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)
Mar 21, 2019, 10:42 am
#1741
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 25
DP: purchased a $50 AA gift card on Feb 8 that coded as gift card and didn't trigger reimbursement. Asked about it over chat, the agent didn't ask any questions but told me that he had initiated a reimbursement and I would see the credit in 5 business days (we'll see if that actually substantiates). I didn't have to claim it was some other fee, just asked about 'an AA charge from Feb 8 that I expected an airline reimbursement from', or something along those lines.
Good luck to others who try this!
Good luck to others who try this!
Mar 21, 2019, 8:48 pm
#1742
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,066
Worst case, they say no.
Mar 22, 2019, 3:31 pm
#1743
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
So with AA gift cards no longer working with AMEX reimbursement what are the other real alternatives for EXP/CK customers that nearly exclusively flies AA?
I book award tickets 1-2 times a year so that is not even remotely enough to cover $200 and I am considering picking up the Hilton Aspire to replace my Ascend so that is another $250.
Bags are free for me, I barely pay any fees, I get free seating assignments, I get free drinks and free food, etc. I get complimentary upgrades as well. No interest in buying AA lounge day passes.
I book award tickets 1-2 times a year so that is not even remotely enough to cover $200 and I am considering picking up the Hilton Aspire to replace my Ascend so that is another $250.
Bags are free for me, I barely pay any fees, I get free seating assignments, I get free drinks and free food, etc. I get complimentary upgrades as well. No interest in buying AA lounge day passes.
Mar 22, 2019, 3:47 pm
#1744
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
So with AA gift cards no longer working with AMEX reimbursement what are the other real alternatives for EXP/CK customers that nearly exclusively flies AA?
I book award tickets 1-2 times a year so that is not even remotely enough to cover $200 and I am considering picking up the Hilton Aspire to replace my Ascend so that is another $250.
Bags are free for me, I barely pay any fees, I get free seating assignments, I get free drinks and free food, etc. I get complimentary upgrades as well. No interest in buying AA lounge day passes.
I book award tickets 1-2 times a year so that is not even remotely enough to cover $200 and I am considering picking up the Hilton Aspire to replace my Ascend so that is another $250.
Bags are free for me, I barely pay any fees, I get free seating assignments, I get free drinks and free food, etc. I get complimentary upgrades as well. No interest in buying AA lounge day passes.
Mar 22, 2019, 3:54 pm
#1745
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
I don't have any interest in AC membership. CLT/ORD are the only two places where an AC would be nice, but with AMEX opening a Centurion lounge in CLT that really only leaves ORD. Not worth the $$$. I got the card as the net fee for me was $350. I buy AA tickets whether I have the AMEX cards or not. I don't buy AC membership, so this would make the card $200 more expensive for me.
The majority of the airports I fly in/out all have reasonable priority pass options or Centurion Lounge. This also doesn't factor in the options available through AA/OW on international trips.
The majority of the airports I fly in/out all have reasonable priority pass options or Centurion Lounge. This also doesn't factor in the options available through AA/OW on international trips.
Last edited by golfingboy; Mar 22, 2019 at 4:00 pm
Mar 22, 2019, 3:59 pm
#1746
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
When you do not fly AA do you (or anyone close) fly Delta or Southwest?Giftcards purchased from both of those carriers are still reliably reimbursed.
Mar 22, 2019, 4:03 pm
#1747
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
But this does raise an option to buy the GCs and have someone in my family reimburse me. Among them, they fly WN/DL at least 10+ times a year.
Mar 22, 2019, 4:08 pm
#1748
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
I have not tried this since AA tweaked their transaction descriptions, but Mileage Multiplier worked year. Not terrific value, but easy.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...multiplier.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...multiplier.jsp
Mar 24, 2019, 1:47 am
#1749
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,138
Mar 24, 2019, 2:20 pm
#1750
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
I haven't flown on either in 3+ years. I mean yes I could fly DL/WN but there is very little incentive for me to fly them as I get zero benefits. I have never seen DL/WN at a price point out of PIT that I would be willing to fly them over AA.
But this does raise an option to buy the GCs and have someone in my family reimburse me. Among them, they fly WN/DL at least 10+ times a year.
But this does raise an option to buy the GCs and have someone in my family reimburse me. Among them, they fly WN/DL at least 10+ times a year.
Mar 24, 2019, 4:19 pm
#1751
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
What makes you think this is how I approach conversations with my close knit family?
Open and honest communication goes a long way. I don't mean to be snarky here but you were being judgmental.
Last edited by golfingboy; Mar 24, 2019 at 4:25 pm
Mar 24, 2019, 4:50 pm
#1752
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
No offense taken by me and I don't think you were being "snarky", whatever that is. I was being judgmental....still am.
Mar 24, 2019, 6:48 pm
#1753
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
I'd say that your family is pedantic over the terminology, then. I think a lot of people would say yes to "Hey would you like a $200 Delta credit for $150?".
Mar 24, 2019, 9:39 pm
#1754
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
Cos, let's be honest here, if you're willing to pony up $550 for the privilege of using a credit card you probably can afford to help out a family member without compensation. That's just the way I do things. Apparently you don't and that's just fine if that's what you choose to do. ^
Last edited by Diplomatico; Mar 24, 2019 at 9:51 pm
Mar 26, 2019, 4:51 am
#1755
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
I switched from AA to DL as of 1/1/19 and got reimbursed for 4 x $50 (Amex Bus Plat) and 5 x $50 (Hilton Aspire) DL GCs.
Question: Did AA change its description of GCs so that they are no longer being reimbursed out of "nastiness" to its customers? If AA kept its "old" description (which was being reimbursed) losing money by doing so?
Question: Did AA change its description of GCs so that they are no longer being reimbursed out of "nastiness" to its customers? If AA kept its "old" description (which was being reimbursed) losing money by doing so?