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)
Dec 21, 2018, 4:00 pm
#1141
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 41
So I just checked my Amex today and it shows "You have used all of your $250 Airline Fee Credit for this year." on the Benefits page under this credit. WHEW!
Dec 21, 2018, 9:44 pm
#1142
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: CAE,AGS
Programs: AAExP, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, IHG Spire, Marriott Plat
Posts: 3,124
Dec 21, 2018, 10:54 pm
#1143
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,419
I received reimbursement for 2 $100 AA electronic gift cards bought with my Platinum card on 2 different days this week. About 3 days for reimbursement.
Dec 22, 2018, 10:38 am
#1144
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: New York City
Posts: 130
Dec 21st, 2018
Airline Fee Credits meter on Benefits page went down from $179 to $79.
Waiting on credit transaction to be posted soon.
EDIT: Second purchase
Purchased: Dec 21th, 2018 - 9:50 AM EST
Amount: $75
Doing business as: AA ARC
<blahblah>
Category: Travel - Airline
Airline Fee Credits meter on Benefits page went down from $179 to $79.
Waiting on credit transaction to be posted soon.
EDIT: Second purchase
Purchased: Dec 21th, 2018 - 9:50 AM EST
Amount: $75
Doing business as: AA ARC
<blahblah>
Category: Travel - Airline
Waiting on $75 now
Dec 21st, 2018 - Transaction posted, no longer pending
EDIT: Third purchase
Amex Gold
Purchased: Dec 22nd, 2018 - 12:45 PM EST
Amount: $100
Posted: Dec 24, 2018
Doing business as: AA ARC
+ Address
No other info
Last edited by risenmyth; Dec 24, 2018 at 8:59 am
Dec 22, 2018, 9:45 pm
#1145
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 42
FYI to people, for anyone in the military overseas, APO boxes don't work. I tried to select AP as the state but American doesn't have that option. I then picked our home state and address but that doesn't match the credit card billing info. If I had more time in the year, I could change the credit card billing address but with limited time, AA is out for me. This after I already had Amex switch from United to AA and I'm now asking to switch to Southwest to try and buy gift cards through them.
Dec 23, 2018, 4:13 am
#1146
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 17
Exact same thing happened to me. Kinda relieved I'm not the only one. FWIW, I also had purchased $100 AA GCs x2 on my Amex Biz Plat, on same day 11/27, and was reimbursed for both of those on 11/30. So 3 of 4 purchased on 11/27 were successfully credited.
I did online chat with Amex about a week afterwards but rep said simply that need to give it 4 weeks to post and if it doesn't then to recontact support to ask to credit it manually. Kinda scared to try that route, cause they could inquire into what the charge was for and then deny it.
Has anyone with initial credit failure on GCs purchased on 11/27 seen the credits post yet? Thanks.
I did online chat with Amex about a week afterwards but rep said simply that need to give it 4 weeks to post and if it doesn't then to recontact support to ask to credit it manually. Kinda scared to try that route, cause they could inquire into what the charge was for and then deny it.
Has anyone with initial credit failure on GCs purchased on 11/27 seen the credits post yet? Thanks.
Dec 23, 2018, 11:52 am
#1147
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 131
My Time line - Purchased $100 AA Gift card with PLT on dec 19th, transaction posted on the same day and on expanding the transaction, it says flight details
The meter is still at $200, hope I get the credit 
Passenger Name:
Date of Departure: 12/19
Ticket Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Document Type: MISCELLANEOUS TAX(S)/FEE(S)
The meter is still at $200, hope I get the credit Passenger Name:
Date of Departure: 12/19
Ticket Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Document Type: MISCELLANEOUS TAX(S)/FEE(S)
Dec 23, 2018, 10:23 pm
#1148
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, UA 1K, AA Exec. Plat., DL DM, National E.E.
Posts: 253
Purchased two $125 gift cards 7 days apart in December. The meter decreased by $125 as soon as the transaction posted (not pending) and the credit was received a few days after that.
Dec 24, 2018, 9:06 am
#1149
Join Date: May 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 207
Biz Platinum card: bought $200 eGC Dec 17. Credit showed up Dec 20.
Dec 24, 2018, 10:13 am
#1150
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 1
Hilton Aspire redemptions on AA?
I read through the forum and couldn't find the answer to this (sorry, I'm a Travel Hacking newbie!) but has anyone has AA GC luck with Hilton Aspire?
Just purchased $100 AA GC and my Amex statement is showing:
"Dec 22
$100.00
Will appear on your Jan 18, 2019 statement as AMERICAN AIRLINES XXXXX-XXX-XXXX TXFlight Details
Miscellaneous Tax(S)/Fee(S)
Flight on December 22"
Also is showing my name and a "ticket number"... wanted to wait until the refund posted before buying another $100 and $50, hoping to do that before 2019 so I can double-dip $500 on a $450 AF!!
Wish me luck
thanks for the help everyone
Just purchased $100 AA GC and my Amex statement is showing:
"Dec 22
$100.00
Will appear on your Jan 18, 2019 statement as AMERICAN AIRLINES XXXXX-XXX-XXXX TXFlight Details
Miscellaneous Tax(S)/Fee(S)
Flight on December 22"
Also is showing my name and a "ticket number"... wanted to wait until the refund posted before buying another $100 and $50, hoping to do that before 2019 so I can double-dip $500 on a $450 AF!!
Wish me luck
thanks for the help everyone
Dec 24, 2018, 10:25 am
#1151
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Welcome to Flyertalk. There are many Aspire reports in this thread. Use Search this Thread with the keyword: Aspire. I believe the earliest report is THIS one.
Dec 24, 2018, 1:44 pm
#1152
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
Dec 24, 2018, 2:00 pm
#1153
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: New York City
Posts: 130
First purchase:
Amex Plat
$100 credit transaction has shown up on Dec 21st, 2018 - Later that evening
Second purchase:
Amex Plat
$75
Dec 23rd, 2018 - Transaction posted, no longer pending
Dec 24th, 2018 - Benefits page - Credits deducted
Dec 24th, 2018 - Credit transaction complete
Third purchase:
Amex Gold
Amount: $100
Purchased: Dec 22nd, 2018 - 12:45 PM EST
Dec 24, 2018 - Transaction posted, no longer pending
Dec 25, 2018 - Benefits page - Credits deducted
Waiting for actual credit to show up in transactions
Amex Plat
$100 credit transaction has shown up on Dec 21st, 2018 - Later that evening
Second purchase:
Amex Plat
$75
Dec 23rd, 2018 - Transaction posted, no longer pending
Dec 24th, 2018 - Benefits page - Credits deducted
Dec 24th, 2018 - Credit transaction complete
Third purchase:
Amex Gold
Amount: $100
Purchased: Dec 22nd, 2018 - 12:45 PM EST
Dec 24, 2018 - Transaction posted, no longer pending
Dec 25, 2018 - Benefits page - Credits deducted
Waiting for actual credit to show up in transactions
Last edited by risenmyth; Dec 25, 2018 at 8:04 am
Dec 25, 2018, 12:47 pm
#1154
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: Any program with a credit card, or good prices.
Posts: 437
So I just bought two gift cards each under $100 but the total is close to $200. Did I mess up, should they have been different transactions? Personal Platinum card.
Dec 25, 2018, 8:17 pm
#1155
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 4
Over $100 in one transaction seems to work...if...
If you have separate smaller amount gift cards, it seems.
First, used Plat card - $50 e gift card to test, 3 days later credit posted.
Then, Went to purchase $150 more but by accident did all in one purchase transaction tho I broke it up into three $50 e-gift cards. Today my benefits meter shows I have used up my credits so I expect to see the credit posted tomorrow.
First, used Plat card - $50 e gift card to test, 3 days later credit posted.
Then, Went to purchase $150 more but by accident did all in one purchase transaction tho I broke it up into three $50 e-gift cards. Today my benefits meter shows I have used up my credits so I expect to see the credit posted tomorrow.