In earlier September we wrote a post titled ‘American Express Platinum $200 Airline Incidental Reimbursement – No Longer Being Triggered By Gift Cards?‘, these airline incidental credits also weren’t being reimbursed on the Premier Rewards Gold card either.
It looks like these credits are now posting again, according to the following sources:
- Reddit.com/r/churning
- Flyertalk UA thread
- Flyertalk AA thread
- Flyertalk AS thread
- Flyertalk DL thread
For some reason it seems that purchases that were made before or on September 27th haven’t been reimbursed, but purchases after that date have been reimbursed. I’m not sure why this is or if it will continue to be the case but it looks like gift card purchases (and United MPX purchases) are now triggering these airline incidental refunds again automatically.
If you haven’t received your refund automatically, don’t call American Express unless it was for an item that falls into their official definition of what should be refunded. If you need some reminding, this is what the fine print says:
Incidental air travel fees must be separate charges from airline ticket charges. Fees not charged by the Card Member’s airline of choice (e.g. wireless internet and fees incurred with airline alliance partners) do not qualify for statement credits. Incidental air travel fees charged prior to selection of a qualifying airline are not eligible for statement credits. Airline tickets, upgrades, mileage points purchases, mileage points transfer fees, gift cards, duty free purchases, and award tickets are not deemed to be incidental fees
Also keep in mind you need to have selected one airline before you make your purchase and you’ll only get refunded for that airline. It also says that you may have to wait up to four weeks, so all hope is not lost if you haven’t received a refund yet.
If you’re playing outside the official rules (and we definitely are by trying to get gift cards reimbursed) there is absolutely no point in arguing over it, especially when tying up their phones is not only a nuisance it’s also a real expense. Do not call.
See update on this: All Amex Airline Reimbursements From September Now coming Through
thx DoC! def procrastinated and cutting it close (hopefully I should be ok, right?) finally but got my $200 worth of creds in this yr on my AMEX Plat (ordered today.)
Weird thing with this is I got reimbursed for ticket charges on award reservations. The charges actually says airline ticket on it and it was reimbursed while my GC purchase in early Sept did not. Oh well.
Tyrone – here’s the reasonable news you’ve ignored In the past bc u couldn’t wait for Amex to resolve the issue themselves !!! So Get back on the phone to Amex NOW ! Be sure to emphasize and use the phrase words you taught us in your best whiny crybaby voice – “unfairness”, “deserve” and “everyone else”. Get on the phone ASAP ! Don’t rest until you’ve ruined every current/future perk for every single Amex cardholder !!!!!
@Bellevuemike – no, the worst they can do is implement a hard stop b/c of too much attention. It would hardly be the first time something like this happened.
What’s a hard stop?
ruins the opportunity for reimbursement for everyone
Last year Amex did not automatically reimburse my Alaska gift card purchases. $200. 7 weeks later I called and asked why. They told me it didn’t fall into the reimbursable category. I told them it was my understanding that it did (otherwise I wouldn’t have made the purchase) and that I would like to have it reimbursed. They did.
What I’m getting at is……..what’s the downside to making a simple request? Worst they can and will do is say “no”.
BTW — this continues to be the most valuable travel blog available.
My reimbursement for Delta from a purchase on 9/4 just was reimbursed about an hour ago
What about incidentals with a partner airline on a ticket booked with the airline you selected? I selected AA and have some incidental charges on Hawaiian and Alaska on an award flight booked with AA. Would those be covered or not?
I used the card to pay for tax and fee for an award ticket for United (after registering, of course) on Sept 30 but did not get any credit. Will tax and fee for award ticket qualify?