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2015 means a new $200 airline fee credit for anyone with an American Express Platinum card. This is one of the biggest benefits of the card, and one you can turn into $200 worth of airline tickets.
I have a Platinum Business card that I opened in September 2013.
- In 2013, I bought $200 worth of American Airlines gift cards and was rebated $200 on my statement.
- In 2014, I bought $200 worth of American Airlines gift cards and was rebated $200 on my statement.
- This week, I bought $200 worth of Delta gift cards and was rebated $200 on my statement.
American Express makes you pick one airline on which to receive your airline fee credit, so to change mine from 2014 to 2015, I had to go to this page and make my new selection.
The American Express Platinum airline fee reimbursement is only meant to reimburse airline fees not ticket purchases or gift card purchases. However, the decision of what to reimburse is left to a computer algorithm, so some gift card purchases are reimbursed. The reports of FlyerTalkers should be your guide, but your experience may vary.
This FlyerTalk thread explains how to turn the $200 airline fee credit into $200 worth of Delta gift cards. The process is different for gift cards from each airline, so check out this post where I link to threads on each airline.
According to the FlyerTalk thread, only $50 Delta gift cards were being reimbursed by American Express, so I bought four in one $200 purchase on January 8, and my $200 was reimbursed on January 10.
You have to wait 72 hours after purchase to redeem a Delta gift card. About 73 hours after my purchase, I purchased a $121.60 one way flight from Greensboro to Tampa in March with my gift cards. I still have $78.40 worth of Delta gift cards.
The FlyerTalk thread also explains that you can only use three forms of payment on a single Delta purchase. That means you can use three $50 gift cards like I did or two plus a credit card to pay the amount greater than $100.
Further Reading
- Get the Most Out of Your American Express Platinum Card
- Citi Prestige vs. American Express Platinum. Better Card?
Keep in mind that with the Citi Prestige® Card your annual airline fee credit is $250, that this credit does apply to ticket purchases, and that this credit applies to all airlines instead of just the one you select. My review of the Citi Prestige® Card.
Just getting started in the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best card for you to start with.
With a bonus of 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first 3 months, 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel℠ and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!
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[…] MileValue reports you can buy airline gift cards to get your $200 airline credit with your American Express Platinum (personal) and (business) cards through December 31, 2015. […]
[…] MileValue reports you can buy airline gift cards to get your $200 airline credit with your American Express Platinum (personal) and (business) cards through December 31, 2015. […]
Do these purchases earn points and count toward your minimum spending? Or are these offset by the statement credit?
I don’t know actually, but I suspect these do not earn points or count toward min spending.
Do these purchases earn points and count toward your minimum spending? Or are these offset by the statement credit?
I don’t know actually, but I suspect these do not earn points or count toward min spending.
I purchased a $50 Southwest gift card on Aug 31 2015 and still not reimbursed 6 days later. I noticed on the charge that it assigned it a ticket number so maybe southwest doesn’t work anymore. I applied for global entry on the same day and that got refunded 2 days ago.
I purchased a $50 Southwest gift card on Aug 31 2015 and still not reimbursed 6 days later. I noticed on the charge that it assigned it a ticket number so maybe southwest doesn’t work anymore. I applied for global entry on the same day and that got refunded 2 days ago.
Hi, what was shown on the detail view of the AMEX transaction? It’s been a couple weeks and I have not been reimbursed. I’m curious of our purchases were coded differently. Thanks!
It was charged by SW AIR DALLAS TX. There is a reference # . Then under Flight Details it lists a ticket number and document type: SPD/AIR FREIGHT
Hi,
I know it has been quite sometime. But did you end up receiving the AMEX Credit? I have purchased a $200 SW Gift Card and my transaction is coded similarly.
Hi, what was shown on the detail view of the AMEX transaction? It’s been a couple weeks and I have not been reimbursed. I’m curious of our purchases were coded differently. Thanks!
It was charged by SW AIR DALLAS TX. There is a reference # . Then under Flight Details it lists a ticket number and document type: SPD/AIR FREIGHT
Hi,
I know it has been quite sometime. But did you end up receiving the AMEX Credit? I have purchased a $200 SW Gift Card and my transaction is coded similarly.
wondering if i made a mistake, I bought a 100.00 gift card on SW the day I designated SW as my airline of choice, should i have waited few days? I got the same SPD/AIR FREIGHT code after the transaction posted. Should i assume at this point I will not get refunded?
wondering if i made a mistake, I bought a 100.00 gift card on SW the day I designated SW as my airline of choice, should i have waited few days? I got the same SPD/AIR FREIGHT code after the transaction posted. Should i assume at this point I will not get refunded?
Update, I got the credit from south west. thanks everyone for the heads up.
Update, I got the credit from south west. thanks everyone for the heads up.
Fyi, at the start of December I took a shot at a $100 Alaska Air gift certificate to my wife using my Amex gold, and got reimbursed about 10 days later. Success! Flyertalk had mixed info about it when I tried so thought I’d share my outcome.
Fyi, at the start of December I took a shot at a $100 Alaska Air gift certificate to my wife using my Amex gold, and got reimbursed about 10 days later. Success! Flyertalk had mixed info about it when I tried so thought I’d share my outcome.
[…] I rarely fly a paid flight on an airline that offers miles (and when I do, it’s usually not paid by me) […]
[…] I rarely fly a paid flight on an airline that offers miles (and when I do, it’s usually not paid by me) […]