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

Old Jan 4, 2017, 6:59 am
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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: Admirals Club Food/Drinks: Award Cancellation Fee*: Award Taxes/Fees: Baggage*: Change Fee*: Close-In Ticket Fee*: Elite 500-mile Stickers: Elite Challenges: External Reservation Fee: Five Star Service: Infant Fees: MCE/Seat Selection: Mileage Multipler: Pet Fee*: Same Day Flight Change: Upfares: Upgrades:
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)

Old Feb 15, 2019, 4:25 am
  #1591  
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 75
Originally Posted by mia
See this POST from January 2018 in the United Airlines thread. Details matter, the process could be different on American.
Its obvious Amex is counting on people don't use this credit, otherwise it would be a straight travel reimbursement. I wonder what % of Gold/Plat card holder actually don't use this credit.
chrisfwm is offline  
Old Feb 15, 2019, 7:16 am
  #1592  
mia
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Originally Posted by chrisfwm
Its obvious Amex is counting on people don't use this credit, otherwise it would be a straight travel reimbursement.
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.
mia is offline  
Old Feb 15, 2019, 8:09 am
  #1593  
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Originally Posted by chrisfwm
Its obvious Amex is counting on people don't use this credit, otherwise it would be a straight travel reimbursement. I wonder what % of Gold/Plat card holder actually don't use this credit.
Thats true to the point its true for every single company everywhere. Many offer coupons or other discounts and all would love if some just paid full price.

This benefit is as clearly advertised as every other one.
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 9:59 am
  #1594  
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Originally Posted by chrisfwm
Its obvious Amex is counting on people don't use this credit, otherwise it would be a straight travel reimbursement. I wonder what % of Gold/Plat card holder actually don't use this credit.
I agree, they are toeing a fine line between the benefit "appearing" useful but in reality counting on many people failing to use it. Making it more lax, they lose money, making it more strict, it appears useless and nobody gets the card...It is an art in advertising...Probably one of the many tricks in the banking industry.

It's all about making you THINK you can probably use it somewhere, but their aggregate data probably show that it is not true.
84fiero, IndyHoosier and Roasty like this.

Last edited by nk15; Feb 15, 2019 at 11:41 am Reason: typos
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 10:50 am
  #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
wj2005 is offline  
Old Feb 15, 2019, 10:57 am
  #1596  
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 24
Question

If you buy airfare from AA.com, do you get credit from Amex?
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 11:24 am
  #1597  
mia
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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.
mia is offline  
Old Feb 15, 2019, 12:00 pm
  #1598  
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Originally Posted by mia
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.
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.
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 1:52 pm
  #1599  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 610
Originally Posted by dhuey
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.
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.
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 2:17 pm
  #1600  
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Originally Posted by klanfa
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.
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.
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 5:26 pm
  #1601  
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 7
Originally Posted by wj2005
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
I did a $65 one on my Plat and this is how it showed up initially. When it posted, it did show as a giftcard and does not appear that it's going to be credited.
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Old Feb 16, 2019, 8:54 pm
  #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.
dbatl is offline  
Old Feb 17, 2019, 4:58 am
  #1603  
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
Anyone done the pet trick with American? Did it work?
jas498 is offline  
Old Feb 17, 2019, 5:48 am
  #1604  
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
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Posts: 191
Originally Posted by mia
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.
I wish I could could use multiple cards to pay for an Admirals Club membership
Javier1704 is offline  
Old Feb 17, 2019, 8:06 am
  #1605  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Posts: 6,983
Originally Posted by Javier1704
I wish I could could use multiple cards to pay for an Admirals Club membership
Agreed, many businesses are able to handle multiple payment cards, not sure why AA can't handle this most basic function. This would be of value to my wife and I as well.

Regards
scubadu is offline  

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