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)
Mar 1, 2018, 6:30 pm
#631
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 7
Still no reimbursement. I thought that these were via calendar year and not cardmember year. Last year's reimbursement ($100 x2) was July, 2017. Not sure why I have not been reimbursed yet. Coded as travel and not misc. I did the exact same procedure as last year. The only thing I can think of is re-designating my airline and then purchasing on the same day messed things up.
Mar 2, 2018, 2:16 pm
#632
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 88
I have been told to wait at least a couple business days after selecting your airline choice before making the gift card purchases. If you still have not been reimbursed after a month of waiting, I would try again and purchase them in $100 or smaller increments now, and it should be reimbursed. There's no money "lost" since these gift cards never expire, AA flies all over the world, and you can use eight gift cards per transaction.
Mar 3, 2018, 3:39 pm
#633
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors Diamond, SPG, IHG, AA, SWA
Posts: 84
Amex Aspire Data Point:
Selected AA as preferred airline via telephone 2/24
Purchased $100 vGC, sale posted 2/25, reimbursed 2/27
Purchased $100 and $50 vGC in separate transactions, sales posted 2/28, reimbursed 3/2
Transactions each posted as: Travel - Airline
Selected AA as preferred airline via telephone 2/24
Purchased $100 vGC, sale posted 2/25, reimbursed 2/27
Purchased $100 and $50 vGC in separate transactions, sales posted 2/28, reimbursed 3/2
Transactions each posted as: Travel - Airline
Last edited by George M; Mar 3, 2018 at 3:43 pm Reason: Additional information
Mar 5, 2018, 6:41 am
#634
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SEA/DEN
Programs: Hostelworld.com Diamond Plated Platinum
Posts: 390
$100 giftcard purchased with link in Wiki 3/2. Reimbursed 3/4.
Mar 5, 2018, 9:02 am
#635
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: PIT-SCE-AOO-PHL-NYC-WAS
Programs: free agent
Posts: 1,036
Got Aspire few days ago, and already select AA on 3/4. Probably wait 1-2 days later to buy gift cards, but wondering if purchases will count toward minimum spending requirement?
Mar 5, 2018, 9:44 am
#636
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
You'll probably get conflicting responses with this question; in my experience, yes - those purchases will count toward the minimum spend requirement with AMEX cards. (Disclaimer: I do not specifically have the Aspire card.)
Mar 5, 2018, 7:21 pm
#637
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: SAN, LAX
Programs: UA, SW, VA, Marriott, IHG, HH
Posts: 73
In my case, it did count. I had about $3,850 payment, and then I purchased $175 eGC and my 100k has been posted on Amex website as well as HH website.
Mar 6, 2018, 3:32 pm
#638
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP, lowly UA 1K; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold; National EC, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,214
Quick data point. I did two separate $100 GCs from AA in Feb on my Plat each statement credit posted two days after the GCs posted.
Mar 7, 2018, 9:10 am
#639
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 67
I've to cancel award ticket and pay $200 to deposit miles back to my account. any idea on if that gets reimbursed?
Mar 7, 2018, 2:24 pm
#640
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
Interesting data point. I purchased my 2x$100 back in January (a few pages back) and used them for a booking Thursday night. On Friday, within the 24 hours cancellation window, I had to cancel the booking. I did so over the phone and I asked "How long will it take before my GCs are reloaded?" The CSR put me on a brief hold and came back with the answer "We will be refunding you that $200 by a check in the mail, which will take 2-3 weeks."
So, not cool they get my money for almost a month, but I accidentally managed to cash out my Platinum benefit! YMMV, I was willing to keep them as GC (I'll fly AA again), it wasn't a suggestion of mine or anything. But neat if she was right!
So, not cool they get my money for almost a month, but I accidentally managed to cash out my Platinum benefit! YMMV, I was willing to keep them as GC (I'll fly AA again), it wasn't a suggestion of mine or anything. But neat if she was right!
Mar 8, 2018, 4:28 pm
#641
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: American, United
Posts: 228
Is it worth using the $200 towards $206 for a mileage multiplier for 6000 miles?
Mar 8, 2018, 6:57 pm
#642
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: DCA in the winter, SJC in the summer
Posts: 81
That's just buying miles at 3.4 cpp.
Do you get more than 3.4 cpp out of your redemptions?
[you may use a different cost basis if you were planning on selling your gift cards, but the point remains]
Do you get more than 3.4 cpp out of your redemptions?
[you may use a different cost basis if you were planning on selling your gift cards, but the point remains]
Mar 8, 2018, 7:50 pm
#643
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: American, United
Posts: 228
Not really, it's using $200 in credit that is worth less than $200 to me since I don't really want AA gift cards and don't have anticipated fees coming up. And I have no desire to either sell or give gift cards.
I would say yes. Redemption is always for business class tickets to/from Europe. Sometimes milesaver sometimes anytime tickets. Of course if I can turn current anytime tickets into milesaver tickets I'll have a fee for that that would be perfect for the $200 credit, so I'll at least wait until week before September trip to do anything...
I would say yes. Redemption is always for business class tickets to/from Europe. Sometimes milesaver sometimes anytime tickets. Of course if I can turn current anytime tickets into milesaver tickets I'll have a fee for that that would be perfect for the $200 credit, so I'll at least wait until week before September trip to do anything...
Mar 9, 2018, 10:23 pm
#644
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: SAN, LAX
Programs: UA, SW, VA, Marriott, IHG, HH
Posts: 73
HH Aspire Card
2/27 $100 eGC
3/1 Amex Airline Fee Reimbursement (Category: Travel - Airline)
3/5 $75 eGC
3/8 Amex Airline Fee Reimbursement (Category: Travel - Airline)
2/27 $100 eGC
3/1 Amex Airline Fee Reimbursement (Category: Travel - Airline)
3/5 $75 eGC
3/8 Amex Airline Fee Reimbursement (Category: Travel - Airline)
Mar 10, 2018, 9:09 am
#645
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: FL
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, IC Plat Amb, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,299
Not really, it's using $200 in credit that is worth less than $200 to me since I don't really want AA gift cards and don't have anticipated fees coming up. And I have no desire to either sell or give gift cards.
I would say yes. Redemption is always for business class tickets to/from Europe. Sometimes milesaver sometimes anytime tickets. Of course if I can turn current anytime tickets into milesaver tickets I'll have a fee for that that would be perfect for the $200 credit, so I'll at least wait until week before September trip to do anything...
I would say yes. Redemption is always for business class tickets to/from Europe. Sometimes milesaver sometimes anytime tickets. Of course if I can turn current anytime tickets into milesaver tickets I'll have a fee for that that would be perfect for the $200 credit, so I'll at least wait until week before September trip to do anything...
You know you can use the gift card to pay for the award taxes/fees? IF ANYTHING, just buy AA miles directly. Miles multipliers is the worst scam. Remember its not $200 "Free" you are paying $550 for it.