Jan 4, 2017, 6:59 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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:

Yes - Majuki, Evo40

Admirals Club Passes:

Yes - Hilton-gold, moe8555

Admirals Club Food/Drinks:

Yes - cyncyn129, Segments, chrisny2

Award Cancellation Fee*:

No - ShrinkTheGlobe, canesfan, jasmians, soy

Award Taxes/Fees:

Yes - Dedicated, Rakibullslam, tsmith12, lotrbfme, mia, GTITAN, cdoobiest
No - Alex_I, exmike, jb0506, fangtl, nall, javabytes, chitink
Mixed - PatrickTM, Visconti, iahphx

Baggage*:

Yes - tlglenn
No - mrlemm, mlin32, abk, pubsmeister, esls79

Change Fee*:

No - cubs105, prhocky2607

Close-In Ticket Fee*:

No - PatrickTM, mileshound

Elite 500-mile Stickers:

Yes - LuizMiranda, fotoflyer88, nk15, joshvworld, Hilton-gold, captaink, JCN, aftortoriello, nall
No - pubsmeister

Elite Challenges:

Yes - skreemer6
No - stheller, tlglenn, GTITAN

External Reservation Fee:

Yes - jvel

Five Star Service:

Yes - JDiver

Infant Fees:

No - AUSINSIGHT

MCE/Seat Selection:

Yes - chapmanj9, Dedicated, Hilton-gold, jb0506, limeyx, act0fgod, nall, tlglenn
No - UAZip

Mileage Multipler:

Yes - mia, mia (two separate reports), TravelLawyer, QtownDave, nk15, nall, UAZip

Pet Fee*:

No - mrlemm

Same Day Flight Change:

Yes - Segments

Upfares:

Mixed - javabytes, javabytes - appears the amount matters
No - jvel

Upgrades:

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.

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Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: AA only (2017-2019)

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Jan 16, 2018, 7:20 pm

#556

Danegal

Join Date: Jan 2017

Posts: 34

1/4 bought one $100 GC
1/6 credit posted
1/7 bought one $100 GC
1/9 credit posted

Jan 17, 2018, 5:31 pm

#557

mrjaggers

Join Date: Feb 2014

Posts: 2

16 days and counting

I changed my airline preference on Jan. 1 from Delta to American and then purchased a $100 AA e-gift card two separate times on my desktop computer. I am still waiting for the credits. I did this on a different platinum amex card at the same time and the credit posted in two days.

Jan 17, 2018, 11:56 pm

#558

derby44

Join Date: May 2004

Location: PWM

Programs: Marriott Platinum Hyatt Diamond Hilton Gold SPG Gold National Executive Avis Preferred Hertz Gold

Posts: 633

Purchased $100 GC on 1/14--nothing posted as credit yet.

Jan 18, 2018, 5:30 am

#559

derby44

Join Date: May 2004

Location: PWM

Programs: Marriott Platinum Hyatt Diamond Hilton Gold SPG Gold National Executive Avis Preferred Hertz Gold

Posts: 633

Quote:

Originally Posted by derby44

Purchased $100 GC on 1/14--nothing posted as credit yet.

Update
It just posted. Now I'll purchase another. Good luck to all.

Jan 18, 2018, 5:35 am

#560

chicago747

Join Date: Sep 2013

Location: ORD

Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody

Posts: 514

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrjaggers

I bought a $100 gift card on Jan 1 and Jan 2. I realized that I had UA as my airline so switched it to AA on the 3nd. The credits did not post. I was able on Tuesday to chat with Amex customer service and explain the situation that I switched airline choice after the fact and asked if they would still credit the "fees" as a courtesy...which they agreed to do. They manually gave me the credits on Tuesday and posted this morning.

I think if you chat with Amex they will post the credits. I initially asked about a week after the purchases posted but they said to chat again after 14 days. I don't think the regular agents can credit the fees, even if they want to, until 14 days after posting to the account. Since you bought Jan 1 you should be fine, but just a data point for anyone else in the same situation.

mrjaggers likes this.

Last edited by chicago747; Jan 21, 2018 at 5:47 pm

Jan 18, 2018, 6:26 am

#561

solewalker

Join Date: Aug 2015

Location: SIN

Posts: 1,098

Switched from AS to AA on 14 Jan. Bought two $100 GCs on AA almost immediately.
Jan 15: Charges for 2 x $100 GC posted
Jan 17: Both charges reimbursed.

Jan 18, 2018, 9:51 pm

#562

Brian Restivo

Join Date: Dec 2015

Posts: 2

I was wondering if I use the $200 in airline credit fee (2 x $100 gc) in January with AA, can I switch by January 31 to another airline to receive the 35% bonus for the remaining 11 months? Or does the credit and bonus have to be the same airline?

Jan 20, 2018, 1:55 pm

#563

matrixwalker2012

Suspended

Join Date: Oct 2011

Location: LAX

Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat

Posts: 1,443

Can my Gold Card AU on my Plat account buy a $50 gift card and have it count against my $200 incidentals too?

Jan 20, 2018, 4:39 pm

#564

srdshelly

Join Date: Jan 2007

Programs: Many

Posts: 335

It took nearly two weeks, but the two $100 GCs did post as a credit for me on Jan. 17. I'm not sure why the delay, but all turned out OK.

Jan 22, 2018, 12:55 pm

#565

sdix

Join Date: Jan 2000

Posts: 3,026

Bought 2 $100 certs for each of 5 eligible cards. Charges posted on 19th and credits posted today.

Jan 22, 2018, 1:20 pm

#566

Gig103

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

2 x $100 gift card purchased, both reimbursed. I waited until the first was reimbursed before buying the second, and both credits came 2 days after the charge.