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 4, 2020, 9:26 pm
#80
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, AAdvantage Gold, Southwest A-List Preferred, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 12
FYI, for the purchasing WN flights @ <$99 workaround, found PHX-LAS and back for $99 exactly at the end of January.
Waiting til my GC-partial card charge (Aspire) workaround credits (WN re-selected for 2020 on 1/4, $145 SW GC applied to a $244 one way from PHX-MKE and $158 SW GC applied to a $257 one way from MKE-PHX, both today, 1/4) before P2 tries to recoup their 2020 Plat and Gold card $200 and $100 airline fees respectively with the above $99 PHX/LAS flights cancellation/travel funds route.
Will update when my two $99 charges post to the Aspire and hopefully, credit. Grammar and punctuation be damned, with all these things to consider.
Waiting til my GC-partial card charge (Aspire) workaround credits (WN re-selected for 2020 on 1/4, $145 SW GC applied to a $244 one way from PHX-MKE and $158 SW GC applied to a $257 one way from MKE-PHX, both today, 1/4) before P2 tries to recoup their 2020 Plat and Gold card $200 and $100 airline fees respectively with the above $99 PHX/LAS flights cancellation/travel funds route.
Will update when my two $99 charges post to the Aspire and hopefully, credit. Grammar and punctuation be damned, with all these things to consider.
Jan 4, 2020, 9:39 pm
#81
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 98
Update: So I purchased two tix on sw for about 93$ each on 12/28 and it posted on 12/29. Today, I still see no reimbursement listed and my meter says $200 to spend til dec 2020. I hope it wasn't because I bought tickets immediately after selecting my airline since I opened the card on 12/26.
Jan 4, 2020, 9:39 pm
#82
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Spokane Valley, Wa
Posts: 17
I noticed alot of people commenting on this working with ticket purchases. Did AmEx kill it when buying GC's? I have the Gold, Hilton Aspire and Platinum cards to use.
Jan 4, 2020, 10:06 pm
#84
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 40
Should be shaded grey of what is used. If all credits used, it should say ...You have used all of your $ Airline Fee Credit for this year. It will renew again starting Jan 2021
Jan 4, 2020, 11:12 pm
#85
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Disc
Posts: 56
Yes, Southwest and Delta were the last two to stop working for gift card purchases back in summer of 2019. American stopped working in early 2019.
Jan 4, 2020, 11:15 pm
#86
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Disc
Posts: 56
Jan 5, 2020, 2:16 am
#87
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: SoCal
Posts: 77
Purchased tickets <$100, still pending after a week
Just adding a data point —
Purchased two one ways for $99 and $98 a week ago. Still pending a credit to post.
Purchased two one ways for $99 and $98 a week ago. Still pending a credit to post.
Jan 5, 2020, 7:48 am
#88
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,078
Purchased three $69 tickets on 1/1 with wife’s Business Plat. Posted on 1/3. Entry is Southwest, Dallas. Meter is still at $200, no credits yet.
Jan 5, 2020, 8:21 am
#89
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, UA 1k, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 109
Mine looked like that initially, but posted 2 days ago with the Dallas in the transaction line. However, when I click on the transaction, I see the ticket details including passenger name and destination, etc. First time it looks like that on my end. Meter has no moved either.
Jan 5, 2020, 8:47 am
#90
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,872
Uh oh...purchased $83.98 WN flt on 1/1 with Plat, posted on 1/5, meter moved correctly on 1/4, meter back to $200 today with no credit issued.