Jan 7, 2020, 8:01 am
Last edit by: rrgg
Many commonly asked questions are answered in this post.
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."
Wait several hours or even a day before making the purchase, although several DPs show it works without waiting that long.
(Posters often refer to Southwest as WN which is its IATA code. The code SW is assigned to Air Namibia.)
As of late July 2019, direct gift card purchases are no longer reimbursed.
To read discussion from 2011-2019, 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."
Wait several hours or even a day before making the purchase, although several DPs show it works without waiting that long.
(Posters often refer to Southwest as WN which is its IATA code. The code SW is assigned to Air Namibia.)
As of late July 2019, direct gift card purchases are no longer reimbursed.
- What does appear to work is buying flight tickets less than $109, OR using gift cards to get the charged amount down to less than $109. Given Amex's recent behavior in other areas, some feel there is real risk that Amex will decide to claw back this type of reimbursement someday.
- If you buy a ticket where you use travel funds to reduce the total charge to your Amex below $109, it will be reimbursed.
- Fees can be reimbursed for any traveler. The name doesn't matter as long as the charge is on your American Express or that of an authorized cardholder.n
- As of 1/1/22 Gold card accounts do not qualify for airline credit.
To read discussion from 2011-2019, click HERE
Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: WN (Southwest) only (2020-21)
Jan 7, 2020, 11:50 pm
#181
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 984
Someone on TPG posted that you can use part of the credit on your airline from last year early this month and still switch to a different airline before 1/31 and use the remaining credit on the second airline, does that really work?
Jan 8, 2020, 12:13 am
#182
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 44
I completely agree with the previous comment. The UI for the Wiki isn't conducive for folks easily finding the info they need. Guaranteed you put it up on the Wiki and you'll still have the same question posted here time and time again.
Jan 8, 2020, 12:39 am
#183
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 6
DP:
1/3 - One-way ticket for $63.98, charged to Platinum
1/6 - $63.98 reimbursed
1/3 - One-way ticket for $63.98, charged to Platinum
1/6 - $63.98 reimbursed
Jan 8, 2020, 7:32 am
#184
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, AAdvantage Gold, Southwest A-List Preferred, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 12
Update 1/7: Transactions have posted, and in Incognito browser, meter is showing $52.04 remaining for Aspire airline credit. Still waiting on the credits, but I assume they'll post before close of business today or first thing tomorrow. I'll include another post after the fact if so and go ahead with P2's Travel Fund method (Plat and Gold) I feel pretty good about doing now along with the $100 on my Gold for a Travel Fund.
Jan 8, 2020, 9:09 am
#185
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 140
Interested DP: On 1/2 i bought a $98 flight from southwest (right after changing my airline selection on my gold card). Transaction posted on 1/2 and i never received the credit nor meter moved. Since i needed to close card by today, on 1/6 i bought two $49 flights on southwest at around 930a, and then canceled them yesterday (1/7) at 830a (transactions already posted on my gold card) and chose the refund to credit card option. Today i'm seeing the two $49 incidental credits AND the southwest refund on the card. So it kind of appears that i should have waited a bit to purchase the original tickets? Or it may be a bit more YMMV with higher dollar purchases.
Jan 8, 2020, 9:15 am
#186
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 3
I've had AMEX Biz Plat the last 2 years. My annual fee just posted on 12/24, going up from $450 to $595, so I'm planning to cancel the card this month. But before canceling, I'd like to take advantage of the $200 airline credit for 2020 by booking $99 WN flights.
But if I get the credit this week and then cancel the card 2 weeks later to avoid paying the AF, am I risking clawbacks of the credit, or shutdowns of my other AMEX cards, or should I be safe if I've had it open and paid AF the past 2 years?
I know it's risky to play games with AMEX sign-up bonuses, but I don't see anything in the T&C that would be an issue for using this credit. But considering reports of other clawbacks they've been doing months later, I'm nervous about their new aggression and don't want to get in trouble with them. Any advice or DP?
But if I get the credit this week and then cancel the card 2 weeks later to avoid paying the AF, am I risking clawbacks of the credit, or shutdowns of my other AMEX cards, or should I be safe if I've had it open and paid AF the past 2 years?
I know it's risky to play games with AMEX sign-up bonuses, but I don't see anything in the T&C that would be an issue for using this credit. But considering reports of other clawbacks they've been doing months later, I'm nervous about their new aggression and don't want to get in trouble with them. Any advice or DP?
Jan 8, 2020, 9:16 am
#187
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
Interested DP: On 1/2 i bought a $98 flight from southwest (right after changing my airline selection on my gold card). Transaction posted on 1/2 and i never received the credit nor meter moved. Since i needed to close card by today, on 1/6 i bought two $49 flights on southwest at around 930a, and then canceled them yesterday (1/7) at 830a (transactions already posted on my gold card) and chose the refund to credit card option. Today i'm seeing the two $49 incidental credits AND the southwest refund on the card. So it kind of appears that i should have waited a bit to purchase the original tickets? Or it may be a bit more YMMV with higher dollar purchases.
Jan 8, 2020, 9:51 am
#188
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, HGVC, WN RR, National Exec, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,057
DP: Rebooked three flights on 1/4 resulting in 3x charges just under $65 on the Amex Aspire. All three credited yesterday.
Jan 8, 2020, 10:55 am
#189
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 140
it posted in less than 24 hours i believe. When i refunded it the charge through southwest, which had to be within 24 hours, the charge posted. I was suprised
Jan 8, 2020, 11:41 am
#191
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,183
1/4 Bought two <$100 Southwest tix on BizPlat
1/5 Posted to account
1/7 Reimbursed
Last year I waited and was one of the first people who got stuck with unreimbursed gift card. Decided to go ahead and get the Southwest credit ASAP in case this changes again.
1/5 Posted to account
1/7 Reimbursed
Last year I waited and was one of the first people who got stuck with unreimbursed gift card. Decided to go ahead and get the Southwest credit ASAP in case this changes again.
Jan 8, 2020, 12:11 pm
#192
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 1
1/1 Changed to WN on Gold and Plat and then purchased 2 $79 flights and 2 $20 early check in on Plat
1/2 Purchased 1 $98 flight on Gold and 2 $98 flights on CS Plat
1/5 Reimbursed for Gold and CS Plat purchases
Nothing yet on Plat. Probably should have waited a day after changing airlines.
1/2 Purchased 1 $98 flight on Gold and 2 $98 flights on CS Plat
1/5 Reimbursed for Gold and CS Plat purchases
Nothing yet on Plat. Probably should have waited a day after changing airlines.
Jan 8, 2020, 1:15 pm
#193
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 18
I've had AMEX Biz Plat the last 2 years. My annual fee just posted on 12/24, going up from $450 to $595, so I'm planning to cancel the card this month. But before canceling, I'd like to take advantage of the $200 airline credit for 2020 by booking $99 WN flights.
But if I get the credit this week and then cancel the card 2 weeks later to avoid paying the AF, am I risking clawbacks of the credit, or shutdowns of my other AMEX cards, or should I be safe if I've had it open and paid AF the past 2 years?
I know it's risky to play games with AMEX sign-up bonuses, but I don't see anything in the T&C that would be an issue for using this credit. But considering reports of other clawbacks they've been doing months later, I'm nervous about their new aggression and don't want to get in trouble with them. Any advice or DP?
But if I get the credit this week and then cancel the card 2 weeks later to avoid paying the AF, am I risking clawbacks of the credit, or shutdowns of my other AMEX cards, or should I be safe if I've had it open and paid AF the past 2 years?
I know it's risky to play games with AMEX sign-up bonuses, but I don't see anything in the T&C that would be an issue for using this credit. But considering reports of other clawbacks they've been doing months later, I'm nervous about their new aggression and don't want to get in trouble with them. Any advice or DP?
Jan 8, 2020, 1:49 pm
#194
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 3
Hence, my question is whether their RAT aggression would make it risky to take advantage of the 2020 flight credit and then cancel to avoid the AF. On the other hand, I read plenty about people double/triple-dipping and doing exactly this, so perhaps it's established and safe and I should stop being so nervous?
Jan 8, 2020, 2:34 pm
#195
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 55
Does the ticket purchased have to be in my name?