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)
#1591
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 75
See this POST from January 2018 in the United Airlines thread. Details matter, the process could be different on American.
#1592
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,880
This interpretation isn't supported by the circumstances in which the Airline Fee Credit was introduced. Buy an Admirals Club membership and use the credit to partially offset the cost. That's why the credit exists.
#1593
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 16,871
This benefit is as clearly advertised as every other one.
#1594
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,570
It's all about making you THINK you can probably use it somewhere, but their aggregate data probably show that it is not true.
Last edited by nk15; Feb 15, 2019 at 11:41 am Reason: typos
#1595
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 29
Ok just did $100 with my gold card and it shows it as AA ARC with an address out of Oklahoma. Will update in a few days with what happens. If this doesnt work I will try $50. Also anyone know if you can make a purchase at the airport of a gift card? Ill be traveling tomorrow and again on Tuesday and could just make a purchase then lol
#1597
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,880
Airfare is not reimbursable. You may be able to make a small airfare transaction appear to be a reimbursable fee, but we have no reports specifically for AA.
#1598
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 56,890
Have we seen data points (AA or others) on incidental charges related to refundable tickets (e.g., prepaid baggage, seat selection), and the cardholder cancels the ticket? I wonder if the statement credit would get reversed when the incidental charge gets reversed.
#1599
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 610
I'm guessing the trick you'd be going for here would be opting for a refund in AA voucher/travel credit instead of a straight CC refund.
#1600
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 56,890
Maybe, but perhaps that's not necessary. The system might not be set up to reverse statement credits for incidental charges. Leaving aside potential gaming the system routines, reversal of the "real" incidental airline charges would seem like a very rare thing. You pay your baggage fees or seat selection, and it's done. Seldom is the passenger going to reverse those and get a refund.
#1601
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 7
Ok just did $100 with my gold card and it shows it as AA ARC with an address out of Oklahoma. Will update in a few days with what happens. If this doesnt work I will try $50. Also anyone know if you can make a purchase at the airport of a gift card? Ill be traveling tomorrow and again on Tuesday and could just make a purchase then lol
#1602
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 5
It has been established that the changes happened between Feb 6 - 8, 2019. So if anyone wants to know if it applies they need to post purchase transactions AFTER that date for accurate information. Any data points before the Feb 6 - 8 date is of no relevance anymore.
#1604
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
I wish I could could use multiple cards to pay for an Admirals Club membership
#1605
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,983