Just an update, it seems that Southwest website changed and will only allow you to apply the WHOLE southwest giftcard amount vs just a partial giftcard amount if you are looking to get under $100.

Unless I am doing something wrong.

It's been that way. Two workarounds: either buy a smaller gift card then apply it, or use the existing GC to buy a cheap ticket (they're out there under $40), turn the cheap ticket into TFs, then apply the TFs to get under $100ish.

Anyone confirm yet if the <$100 flights qualify for the 2020 Airline credit for Amex Platinum/Biz Platinum?

I have 5 cards with travel credits, Amex Biz Plat $200, Amex PRG $100, Amex Hilton Aspire $250, Citi Prestige $250, Chase CSR $300.

Southwest was my airline for all 3 Amex cards in 2019 and keeping it that way in 2020.

I plan to cancel Biz Plat & Prestige this year, so started with them first.

1/1/2020: Purchased $250 worth of Southwest GCs on the Prestige. Txn pending, will update this post with results once known.

1/1/2020: Purchased $172.98 Southwest flight (for my mom who will actually fly it). Used $75 in GCs and charged $97.98 to Amex Biz Plat. Txn pending, no meter movement or reimbursement yet. Will update this post with results once known.

Got 2 flights on Jan. 2 will let you know once credit posts. Charges are still pending. On a separate topic my swipe date for Dell was Dec. 30 but charge posted on Jan. 1 so most likely that will not use my 2019 Biz Plat Dell credit.

because n00bs never learn. too many short term mindsets.

well i can tell you amex DGAF.

yea. im sure thats a major reason, but amex doesnt play games anymore. this has been clear the past several months. meaning, people who are triple dipping and doing other questionable activities should also consider pop-up bans and bonus clawbacks even when NLL is used.

amex language used in their popup is very broad for a reason.
“based on your history with American Express welcome offers, introductory APR offers, and the number of cards you have opened and closed.”

its time to change strategy for 2020 and beyond.

definitely, but i would argue that they are in the same league. they do what they want whenever they want. RAT = CorpSec.

thats very fast and very rare esp at year end, but it does happen. nice DP.

no. as someone else had mentioned, WN TF uses the PURCHASE DATE as the original date. TF expire exactly 1 yr from that date. doesnt matter when you cancel or when your flight is. also im certain CST is used. its def not EST. i had purchased fares past 12AM EST but the TF still posted as prior day. regardless, thats only a 1 day difference. so your suggestion to wait as long as possible is correct. buy/cancel late into 2020. however, amex may close the loophole soon. YMMV.

link to useful blog post.
https://yourmileagemayvary.net/2019/...credit-voucher

no. thats not correct unless something has changed. maybe someone can enlighten me, but when you mix funds, the OLDEST date is used. thats why you dont mix, but theres a way to split. YMMV and use with caution.

https://saverocity.com/pointsadventu...nmix-new-funds

12/30 - Called to book flight for 3 year old (attached to wife's confirmation number for same flight) $92.
12/30 - Booked wife on BWI to MDW $54 in March

1/3 - Both transactions posted credits. Ended up burning like $8 of credits

Been that way as far as I've been doing this.

Their shareholders will




Many people, especially the commando churners, have already hit their bonus on each AMEX card so they aren't worried about bonuses anymore. They are just hitting the cards for the residual benefits, especially in the case of the Biz Plat which doesn't count against Chase 5/24.

you mean just like citi and AA shareholders?

its always comical whenever this community believes large banks will become the next Sears, TRUs, or Forever 21 just because they have unhappy churners. we are a small annoying spec on their overall balance sheet and they are actively removing that risk. however, i will agree that after another financial collapse, banks will loosen their policies again.

its not just about hitting bonuses. if amex if willing to send you a bill for dell credit on a closed CC from a year ago, it means they DGAF. meaning, i dont want people in this thread to think amex will just sit back and allow WN air fares sub $100 to get credited forever. its a risk and we are all taking it with caution. i certainly dont want to see a bill later this year on a closed CC.

From what I've seen, it's not just churners that are becoming disillusioned with AMEX. AMEX has become the king of breakage, always trying to squeeze their cardholders (churners and non-churners alike). The Biz Plat carries a $595 AF. If people can't even get their airline credits which is a big part of why the AF is what it is, the card just no longer makes sense.



Good luck to AMEX collecting those fees if that's the route they go. The clawbacks wouldn't even hold up if I took them to arbitration.

EB is good but I don't like paying for EB far in advance. The reason is that I like to check my SW flight to see if the price has dropped to rebook it at that price. If you've already bought EB, since EB is non-refundable, you're basically locked into the flight unless the price drops by more than $25.

Buying a flight for myself and three kids (all under 12) to island hop from Oahu to Kauai. Flights are $49. Can I buy it all 4 tickets at the same time with my platinum and they will code as 4 $49 flights or will it post as a $196 transaction and not get reimbursed? Anybody have any experience with this? Thanks

Will not get reimbursed. Can do yourself and one kid. Then call in to book the other two together and link it to yours.

12/29 - Purchased 2x $49 tickets on same reservation
12/31 - Received $98 reimbursement

12/30 - Purchased 2x $49 tickets on same reservation
1/3 - Received $98 reimbursement

Both reimbursements applied to my 2019 credit