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)
Feb 18, 2020, 7:28 am
#391
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: WN A-List, UA Gold, Hilton Diamond, SBUX Gold
Posts: 126
Feb 19, 2020, 2:42 pm
#392
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select
Posts: 469
Any DP on amounts over $100 being reimbursed? Looking at $102 and $106...and can't bring it down anymore since I am already using two travel funds. Thanks!
Feb 19, 2020, 7:52 pm
#393
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 404
Purchase another ticket using the 2 travel funds then cancel the ticket. Now you only have 1 travel fund.
Feb 20, 2020, 12:13 am
#395
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select
Posts: 469
Feb 24, 2020, 10:05 am
#396
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 107
Amex Platinum:
2/18/20: $98.98 purchase one way flight
2/24/20: credit posted
2/18/20: $98.98 purchase one way flight
2/24/20: credit posted
Feb 25, 2020, 3:46 pm
#397
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Moderator action
Discussion of clawbacks of airline charges which were also refunded by the airline have been moved, because this was not exclusively a Southwest Airlines strategy:
Clawbacks of 2019 reimbursements for REFUNDED airline "fees".
Clawbacks of 2019 reimbursements for REFUNDED airline "fees".
Feb 25, 2020, 11:21 pm
#398
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CVG
Programs: Hyatt Giraffe
Posts: 1,664
Are award from points booking fees legitimate uses of the airline fee credit?
Feb 26, 2020, 8:15 am
#399
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 7
Amex Gold:
2/19/20: $95.98 purchase one way flight
Still Awaiting
No meter movement or credit yet. This has been the longest wait for AMEX Airline Credit
Did they close this loophole too?
2/19/20: $95.98 purchase one way flight
Still Awaiting
No meter movement or credit yet. This has been the longest wait for AMEX Airline Credit
Did they close this loophole too?
Feb 27, 2020, 6:13 am
#401
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: GAI
Programs: TK *G, all statuses that come with Ritz, Amex Plat, Citi Prestige cards
Posts: 364
Check again today. I had a $72 fare purchased on 2/19 reimbursed this morning. I was starting to get nervous this time!
Feb 27, 2020, 6:27 am
#402
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: HIlton Diamond, Delta , Southwest, Amex Corp Plat, AA
Posts: 184
Feb 27, 2020, 7:05 am
#403
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
I expect reimbursements will now take longer. It appears American Express has realized that they were reimbursing some expenses which were subsequently refunded by the airline. To fix this they will need to modify their algorithm to "match" refunds with the original charges, -and- they will need to add a buffer after the original transaction date to watch for refunds.
Feb 27, 2020, 7:26 am
#404
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: TPA
Posts: 5
Hilton Aspire
Purchased 3x $85 fares today (2/27)
Will update when credit posts
UPDATE: Credit posted today (3/4)
Purchased 3x $85 fares today (2/27)
Will update when credit posts
UPDATE: Credit posted today (3/4)
Last edited by flflyer31; Mar 4, 2020 at 9:04 am Reason: Update
Feb 27, 2020, 4:38 pm
#405
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Platinum, SPG Platinum, Hilton Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 4
Amex Platinum
$98.98 one-way flight
Purchased 2/21
Posted 2/24
Will update when needle moves and credit posts
$98.98 one-way flight
Purchased 2/21
Posted 2/24
Will update when needle moves and credit posts