How Do Delta Gift Cards Work?
Feb 13, 2017, 6:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
How Do Delta Gift Cards Work?
Infrequent Delta flyer here. I don't have a Delta credit card, so I'd like to maximize my earnings as much as I can when I do fly Delta.
At my local supermarket, they have Delta gift cards, but the only denomination is $50. I could earn 3% cash back by purchasing there with a category bonus. I'm looking to book a $865 fare in the F cabin, and was wondering if I'm allowed to apply 17 gift cards as payment for one PNR. Also, do the gift cards only work for the base fare, or will it pay for (non-optional) taxes and fees as well?
I do understand that the GCs take 24-72 hours to activate, and I'm not concerned about the price going up since the fare for this route appears to be quite stable.
At my local supermarket, they have Delta gift cards, but the only denomination is $50. I could earn 3% cash back by purchasing there with a category bonus. I'm looking to book a $865 fare in the F cabin, and was wondering if I'm allowed to apply 17 gift cards as payment for one PNR. Also, do the gift cards only work for the base fare, or will it pay for (non-optional) taxes and fees as well?
I do understand that the GCs take 24-72 hours to activate, and I'm not concerned about the price going up since the fare for this route appears to be quite stable.
Feb 13, 2017, 9:43 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
May I use the GCs to pay for taxes and airport fees included with the ticket? Or does it only apply to the base fare?
Feb 13, 2017, 9:45 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: South Florida, USA
Posts: 184
Not very well. There are all sorts of restrictions. For example, you can only use 3 at a time. Another example is that you can't use them on "special" cases like using a certificate. It's really quite ridiculous, I still have some from 2015.
Feb 13, 2017, 10:58 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: MSP
Posts: 90
You can purchase them directly from Delta with a value of anywhere from $50 to $1000 (in $5 increments)
https://www.delta.com/egift/eGiftPur...D_eGift_Launch
https://www.delta.com/egift/eGiftPur...D_eGift_Launch
Feb 13, 2017, 11:35 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
You can purchase them directly from Delta with a value of anywhere from $50 to $1000 (in $5 increments)
https://www.delta.com/egift/eGiftPur...D_eGift_Launch
https://www.delta.com/egift/eGiftPur...D_eGift_Launch
Feb 14, 2017, 8:26 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 398
per the other members comment, it looks like upgrades after the reservation is complete may not take gc. I have no experience with that.
Feb 14, 2017, 3:57 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
I already know that upgrades/ancillary fees cannot be paid with the GC. (In my case, it wouldn't matter, since I'd be paying for an A fare)
I did a quick Google search and it seems that open value GCs are only available directly from Delta, while Blackhawk Network (the vendor that provides gift cards for your local supermarket, CVS, etc) only has them in denominations of $50 and $100.
I think I'll forego the GCs at this point and just pay Delta directly.
I did a quick Google search and it seems that open value GCs are only available directly from Delta, while Blackhawk Network (the vendor that provides gift cards for your local supermarket, CVS, etc) only has them in denominations of $50 and $100.
I think I'll forego the GCs at this point and just pay Delta directly.
Feb 14, 2017, 10:39 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Echoing other posters experiences about these being very hard to use. Each time I've used them I've had to call in to get them to process, and each time I was met by an agent who was grumpy about having to do it. Twice they had such a hard time making it work they just gave me the value without using the actual GC (to this I offered no protest).
Feb 15, 2017, 4:16 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,642
People end up with $50 gift cards from Amex Platinum cards and the rebate one gets when purchasing them. I have 4 in my pocket and am trying to figure out how to effectively use them. At this point I would just look at it as a $100 off scenario where I buy a ticket with 2 gift cards and the remainder on my CC.
Aug 5, 2017, 6:54 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: EWR/JFK
Programs: AA GLD 1.xMM, MAR SLV, HH DMND, IHG PLT
Posts: 838
can $50 eGift Cards be used for taxes on Skymiles award tickets?
Bumping this thread to see if eGift cards purchased from delta.com can be used to pay for taxes for award tickets still in 2017. I couldn't do it on the web site.
I read people had a mixed experience. Why help desk should I ask the agent to call to help him/her process them?
I read people had a mixed experience. Why help desk should I ask the agent to call to help him/her process them?
Aug 19, 2017, 8:55 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 3
Bumping this thread to see if eGift cards purchased from delta.com can be used to pay for taxes for award tickets still in 2017. I couldn't do it on the web site.
I read people had a mixed experience. Why help desk should I ask the agent to call to help him/her process them?
I read people had a mixed experience. Why help desk should I ask the agent to call to help him/her process them?
If you can use a gift card towards taxes on a cash fare, it doesn't make sense that you can't use it towards taxes on an award ticket. Stupid rule.
Aug 19, 2017, 9:45 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,265
The most stackable mass market airline gift cards are, oddly enough, American, for all that their IT system does not otherwise inspire confidence. Their system allows for something like 7 or 8 different payment sources. (Though you can't use them to upgrade to MCE seats either)
I find Delta to have too many restrictions to bother with.
I find Delta to have too many restrictions to bother with.