXUS
Posts: 467
Has anyone tried using the card to pay the remainder of the balance after paying 80% of the fare with gift cards? Say a ticket costs $1k and I'll use the card to cover $200.
Thanks
Thanks
Aug 4, 2019, 7:23 am
#1987
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NJ USA
Programs: AA PLAT 2MM, MR TITANIUM 2M, HH DIA, Hyatt EXP, BW DIA, IC AMB, IHG PLAT, UA GLD
Posts: 1,086
Additionally, has anyone split the ticket charge between two credit card? Using the amex card to pay less than $100 and a second credit card for the balance. For example, I prefer generating UR points with my Chase Sapphire card rather than accruing Amex points so I'd pay the bulk with my Chase card for UR points and less than $100 with my Amex card to get the Amex credit. I am EP so I pay no additional fee to purchase a ticket by telephone where I think I can split the cost among 2 credit cards.
Aug 4, 2019, 11:05 pm
#1988
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 27
Does anyone know if you can buy Mileage Multipliers more than once for the same itinerary?
Aug 5, 2019, 3:02 am
#1989
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,666
Aug 5, 2019, 5:36 pm
#1990
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: American Airlaines, Delta SkyMiles, United, BA, HH, Marriott, SPG, Priority Club
Posts: 160
Looking to test buying refundable ticket and pay part with Amex and part with a gift card. This seems to be triggering the credit for delta so want to try for as. My question is how do I ensure my ticket is refundable with no fee? They offer flexible and fully flexible.... both say refundable but that a fee MAY apply????
Aug 6, 2019, 5:49 am
#1991
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Data point reimbursement of 2x $5.60 in award fees from my PLT. Still nothing from Hilton Aspire for $240 elite challenge. Interestingly, the award fees coded as "tickets".
Safe Travels
Safe Travels
Aug 10, 2019, 6:56 am
#1992
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 394
Data point award tickets
tried platinum two different records each for $5.60 and no reimbursement after a month.
Aug 11, 2019, 7:28 am
#1993
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, CC Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 433
Data point. Purchased 4 award tickets with Plat card. $5.60 x 4 reimbursed 3 days later on all four charges
Aug 11, 2019, 9:38 am
#1994
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Programs: SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 162
Anyone know if the seat upgrade charges post when you book or fly? Was going to book a January flight and use up the credit upgrading to MCE, but wanted to make sure it uses 2019 credit
Aug 11, 2019, 11:40 am
#1995
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NJ USA
Programs: AA PLAT 2MM, MR TITANIUM 2M, HH DIA, Hyatt EXP, BW DIA, IC AMB, IHG PLAT, UA GLD
Posts: 1,086
Might be helpful if when posting that a charge was or was not reimbursed, you also include what TYPE of Amex card was used for the charge (Hilton Aspire, Platinum, Gold...). Perhaps different cards generate different acceptability of reimbursement. Just a thought...