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 24, 2021, 10:16 am
#916
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,640
Switched mine to WN this morning. Considering I will likely not get on a plane before July at this rate, I figure it's more likely that I can use the credit up on a couple of late year <$100 regional round trips after vaccine rollout, than that I would use the $200 effectively for incidentals and ticket add-collects on Delta, which is how I usually use the credit.
Jan 24, 2021, 2:13 pm
#917
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: IAD / DCA
Programs: AA EP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, United Silver, Bonvoy Titanium.
Posts: 158
1/21 charged
1/23 posted
Still alive
1/23 posted
Still alive
Jan 26, 2021, 5:22 am
#918
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Ohio, USA
Programs: Marriott Plat Elite, Hilton Gold, Best Western Diamond
Posts: 32
On Jan 23, purchased 2 one way tickets for $95.98 each (separate transactions), reimbursed within 48 hours. Amex personal platinum.
Jan 26, 2021, 2:45 pm
#919
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 264
Purchased a R/T ticket < $100. Reimbursed a few days later.
Jan 28, 2021, 6:40 pm
#920
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA UA Delta. HH Diamond, PC Platinum, Club Carlson Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 808
Yes, and so the question for those of us with no current travel plans becomes whether to 1) act now and get Travel Funds that will expire a year from now, or 2) wait until later in the year so as to maximize the time you have to use the funds.
The risk with 1) is that your funds might expire before you want to fly again. The risk with 2) is that at any point this <$100 trick might stop working. I'll betting that it will keep working, so I'm waiting until later in the year.
The risk with 1) is that your funds might expire before you want to fly again. The risk with 2) is that at any point this <$100 trick might stop working. I'll betting that it will keep working, so I'm waiting until later in the year.
Do we need to book within one year or fly within one year? Thank you!
Jan 28, 2021, 9:10 pm
#921
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,073
Jan 29, 2021, 7:40 pm
#922
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 1
1/28 two separate purchases of <50 one way tic changed from pending to approved
1/29 meter moved
1/29 meter moved
Jan 30, 2021, 5:41 pm
#923
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 2
1/26 two separate one way tickets purchased for ~$98
1/29 both reimbursed
1/29 both reimbursed
Jan 31, 2021, 11:09 am
#924
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,940
Jan 31, 2021, 2:43 pm
#925
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,219
Any data points booking multiple tickets under one PNR triggering the credit? Ex: two tickets at $98.98 each = $197.96 triggering the $200 Platinum credit?
Looking to book 4 tickets and use the $200 Platinum and $100 Gold credit, was going to book in pairs.
Looking to book 4 tickets and use the $200 Platinum and $100 Gold credit, was going to book in pairs.
Feb 2, 2021, 5:49 am
#926
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 226
Is this (booking low fair refund) method the only method (to trigger plat airline credit) left for SW?
Feb 5, 2021, 7:39 am
#928
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,219
Booked each pair of tickets on 2/1, credit for all posted 2/4.
Last edited by cab747; Feb 10, 2021 at 7:41 pm
Feb 5, 2021, 9:14 am
#929
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: PA
Posts: 8
amex personal gold
1/31 booked two $150 tickets under the same reservation, but we each had $120 in travel funds (so net $30 each). posted as two separate $30 charges even though same reservation
2/4- reimbursement posted
1/31 booked two $150 tickets under the same reservation, but we each had $120 in travel funds (so net $30 each). posted as two separate $30 charges even though same reservation
2/4- reimbursement posted
Feb 5, 2021, 11:42 am
#930
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 11
I purchased six different Southwest tickets for $98.98 each on 2/2 with various AMEX cards, and AMEX reimbursed all within three days. I will now cancel and convert to travel funds that will be valid for one year from date of initial ticket purchase. While I don't love that they will expire in one year, given the current travel limitations, I am more concerned that this particular workaround from AMEX may end at some point soon, so I wanted to get the credits now rather than later. I already missed out on United TravelBank which stopped working a couple of weeks ago, so I didn't want to make the same mistake with Southwest.