R.I.P Giftcard Purchases Counting Towards American Express Airline Incidental Purchases

Earlier this month we wrote a post outlining that gift card purchases from Southwest & Delta were not crediting the American Express Airline incidental credits, we’d previously posted that this stopped working for American Airlines as well (there was hope that was working again, but I very much doubt that now). I’m officially calling this work around dead for two reasons:

  • There are a number of data points showing people that made non gift card purchases on the same day as a gift card purchase being credited for the non gift card purchase, but not the gift card (for example: here)
  • Even if credits do stay posting again, there is nothing stopping American Express from deciding at a later date that these are no qualifying purchases and clawing back the credit. This is something that have now shown time and time again that they are willing to do, most recently with self referrals.

Personally I used to value these credits at 80-90% of face value but given that it seems likely that this open ‘secret’ is no longer working due to cost cutting measures by American Express I’ll have to reevaluate that. In addition the American Express Platinum Priority Pass will soon lose restaurant access, I think this makes keeping the Platinum long term almost impossible unless you have a home airport with a Centurion lounge but I’m sure many will disagree in the comments.

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Fat Ted
Fat Ted (@guest_1106618)
December 10, 2020 11:09

So what does everyone use these credits for? Should I buy miles?

MrFancyPants
MrFancyPants (@guest_811646)
September 18, 2019 14:27

Amex’s new airline incidental fee devaluation has really reduced that benefit for the Aspire (thus, limiting my interest in keeping it after the first year’s sign up bonus). No more gift cards. And with Delta, at least, they don’t allow you to use the Aspire for SkyClub lounge day passes (only accept Amex Platinum, Delta Platinum, Delta Gold, etc. using the physical card), so that’s worthless there too. Unless I need two $125 change fees waived, the only way I see myself using this each calendar year is to load up on inflight beverages…

ReverendK
ReverendK (@guest_794944)
August 7, 2019 10:02

Hilton Aspire DP:

$98.30 JetBlue ticket posted 08/03, reimbursed 08/06

Yay! I’m keeping this card and will probably update my Hilton Surpass to another Aspire after 1 year.

beat2def
beat2def (@guest_852870)
December 3, 2019 21:50

Have you tried Alaska Airlines? I am thinking of getting Aspire but didn’t want to because of the new gc rules. I could use some Alaskan flights tho.

J. Sarayda Shapiro
J. Sarayda Shapiro (@guest_791174)
July 30, 2019 11:34

Will Delta let me book a Main Cabin award seat with miles, then upgrade with cash to Comfort+ or First? And if they do, will the cash cost count as an incidental?

VL
VL (@guest_791240)
July 30, 2019 13:02

Officially they do not count as incidentals. But if the charge is small it may. Not sure about Delta though, but on some other airlines it does for charges under $100-125.

Pam
Pam (@guest_790553)
July 29, 2019 09:31

Do airline or hotel gift cards work for the Citi Prestige travel credit? Since this perk covers travel of numerous methods, just wondering if there are any DPs on gift cards working. I have a full credit I need to use.

Looks like I’ll not be using my Amex credits this year, so hate to lose out on the Citi Prestige as well.

sa13doc
sa13doc (@guest_788866)
July 26, 2019 08:31
Chicagoan33
Chicagoan33 (@guest_797736)
August 13, 2019 17:31

Hi will earlybird checkin count as incidentals for Southwest? Thanks!

Kid
Kid (@guest_787977)
July 24, 2019 16:26

Called to cancel my Schwab Platinum, asked about retention offer. Offered 50k points with no minimum spend, I accepted.

Richie
Richie (@guest_787936)
July 24, 2019 14:43

If i book a refundable flight and use the travel credit for additional baggage on the flight and then cancel the flight will i get refunded for the baggage from the airline?

Pointz
Pointz (@guest_787729)
July 24, 2019 09:25

Ok. Here you go guys: booking a pet and then cancelling works based on DP’s on flyertalk…BUT it is pain in the arse and will probably be clawed back in the future. Just cancel the card. Just do it.

beat2def
beat2def (@guest_790684)
July 29, 2019 13:22

I think I read book the flight with any credit card. After that, add the “add a pet” and use your airline incidental. Cancel the flight. Is that right?

Brian C 🐕
Brian C 🐕 (@guest_883302)
January 21, 2020 08:14

Pointz , any specifics on this? Airline in-question? I did some searching on flyertalk and couldn’t find anything.

VL
VL (@guest_787510)
July 23, 2019 20:51

 William Charles would you please point me to the right direction to the post which lists what still works for $200 credit? If such post does not exist could be really useful. I found some online, but most with the older data points… so if you create one we will start contributing in the posts. Clearly non of the GCs do, but there are other options I heard…

Chuck
Editor
Chuck(@chucksithe)
July 29, 2019 14:09
  VL

We keep whatever we know here https://www.doctorofcredit.com/payments-workshop/
just check the linked data points to ensure they are still up to date.