{"id":37630,"date":"2019-08-04T13:22:40","date_gmt":"2019-08-04T17:22:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=37630"},"modified":"2026-03-13T10:59:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T10:59:26","slug":"amex-eliminates-airline-fee-credit-for-gift-card-purchases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/credit-cards\/amex-eliminates-airline-fee-credit-for-gift-card-purchases\/","title":{"rendered":"Amex Eliminates Airline Fee Credit for Gift Card Purchases"},"content":{"rendered":"

Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In its efforts to cut costs, American Express closed a loophole that allowed cardholders to use their airline fee credit to reimburse gift cards purchased directly from the airline.\u00a0Although the terms and conditions have always stated that gift cards are excluded from the credit, this had never been enforced for gift cards purchased in small denominations.<\/p>\n

Reports first surfaced last month that Delta and Southwest gift-card purchases had stopped being reimbursed, and now American Airlines purchases are no longer triggering the credit. As far as we know this policy now applies to all airlines; however, if you know of an airline that has yet to be affected, please let us know in the comments.<\/p>\n

Same Rules, New Enforcement<\/span><\/h2>\n

Not surprisingly, there has been no formal announcement or acknowledgment from American Express about this change. Since the gift card exclusion has always been explicitly noted in the terms and conditions, this is really a case of a new enforcement strategy rather than a policy change. On its page explaining the benefit<\/a>, Amex states the following:<\/p>\n

This benefit doesn't offer credit toward airline tickets, mileage points purchases or mileage points transfer fees, gift cards<\/strong>, upgrades, duty\u2013free purchases, or award tickets<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Before you can receive your fee credit, you need to select a preferred airline<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Based on data points reported on FlyerTalk\u2014a popular points and miles forum\u2014it seems that Amex has new systems for identifying gift-card purchases. In several cases, cardholders made two airline purchases on the same day, one of which was an eligible airline-incidental fee and the other, a gift card. Several days later, the eligible fee was classified as an airline incidental, while the gift-card purchase earned no credit at all.<\/p>\n

Cards Affected<\/span><\/h2>\n

Although reports are still coming in, it's safe to assume this applies to all Amex\u00a0credit cards\u00a0that provide some form of airline incidental credit as one of its perks. Popular cards in this group include:<\/p>\n

Up to $200 Airline Incidentals Credit<\/span><\/h3>\n
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American Express Platinum Card\u00ae<\/sup><\/div>\n
\"American<\/div>\n
How to Apply<\/a><\/div>\n
Rates & Fees<\/a>
(Terms apply)<\/span><\/div>\n
Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nAs High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n American Express Platinum Card\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong>\n
Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nAs High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/div>\n
Annual Fee:<\/strong>$895<\/b><\/div>\n
Show more<\/a>Why We Like It<\/a>Highlights<\/a>Earning Rates<\/a>
Cardholders can access more than 1,550 airport lounges worldwide, take advantage of up to $200 in annual airline fee credits, up to $209 in CLEAR+ credits, and TSA PreCheck\u00ae<\/sup> or Global Entry fee credits. The card also includes an annual hotel credit worth up to $600 on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts\u00ae<\/sup> or The Hotel Collection bookings (The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay), Hilton Honors\u2122 and Marriott Bonvoy\u00ae<\/sup> Gold Elite status, and a suite of benefits with Fine Hotels + Resorts\u00ae<\/sup>. Additional perks include $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership credit (with applicable sales taxes and Plus Ups not include), up to $300 in annual digital entertainment credits, up to $300 Equinox credits, and up to $200 annual Uber Cash and $120 Uber One Credit. Enrollment required for select American Express benefits.<\/div>
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