Absurd gift card 72 hour waiting period
Feb 4, 20, 12:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Absurd gift card 72 hour waiting period
Why, in anno domini 2020, does it take 72 hours for online gift card to activate?? Ridiculous.
Feb 4, 20, 1:03 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2013
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If you buy from the mobile site, it's only a 24 hour waiting period. I couldn't tell you why the fraud prevention measures are different between mobile and desktop.
Feb 4, 20, 1:06 pm
#5
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Originally Posted by Duke787
I've always assumed it was a fraud prevention matter (though it is annoying).
You can always go buy from the store and I think those are activated immediately
You can always go buy from the store and I think those are activated immediately
Feb 4, 20, 1:43 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 16
I purchased a gift card this past weekend from the online (desktop) site and was able to use it on a ticket immediately. The 72-hour language was there, but I was able to balance check it and go through the redemption process within a few minutes. I was logged into my account at the time so maybe the security measures didn't flag it?
Feb 4, 20, 4:58 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Originally Posted by paterwdb
You can also buy physical gift cards in many retail locations (Target, etc.) which are activated immediately.
They say on them you have to wait up to 24 hours. With me, it's always just meant overnight. So, buy at 8PM, use the next morning.
Feb 4, 20, 5:36 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2019
Location: RTW
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Originally Posted by koreanair720
Why, in anno domini 2020, does it take 72 hours for online gift card to activate?? Ridiculous.
Why do you think is this ridiculous?
Seems well documented and fairly reasonable to prevent fraud.
Do you intend to state your case, or are you just here to remind everyone what year it is?
Feb 4, 20, 5:37 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: DL, Hilton, National
Posts: 674
Originally Posted by hotturnip
No, they're not. At least in my experience.
They say on them you have to wait up to 24 hours. With me, it's always just meant overnight. So, buy at 8PM, use the next morning.
They say on them you have to wait up to 24 hours. With me, it's always just meant overnight. So, buy at 8PM, use the next morning.
Feb 4, 20, 5:47 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
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Posts: 2,029
Originally Posted by paterwdb
Hmm. I bought one last week at Target and used it an hour later when I got home.
Feb 4, 20, 7:50 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: DCA / IAD
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Posts: 299
Originally Posted by ajggiant
Is there an angle to purchasing gift cards then immediately using to purchase flights that I’m not aware of?
Yes. Book immediately, fly next day (on a different name), and poof. Unrecoverable.
Feb 4, 20, 8:39 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2013
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Originally Posted by ajggiant
Is there an angle to purchasing gift cards then immediately using to purchase flights that I’m not aware of?
Feb 5, 20, 7:20 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2015
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There is also the business concept of "under promise, over deliver"
My company says 3 days to email digital images, but we usually get them out in 30 seconds to 3 hours depending on internet connectivity.
So saying 72 hours is an honest business safeguard.
My company says 3 days to email digital images, but we usually get them out in 30 seconds to 3 hours depending on internet connectivity.
So saying 72 hours is an honest business safeguard.
