[Update 6/18/19: Multiple data points over the last few days are indicating that it’s back to coding as ‘Gift Certificate’. We’ll find out for certain over the new few days. Update 2: it appears that it may still actually be working. Let’s give it another few days for conclusion, I’m just putting out the update so people are aware it’s not yet for certain.]
Two data points indicate that American Airlines e-gift cards are again working to trigger American Express airline incidental credits. Presumably, physical gift cards will work too.
In February, American Airlines changed how they coded gift card purchase. Instead of showing as ‘Misc Fees/Taxes’, it began showing as ‘Gift Certificate’, and stopped working to trigger the airline credit. As of a few weeks ago, they’ve seem to have changed it back to ‘Misc Fees/Taxes’ and seems to be working again for the credit.
We’ll need to wait for more confirmations, but it’s looking promising that American Airlines gift cards will be again an option for the airline incidental credit, in addition to the existing options of Delta and Southwest gift cards.
