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)
Nov 13, 2020, 9:35 am
#706
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 825
Are there any dp of success in combining travel funds and them charging the remaining amount of the fare (less than $100 ) for a flight and being reimbursed?
Nov 17, 2020, 6:07 pm
#708
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 18
11/15 Purchased one way ticket for 83.98
11/16 Fee reimbursed and meter moved
Cancelling flight for travel funds
11/16 Fee reimbursed and meter moved
Cancelling flight for travel funds
Nov 18, 2020, 6:31 am
#709
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 6
I purchased two separate $99 flights on Monday and my charges just posted this morning. If you click on the charge, it has all of the flight information on it. Is this normal?
Nov 19, 2020, 10:12 am
#710
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: L.A.
Posts: 17
Did the credit post yet? I signed up for the Plat on 11/17, received it yesterday 11/18 and selected Southwest as my preferred airline. Hoping to make at least one of the flight purchases >$109 today and wait for the credit, then make my second one once I confirm that the credit posts
Last edited by maustro; Nov 19, 2020 at 10:18 am
Nov 19, 2020, 10:25 am
#711
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 6
Did the credit post yet? I signed up for the Plat on 11/17, received it yesterday 11/18 and selected Southwest as my preferred airline. Hoping to make at least one of the flight purchases >$109 today and wait for the credit, then make my second one once I confirm that the credit posts
Nov 19, 2020, 10:35 am
#712
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: L.A.
Posts: 17
Oh, you didn't wait >24 hours then? The previous DP says to wait 24 hours then cancel for TF otherwise it could possibly be refunded back to your CC. I guess it doesn't really matter since the travel credit takes a couple of days anyway.
Nov 19, 2020, 10:39 am
#713
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 6
No, it was an immediate option when I cancelled. I could either have it refunded to my CC or I could take the travel funds.
Nov 19, 2020, 11:03 am
#715
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: L.A.
Posts: 17
I just booked 2x $99, cancelled both, rebooked a third one with both TF so I can combine them into a single reservation. TF are stored on my account, hopefully this goes without a hitch. I selected SW on my AMEX portal yesterday and they say you should wait a few hours -> a day to be safe, since someone mentioned they booked 5 min after selected SW and didn't get the credit.
In 2021 I'll do the same booking under my wife's SW account, barring any issues with this workaround. I don't see any glaring issues with this, but please someone correct me if I have it wrong. We'll both have $200 TF (my current booking/cancellation + hers when the AMEX credit resets in 2021). With this plus all the other credits, the card would have paid itself off. Will need to justify keeping it during next renewal.
Last edited by maustro; Nov 19, 2020 at 11:12 am
Nov 19, 2020, 11:16 am
#716
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 6
I didn't wait until they posted and everything worked. I made one $99 purchase, cancelled for TF about five minutes later. Booked the same $99 flight, same thing-cancelled immediately and took the TF. Since its just going to your southwest account and not back to your CC, there isn't an issue. Not in my experience, anyway,
Nov 19, 2020, 11:20 am
#717
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 6
Do your TF also expire in 11/2021? I read somewhere it would be extended to 9/2022 but maybe that was for earlier bookings?
I just booked 2x $99, cancelled both, rebooked a third one with both TF so I can combine them into a single reservation. TF are stored on my account, hopefully this goes without a hitch. I selected SW on my AMEX portal yesterday and they say you should wait a few hours -> a day to be safe, since someone mentioned they booked 5 min after selected SW and didn't get the credit.
In 2021 I'll do the same booking under my wife's SW account, barring any issues with this workaround. I don't see any glaring issues with this, but please someone correct me if I have it wrong. We'll both have $200 TF (my current booking/cancellation + hers when the AMEX credit resets in 2021). With this plus all the other credits, the card would have paid itself off. Will need to justify keeping it during next renewal.
I just booked 2x $99, cancelled both, rebooked a third one with both TF so I can combine them into a single reservation. TF are stored on my account, hopefully this goes without a hitch. I selected SW on my AMEX portal yesterday and they say you should wait a few hours -> a day to be safe, since someone mentioned they booked 5 min after selected SW and didn't get the credit.
In 2021 I'll do the same booking under my wife's SW account, barring any issues with this workaround. I don't see any glaring issues with this, but please someone correct me if I have it wrong. We'll both have $200 TF (my current booking/cancellation + hers when the AMEX credit resets in 2021). With this plus all the other credits, the card would have paid itself off. Will need to justify keeping it during next renewal.
Nov 19, 2020, 2:05 pm
#718
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
In present context, you want to credit your refund to "Travel Funds". If that option is available immediately, you don't need to wait 24 hrs. Just don't request "Refund to original payment method".
Nov 19, 2020, 4:55 pm
#719
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1
Hi, I opened a gold card in October this year. Here's my DP:
11/13 late night: selected southwest
11/13 late night: purchased $97.96 ticket right after airline selection ($97.96 was pending and finished processing on 11/15 or 11/16, but the posted date shows as 11/13)
I still haven't got credit and the airline meter didn't move. Is it because I didn't wait for at least 24h to purchase a ticket so I wouldn't get reimbursed? I can see my flight info and ticket number under this transaction on AMEX. Is it normal?
Hope someone can help. I appreciate it.
11/13 late night: selected southwest
11/13 late night: purchased $97.96 ticket right after airline selection ($97.96 was pending and finished processing on 11/15 or 11/16, but the posted date shows as 11/13)
I still haven't got credit and the airline meter didn't move. Is it because I didn't wait for at least 24h to purchase a ticket so I wouldn't get reimbursed? I can see my flight info and ticket number under this transaction on AMEX. Is it normal?
Hope someone can help. I appreciate it.
Last edited by sherryocd; Nov 19, 2020 at 5:14 pm
Nov 19, 2020, 8:34 pm
#720
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
Best practice is to wait at least until the next day to make a purchase after selecting the airline. So that might be your issue. The flight info and number is completely normal. US airlines generally share all the underlying data with card issuers (this is generally called Level 3 data).