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)
Nov 18, 2019, 3:28 pm
#2236
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
For those who have redeemed their AMEX credit on Main Cabin Extra, did you do it through the website in advance or once at the airport. Was trying to find out if AMEX would deny offering credit if it were purchased through the website in advance.
Nov 19, 2019, 10:19 am
#2237
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 2
Has anyone tried purchasing an American Airlines Elite Status Boost for the following year and know whether that triggers the AMEX credit?
Nov 20, 2019, 11:28 am
#2239
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 41
I did it through the website in advance - but separately, after booking the flight and selecting a free main cabin seat originally. Amex credit kicked in automatically after several days (took a bit longer than expected, though).
Nov 20, 2019, 12:05 pm
#2240
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Everywhere
Programs: AA EXP - 3.7MM, Bonv LIFETIME Titan, HH Dmd, Hyatt Glob., Priority Clb Dmd, Ntnl Exec El., Sixt PLT
Posts: 1,680
Any recent reports of reimbursements for the AAdmirals Club renewal fee? Should I pay at the Club or on-line?
I am EXP so all my incidental fees are covered by AA anyway, no need for stickers and miles through mileage multiplier...as I have plenty of both.
I am EXP so all my incidental fees are covered by AA anyway, no need for stickers and miles through mileage multiplier...as I have plenty of both.
Nov 20, 2019, 12:19 pm
#2241
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 21
I did it online after the original booking. Credits posted 5 days later.
Nov 20, 2019, 12:35 pm
#2242
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,427
It isn't in the wiki, but in-flight meal/beverage purchases should definitely trigger reimbursement, as these purchases are specifically listed in the AMEX rules. I have a small amount of money left from my AMEX Platinum credit, and I plan to spend it that way next month. Honestly, there doesn't seem to be much else to spend it on these days. The "mileage multiplier" rate is so bad I'm not willing to take the chance of not getting reimbursed.
A couple weeks ago, I bought cheap (under $300) "basic economy" tickets to Europe for next summer. These tickets don't allow for free seat assignments (even for elites), but I could get the two seats along the window on an A330 (near the back) for about $12 each. Cheapest I've ever seen on AA. That seemed like a good use of the credit -- otherwise you have to risk random seat assignments on an 8 hour flight -- and it was promptly reimbursed.
I don't know what to do for next year. I do fly Frontier about 3 times a year when they offer $25 fares and such on short hauls. I don't buy their ancillary services, but I guess I might get some benefit from bringing a free-carry on and such. And I suppose I could buy in-flight food from them, too. Seems like it could be more useful to me than taking the AA credit again. A hard call. This benefit just isn't very valuable any more.
A couple weeks ago, I bought cheap (under $300) "basic economy" tickets to Europe for next summer. These tickets don't allow for free seat assignments (even for elites), but I could get the two seats along the window on an A330 (near the back) for about $12 each. Cheapest I've ever seen on AA. That seemed like a good use of the credit -- otherwise you have to risk random seat assignments on an 8 hour flight -- and it was promptly reimbursed.
I don't know what to do for next year. I do fly Frontier about 3 times a year when they offer $25 fares and such on short hauls. I don't buy their ancillary services, but I guess I might get some benefit from bringing a free-carry on and such. And I suppose I could buy in-flight food from them, too. Seems like it could be more useful to me than taking the AA credit again. A hard call. This benefit just isn't very valuable any more.
Nov 20, 2019, 12:42 pm
#2243
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Gold
Posts: 723
I agree that the mileage multiplier rate is horrible, but I don’t believe there’s any risk of not getting reimbursed. I haven’t seen DPs of non-reimbursement, and I have been reimbursed several times (the most recent being last week).
Nov 20, 2019, 1:09 pm
#2244
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Programs: Milege+, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,685
Is the reimbursement taking a little longer recently? I put in a mileage multiplier on 11/15 for $54.37. It posted on the 17th. No reimbursement yet and the tracker on my Amex Gold page says that I still have $100 credit to use by December 31st.
Nov 20, 2019, 1:12 pm
#2245
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Gold
Posts: 723
My charge posted on the 12th, and reimbursement posted on the 15th.
Nov 20, 2019, 2:34 pm
#2246
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
It took four business days for me. The 17th was a Sunday, so I'd give it at least until Friday the 22nd.
Nov 20, 2019, 11:03 pm
#2247
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,068
Either is ok. I do mine in the club so that they can split the payment method.
Nov 21, 2019, 5:29 pm
#2248
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Programs: Milege+, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,685
Nov 23, 2019, 5:45 am
#2249
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: New York City
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,128
Ha. $5.60 Award fee was credited back today.
Nov 23, 2019, 9:34 am
#2250
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,440
I did it this year - got automatically reimbursed. That said, it was January 2019, so I can't 100 % confirm that it will work for this elite year, in case it is posting differently.