Jan 6, 2020, 1:19 pm
Last edit by: rrgg
Please read: This is a community-maintained wiki post containing the most important information from this thread. You may edit the Wiki once you have been on FT for 90 days and have made 90 posts.
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."
Credit posting delays range from several business days (typical) to several weeks (seen in Oct 2015). The T&Cs state that it could take up to four weeks, so wait at least that long before worrying, and certainly don't contact Amex prematurely
Caution: effective from 22 June 2019, gift card purchases from Delta do not get reimbursed.
Read this primer first
Additional Collections/Split Tender -- THIS IS A LOOPHOLE. BE DISCREET
Quote:
TL;DR: Anything coded as an additional collection (a.k.a. add/collect or a/c), including difference in fare when changing flights,and accepting an FCM offer, also triggers the credit and will be reimbursed, provided that the amount charged to your card is $250 or less (regardless of card type, e.g. there have been reports of full $100 credit for Gold card on a/c over $100 and full $200 credit for Plat on a/c over $200, but always $250 or less)
How to do it: With waived fee for cancellation/changes on non-refundable tickets (due to COVID-19) you get an eCredit when cancelling it, so you can:
Paying for a ticket partially with SkyMiles
NOTE that DL has two different programs for partially paying with SkyMiles, that seem superficially similar, but are quite different
other non Gift Card options
these may not credit automatically, but people have had success getting them processed manually after the fact
(DEAD) eGift Card (eCert) details
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."
Credit posting delays range from several business days (typical) to several weeks (seen in Oct 2015). The T&Cs state that it could take up to four weeks, so wait at least that long before worrying, and certainly don't contact Amex prematurely
Caution: effective from 22 June 2019, gift card purchases from Delta do not get reimbursed.
Read this primer first
- In the Amex Membership Rewards family, both the Consumer and Business versions of the Platinum and Centurion cards qualify for a $200 airline credit. The Premier Rewards Gold (PRG) card is eligible for a $100 airline credit (the Gold credit is going away in 2022). Hilton Aspire AMEX is eligible for a $250 airline credit.
- You must click here to select Delta as your enrolled airline before you make a reimbursable purchase, else the benefit won't apply. The feature is activated immediately upon airline designation.
- If you've selected DL in the past and don't wish to change airlines, there's no need to select again; current selection rolls into future years until modified.
- The T&Cs state the eligible charges, but YMMV, so don't call and ask especially about the fuzzier cases below because that will probably hasten closing of any loopholes.
- The credit is per account, not per card. If the main account has authorized users with additional cards, eligible charges may still be made on those cards, but they'll count jointly towards the same account limit.
- Credits are capped per calendar year, meaning you could tap the full amount on Dec 31st and again on Jan 1st in the extreme. Transaction date, not posting date, determines the year. Note: This is not my experience. I purchased Dec 31, 2016, posted Jan 1, 2017 and went against my 2017 credit. (TheMadBrewer)
- You will get a partial credit to bring your total annual reimbursements to the limit exactly if a qualifying charge takes you past the limit.
- After four weeks, if you've read this Wiki carefully and posted here seeking assistance but the credit still has not arrived, consider chatting with Amex online. Politely mention the "Delta extras" you thought would be reimbursed within four weeks and they'll handle it.
Additional Collections/Split Tender -- THIS IS A LOOPHOLE. BE DISCREET
Quote:
TL;DR: Anything coded as an additional collection (a.k.a. add/collect or a/c), including difference in fare when changing flights,
How to do it: With waived fee for cancellation/changes on non-refundable tickets (due to COVID-19) you get an eCredit when cancelling it, so you can:
- Buy a non-refundable ticket with any combination of gift card/eCredit plus your AMEX, again provided that the residual amount charged to your card is $250 or less
- After credit has posted, and at least 48 hours after buying it, cancel it (ensure there's no fee for cancelling it) so you get an updated eCredit for the full ticket amount.
- alternatively, if you buy a ticket far enough in the future, there is no particular need to cancel the ticket, just change it once you have some new dates or itinerary in mind (you can change origin, destination or both)
- however, note that the waiver of change fees on Basic Economy tickets is ending: https://www.delta.com/us/en/travel-p...sbeforeapril30
- thus you should use main cabin tickets for this purpose (assuming DL does not extend the BE policy due to omicron etc.)
- You can even use the result of (2) as an eCredit to repeat step 1 with a different AMEX card if you have multiples. Note that in this context, changing an unflown future ticket is exactly equivalent to an eCredit in the amount of the ticket's value.
- Relevantly, split tender where you partially pay with a gift card, existing credit, VDB voucher etc. and partly charged to your card, are processed by DL as an add/collect and trigger the credit per above.
- Thus if you anticipate actually buying, say, a $200 DL ticket, you could buy a single $50 gift card, then buy the ticket using $50 GC and $150 on your card (the $150 will be reimbursed). This is just an example; as per the previous bullet there is no reason it needs to be specifically $50, or even a gift card. The "additional collection" is what leads to the credit, the reason why it is "additional" is unimportant.
- In general, only additional collections less than ~$250 are automatically reimbursed. If you use a $50 gift card to buy a $500 ticket, a $450 additional collection will be generated but it will not be auto-reimbursed by Amex.
- If you already have gift cards or ecredits in particular denominations that don't line up well with the price of the ticket you want to buy (additional collection will end up being too much to get auto-reimbursed or too little to efficiently use up the fee credit), consider whether you may be able to reach a better outcome by splitting up the purchase -- buying a round trip as two one ways or buying multiple passengers separately. But, note that buying 2 one-ways instead of a round trip can sometimes cost more, making it not worthwhile, and note the caveats about multiple passenger purchases below, as well as considering the risk that buying 2 passengers separately can have negative implications for Medallion upgrades (if applicable) as well as creating the risk that you are separated from your travel companions if there is a flight cancellation.
- The "additional collection" transaction notation shows up after the transaction posts, on the website only (both desktop and mobile) if you click into a transaction to view the details (it does not appear in the app, or while the purchase is pending)
- Note that special care is needed when booking tickets for 2 or more people in a single transaction.
- When booking multiple people in a single transaction on Delta.com, each person's ticket charges to the credit card in a separate transaction, and gift cards are used starting with the first ticket until they are exhausted. So for example if you were booking 2x $210 tickets, for a total transaction of $420, if you used a $200 gift card the charges would post to Amex as a $10 additional collection on the first person and a $210 regular ticket charge for the second person, resulting in only a $10 reimbursement. For the same two tickets if you used a $220 gift card, the first person would be covered entirely by the gift card and the second person's ticket would charge as a $190 additional collection, resulting in a $190 reimbursement.
- This would work differently if ecredits are used instead of gift cards since ecredits are not transferrable -- ecredits can only be applied to a ticket for a person whose name is on the ecredit; if other people are booked in the same transaction, any leftover ecredit balance will *not* be applied to those other people.
- Canceling a ticket within the 24-hour[1] risk-free period generally results in funds being returned to where they came from (GC back to GC and CC back to CC) even if the ticket is non-refundable; also, Delta interprets the 24-hour risk free cancellation period generously -- you actually have until midnight of the day following the day of booking (in which time zone is oft-speculated but unclear). Thus, this can work out to nearly 48 hours if the timing is exactly right. Hence the suggestion above to cancel only after 48 hours, or avoid canceling altogether.
- Caution when buying multiple tickets in a single transaction: for example if you buy two $125 tickets in one transaction (total $250) and use one $100 GC or even two $50 GCs, they will all be applied to the same ticket and you would see one additional collection for $25 on that ticket and a separate "normal" charge for $125 for the second ticket. In this scenario only $25 will be reimbursed (instead of the $150 you might be expecting). In this situation you would need to book the two tickets separately to get the credit on each one.
- FCM offers may require accepting for the entire trip (vs just one segment) or calling in to up-fare the whole trip (please post data points either way)
Paying for a ticket partially with SkyMiles
NOTE that DL has two different programs for partially paying with SkyMiles, that seem superficially similar, but are quite different
- Pay With Miles is a feature available to DL-branded AMEX cardholders that lets you pay for part of your ticket using SkyMiles in increments of 5,000 miles = $50. If you use PWM then the remaining amount charged to your card posts as additional collection and will qualify for the fee credit (multiple data points)
- Miles + Cash is like buying an award ticket but using cash to substitute for some of the miles. As an example, you might be offered a ticket for 40,000 miles + $5.60, or 30,000 miles + $205.60 (these numbers are made up). If you choose the latter option what you are really doing is buying 10,000 miles for $200, then using those 10,000 miles plus 30,000 that you already had to buy the 40,000 ticket + $5.60 in taxes. This will post as two separate transactions, $200 for the miles purchase, and $5.60 for the taxes on the award ticket. The $5.60 will be reimbursed (just like any other award ticket). The $200 seems like it does not get automatically reimbursed, although it may post as "Frequent Flyer Fee/Purchase" in which case you have a pretty good case for getting it credited manually by contacting AMEX.
- Note: Miles + Cash is usually a terrible value (even for SkyMiles)
- See the list of FAQs at the bottom of the "Pay With Miles" page for more info (search in particular for "What is the difference between Pay with Miles and Miles + Cash?")
other non Gift Card options
- baggage and other service fees (same day change/standby, change fees, etc.)
- taxes on award flights (including the $5.60 September 11 security fee)
- in-flight purchases (EXCEPT wifi) -- although currently nothing available due to COVID?
- SkyClub access/guest fees (but NOT gift cards purchased at a SC, which are actually activated at a 3rd party web site)
mileage boosts (post 2499)trip extras have been discontinuedThe $59 for Delta Skymiles Select is reimbursed (posts 2180, 2182)SkyMiles Select is no longer available for purchase
these may not credit automatically, but people have had success getting them processed manually after the fact
- seat purchase fees (if you buy an upgrade and it does not credit automatically and you call in, do not call it an upgrade, call it a seat purchase/assignment fee)
- premium beverages purchased in the Sky Club (post 462)
(DEAD) eGift Card (eCert) details
- gift cards have not worked since 2019/06/22 and this section has been removed to save space. See the 2015-2019 version of this thread for historical details.
Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: DL only (2020-21)
Feb 16, 2020, 4:15 pm
#406
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 23
bought a GC on Feb 6 to test it out, still not reimbursed? Anything went wrong?
Feb 16, 2020, 4:22 pm
#407
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,947
Did you only buy a GC, or did you buy a GC and then subsequently use it to buy a ticket, as described in the last ~6-8 months of the thread, and the wiki?
Feb 16, 2020, 4:51 pm
#409
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Delta
Posts: 61
If anyone gives you grief, its not fair...they move the cheese on us so often and change the benefits in ways that no rational person can keep on top of things. Do what I did, call AMEX and complain about all the changes they made and they will give you a refund for your yearly fees...if you spend enough they may even give you extra points.
Feb 16, 2020, 5:04 pm
#410
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,947
It's certainly valid IMO to ask for a retention offer but there's a different thread that keeps track of those.
Feb 16, 2020, 5:43 pm
#411
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 407
If anyone gives you grief, its not fair...they move the cheese on us so often and change the benefits in ways that no rational person can keep on top of things. Do what I did, call AMEX and complain about all the changes they made and they will give you a refund for your yearly fees...if you spend enough they may even give you extra points.
Feb 16, 2020, 5:57 pm
#412
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Delta
Posts: 61
That may be the case but not everyone digs into these forums before using a perk that may or may not have been a loophole, only to be disappointed they don't get reimbursed. That fact is it worked for a while, then stopped.
Feb 16, 2020, 6:07 pm
#413
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 407
I would hardly call the reading the first post that says please read, digging
Feb 17, 2020, 12:51 pm
#414
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: Hilton Honors, IHG, Hyatt
Posts: 71
So reading all these DPs if you buy a nonrefundable sub-250$ ticket paid partially with a gift card (can u do partial miles?), and then cancel the ticket within 24 hrs, it will still trigger the airline credit reimbursement?
If you buy a refundable sub-250$ paid partially again, it will trigger the credit and you can cancel anytime within the refundable period?
Do these tricks work with other airlines that reimburse partial ticket purchase?
If you buy a refundable sub-250$ paid partially again, it will trigger the credit and you can cancel anytime within the refundable period?
Do these tricks work with other airlines that reimburse partial ticket purchase?
Feb 17, 2020, 12:57 pm
#415
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,224
This was a fun one....had $500 ($50x10 gift cards from previous Plat/Gold incidental purchases) and have $171 left on my Platinum and $100 left on the Gold.
Used Facebook Messenger as suggested in this thread to purchase two round trip tickets - flights were $466.80 so I used 5 gift cards per flight - leaving a $216.80 balance (should be under the $250 max I'm hoping)
Platinum - Ticket 1
Pending: 02/17
Posted: 02/19 (as Additional Collections)
Meter Moved: 02/22
Credit posted: 02/xx
Gold - Ticket 2
Pending: 02/17
Posted: 02/19 (as Additional Collections)
Meter Moved: 02/22
Credit Posted: 02/xx
Will report back once there is progress
Used Facebook Messenger as suggested in this thread to purchase two round trip tickets - flights were $466.80 so I used 5 gift cards per flight - leaving a $216.80 balance (should be under the $250 max I'm hoping)
Platinum - Ticket 1
Pending: 02/17
Posted: 02/19 (as Additional Collections)
Meter Moved: 02/22
Credit posted: 02/xx
Gold - Ticket 2
Pending: 02/17
Posted: 02/19 (as Additional Collections)
Meter Moved: 02/22
Credit Posted: 02/xx
Will report back once there is progress
Last edited by lax01; Feb 22, 2020 at 10:27 am
Feb 17, 2020, 3:18 pm
#416
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: RDU
Programs: HH Diamond, AA Gold, Marriot Plat
Posts: 210
I bought 2 tickets one way with $50 GC +246.40 on my Aspire .
Statement shows
1st ticket Tran. $148.20 as Passenger Ticket
2nd ticket Tran. $98.20 as Additional collection
From previous experiences, I should get reimbursed for 2nd tran and not the 1st. Maybe I should purchase each ticket separately in the future? Should I contact amex CS?
Feb 17, 2020, 3:47 pm
#417
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,947
If you want them both to code as a/c then yes.
If it were me, personally I would not, since there is no basis for claiming the $148.20 as an airline fee and the $98.20 is already a loophole.
Feb 17, 2020, 4:34 pm
#418
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: RDU
Programs: HH Diamond, AA Gold, Marriot Plat
Posts: 210
Feb 18, 2020, 8:56 am
#419
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 12
$5.60 Sep 11 taxes still being reimbursed on award tickets. 5 calendar days from purchase till credit posted.
Feb 18, 2020, 9:50 am
#420
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 3
Does anyone have any data points about using multiple credit cards with reimbursement fees (Hilton Aspire with $250 and Amex Platinum with $200) and a Delta gift card?
I need to buy a $438 Delta ticket and am thinking of the following:
- $50 gift card
- $250 on Hilton Aspire
- $138 on Amex Platinum
Does anyone know if that will refund? Am I pressing my luck? Any suggestions of how to do it better?
I need to buy a $438 Delta ticket and am thinking of the following:
- $50 gift card
- $250 on Hilton Aspire
- $138 on Amex Platinum
Does anyone know if that will refund? Am I pressing my luck? Any suggestions of how to do it better?