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 6, 2018, 3:21 pm
#511
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,192
As others have mentioned, you've lost nothing. Calling and arguing for credit on something that is clearly forbidden in the T&C's is not in your best interest either. Will you never try to redeem another AMEX airline credit for a gift card again? Why would you want to put "eyes on the target" for what is clearly a loophole that is working in your - and everyone else's - favor? (Current circumstance excepted.) Pretty short-sighted.
I will certainly try something to recoup the $100 loss if the credit doesn't show up this month.
Jan 6, 2018, 3:40 pm
#512
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Jan 6, 2018, 7:59 pm
#514
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 465
The gift card is worth the $100 paid, but what has been lost is $100 of the 2017 Airline Fee Reimbursement benefit. There is no further opportunity to use last year's benefit. There's no harm in calling, American Express knows perfectly well that they are reimbursing giftcards.
Last edited by ChuckMango; Jan 6, 2018 at 8:30 pm
Jan 6, 2018, 9:04 pm
#515
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA BA CO DL UA US
Posts: 814
Does seat selection fee count towards the $200 credit or would I be better off buying GCs?
Jan 7, 2018, 1:32 am
#516
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 12
Thanks to all your knowledge I like to report that I was able to get reimbursed for the gift cards.One thing I like to know is given that I already claim my 2018 when should I expect to be able to do this again ? I applied in Aug of 2017.I also like to note that just to be on the safe side I switch my home address since I reside in Jersey. In addition to this My family was traveling on the dates I purchase this gift card via the same airline I choose and last but not least can I now switch my preferred airline ? I normally use aeromexico so would it be wise or have any adventages?DEC20 AMERICAN AIRLINES 45107425 - 800-433-7300, TX = x(2) $100 each separate transactions on the same dayDEC22AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement = x(2)
JAN2
AMERICAN AIRLINES 45107425 - 800-433-7300, TX =x(2) $100 each separate transactions on the same dayJAN4AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement=x(2)
JAN2
AMERICAN AIRLINES 45107425 - 800-433-7300, TX =x(2) $100 each separate transactions on the same dayJAN4AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement=x(2)
Jan 7, 2018, 6:42 am
#517
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,192
The gift card is worth the $100 paid, but what has been lost is $100 of the 2017 Airline Fee Reimbursement benefit. There is no further opportunity to use last year's benefit. There's no harm in calling, American Express knows perfectly well that they are reimbursing giftcards.
Jan 7, 2018, 6:51 am
#518
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ Diamond/*G, IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,239
How stupid must one be to call in saying a gift card wasn't reimbursed and everyone else is getting them reimbursed? Shouldn't you say something like it's a baggage fee or something prepaid online?
Jan 7, 2018, 8:03 am
#519
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: East Coast US
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 192
Interesting that your response to my logic regarding contacting Amex being unlikely to gain anything is to accuse me of self interest without any countering logic. As you may have discerned from the many replies to your intent, it's actually in everyone's interest to avoid further Amex review of this method, and you are the one being self-interested to not even your own benefit, unless you have any data points that suggest contacting Amex will lead to them reimbursing a GC. mhdena's point regarding the AS experience is possibly a data point that indicates the opposite to everyone else's detriment, although I haven't gone through the AS thread yet.
Oh well. Facts & minds:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2...ange-our-minds
Jan 7, 2018, 8:09 am
#520
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 16,871
Normally fly up front so baggage fees, meals, etc. are never an issue. Anyways, got an email that my $200 was going to expire at the end of the year so when i checked in on a recent flight I opted to buy X number of bones miles for a little more than $200 just to see what would happen. Well, I just saw the $200 credit on my business plat statement.
Jan 7, 2018, 8:40 am
#521
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,486
Platinum Charge Card
1/3 - purchased 2 x $100 gift cards
1/5 - 2 x $100 reimbursements posted
1/3 - purchased 2 x $100 gift cards
1/5 - 2 x $100 reimbursements posted
Jan 7, 2018, 1:41 pm
#522
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 62
FIRST RULE, NO CALL...
Jan 7, 2018, 5:39 pm
#523
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Programs: AA Plat, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 63
1/4: Purchased 2x $100
1/6: 2x $100 reimbursements posted
1/6: 2x $100 reimbursements posted
Jan 7, 2018, 8:06 pm
#524
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
Yeah, I recall last year's weirdness. Fortunately, my wife's card is new, so it's not like I need to cancel it this month. It's obviously disconcerting though that January reimbursements are being processed, but this Dec. 26th one looks lost. I would think that if the credit is not posted in the next 10 days, I should do something. What's the best way to nudge AMEX on this stuff?
Jan 7, 2018, 8:31 pm
#525
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 1
Amerprise Plat:
2x100 eGC
Purchased on 01/3
Credits posted on 01/05.
PS: I have $75 airline credit left on my Amex PRG. Does 1 x 75 trigger the Credit? Any DP's on it?
Regards
2x100 eGC
Purchased on 01/3
Credits posted on 01/05.
PS: I have $75 airline credit left on my Amex PRG. Does 1 x 75 trigger the Credit? Any DP's on it?
Regards