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)
Dec 31, 2019, 11:08 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 5,867
Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: WN (Southwest) only (2020-21)
Uh Oh
Jan 1, 2020, 9:15 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 18
Hi All - just wanted to provide a quick data point.
12/27 - Applied for and received approval for AMEX Hilton Aspire and saved my instant card number.
12/27, 5 minutes after approval - Chatted with an AMEX rep to make Southwest my airline choice.
12/27, 15 minutes after chatting - Received e-mail confirming Southwest as my airline choice.
12/27, 15 minutes after receiving e-mail - Booked 3 separate one-way 'dummy' flights for $93.98 on Southwest's website, logged into my rapid rewards account.. I planned on waiting until after the 24 hour period to cancel the flights since we'll use Southwest credit sometime in 2020 anyway.
12/30 - AMEX credits post for $93.98, $93.98 and $62.04. No 'meter' movement prior to credits posting. Card is showing $31.94 balance.
12/27 - Applied for and received approval for AMEX Hilton Aspire and saved my instant card number.
12/27, 5 minutes after approval - Chatted with an AMEX rep to make Southwest my airline choice.
12/27, 15 minutes after chatting - Received e-mail confirming Southwest as my airline choice.
12/27, 15 minutes after receiving e-mail - Booked 3 separate one-way 'dummy' flights for $93.98 on Southwest's website, logged into my rapid rewards account.. I planned on waiting until after the 24 hour period to cancel the flights since we'll use Southwest credit sometime in 2020 anyway.
12/30 - AMEX credits post for $93.98, $93.98 and $62.04. No 'meter' movement prior to credits posting. Card is showing $31.94 balance.
12/29: Southwest as airline.
12/31: Purchased 3 separate tickets ($99.88, $99.88, $58.88).
1/1: Meter shows 2020 data ($250 available). No reimbursements yet. Purchases still pending.
Jan 1, 2020, 9:40 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1
($49 × 3 and $54= $200.92)
This will be on my to do list for Jan. 2nd- not going to risk delays of maybe doing it today- the 1st- and waiting too late in the months for maybe this "reimbursement" being fixed in system later in 2020.
Last edited by Kenneth B. Trevias; Jan 1, 2020 at 10:04 am
Jan 1, 2020, 9:52 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
for a purch >$100, any DPs that it got a credit? sorry if i may miss any previous posts. Thx
Jan 1, 2020, 11:11 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 706
A bit better option (saving dollars and pennies)... if available... LAX-SFO... flights in either Jan, Feb or Mar
($49 × 3 and $54= $200.92)
This will be on my to do list for Jan. 2nd- not going to risk delays of maybe doing it today- the 1st- and waiting too late in the months for maybe this "reimbursement" being fixed in system later in 2020.
($49 × 3 and $54= $200.92)
This will be on my to do list for Jan. 2nd- not going to risk delays of maybe doing it today- the 1st- and waiting too late in the months for maybe this "reimbursement" being fixed in system later in 2020.
Jan 1, 2020, 11:12 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 706
A bit better option (saving dollars and pennies)... if available... LAX-SFO... flights in either Jan, Feb or Mar
($49 × 3 and $54= $200.92)
This will be on my to do list for Jan. 2nd- not going to risk delays of maybe doing it today- the 1st- and waiting too late in the months for maybe this "reimbursement" being fixed in system later in 2020.
($49 × 3 and $54= $200.92)
This will be on my to do list for Jan. 2nd- not going to risk delays of maybe doing it today- the 1st- and waiting too late in the months for maybe this "reimbursement" being fixed in system later in 2020.
Jan 1, 2020, 1:24 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 7
Amex plat Card Approval: 12/25
Chose Airline 12/28:
Bought tickets like 20 minutes after on 12/28 - 93$ and 91$
Credit posted 12/28
Today 1/1, I still see no reimbursement and my meter still says I have $200 to spend, Anyone think I'll still get reimbursed?
Chose Airline 12/28:
Bought tickets like 20 minutes after on 12/28 - 93$ and 91$
Credit posted 12/28
Today 1/1, I still see no reimbursement and my meter still says I have $200 to spend, Anyone think I'll still get reimbursed?
Jan 1, 2020, 4:13 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 5,867
I believe you can do 3 vouchers as long as the 3rd covers the remainder of the cost. You can't do 3 and then use a CC to cover the rest.
Jan 1, 2020, 4:39 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
That's right...credit posted 12/28, so 2019 cr was given; for 2020, $200 is still available; reimbursement will likely come in next few days
Jan 1, 2020, 5:22 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 2
I've tried searching, but are there any DP's for whether you get to keep the credit if you request a refund?
Jan 1, 2020, 6:19 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: SFO/LAX/SAN/LAS/DFW/JFK/LGA/EWR/MIA
Posts: 1,073
unless you have immediate need for WN TF and fly often, i dont understand the people rushing to buy <$100 fares in the new year. amex may close the loophole soon and thats a valid concern, but that also means your WN TF will expire at the end of 2020. and judging from all these last minute posters, there are plenty here who already have TF from only a few days/weeks ago which would also expire at the end of 2020. so now you have double the amount to spend with PAX restrictions. im gonna take my chances and wait. i hate expiring credits.
what are you asking? book a flight then cancel within 24hrs to get the amex credit AND the refund back to the amex CC like a few prior DP were suggesting? the bottom line is that amex RAT dont play games. that should have been clear the past few months.
what are you asking? book a flight then cancel within 24hrs to get the amex credit AND the refund back to the amex CC like a few prior DP were suggesting? the bottom line is that amex RAT dont play games. that should have been clear the past few months.
Last edited by GundamWing01; Jan 1, 2020 at 6:26 pm
Jan 1, 2020, 6:24 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 5,867
unless you have immediate need for WN TF and fly often, i dont understand the people rushing to buy <$100 fares in the new year. amex may close the loophole soon and thats a valid concern, but that also means your WN TF will expire at the end of 2020. and judging from all these last minute posters, there are plenty here who already have TF from only a few days/weeks ago which would also expire at the end of 2020. so now you have double the amount to spend with PAX restrictions. im gonna take my chances and wait. i hate expiring credits.
Jan 1, 2020, 6:39 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 825
unless you have immediate need for WN TF and fly often, i dont understand the people rushing to buy <$100 fares in the new year. amex may close the loophole soon and thats a valid concern, but that also means your WN TF will expire at the end of 2020. and judging from all these last minute posters, there are plenty here who already have TF from only a few days/weeks ago which would also expire at the end of 2020. so now you have double the amount to spend with PAX restrictions. im gonna take my chances and wait. i hate expiring credits.
what are you asking? book a flight then cancel within 24hrs to get the amex credit AND the refund back to the amex CC like a few prior DP were suggesting? the bottom line is that amex RAT dont play games. that should have been clear the past few months.
what are you asking? book a flight then cancel within 24hrs to get the amex credit AND the refund back to the amex CC like a few prior DP were suggesting? the bottom line is that amex RAT dont play games. that should have been clear the past few months.