Buying Delta Giftcards? Make Sure You Buy The Right Ones To Trigger Airline Credits

Recently there has been quite a few data points suggesting that purchasing Delta gift cards is no longer working to trigger American Express airline incidental credits. Thankfully it seems like FT user lordvaderman has solved the issue. There are two sites you can purchase Delta gift cards from:

  • Desktop site: Gift cards are issued by Delta Gift Cards, Inc. This codes as ‘Delta Airlines’
  • Mobile site: Powered by CashStar. This codes as ‘Delta Airlines GC’

There are very recent data points of the site option trigger the reimbursement. So make sure you’re purchasing your cards through the desktop site to avoid any issues.

Also note that only gift cards $50 or less work to trigger the airline credit.

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42 Comments
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zzz
zzz (@guest_775427)
June 27, 2019 11:11

Two $50 Delta gift cards posted on 6/23, still haven’t received a credit. Is Delta still working?!

Chuck
Editor
Chuck(@chucksithe)
June 27, 2019 15:34

I think people were seeing other airlines also not post from purchases made since like the 20th. Might be some delay in the system going on.

Jesus
Jesus (@guest_781437)
July 10, 2019 22:30

Looks like GCs are dead..

James
James (@guest_546561)
January 3, 2018 14:13

I purchased through the mobile site 12/28/17 and it has not been reimbursed yet as of 01/03/18. I read that since it is processed from CashStar through the mobile site that I may be out of luck. Can anyone confirm this? Did anyone have any luck with reimbursement through the mobile site?

Hannah
Hannah (@guest_544738)
December 31, 2017 17:43

so it won’t work on a $50 delta gift card?

Ken
Ken (@guest_544740)
December 31, 2017 17:46

I haven’t gotten a definitive answer either way, so I’m not sure.

Hannah
Hannah (@guest_544694)
December 31, 2017 16:01

it has to be a delta purchase
earn $50 statement credit after you make your first delta purchase are the terms of the credit card

Ken
Ken (@guest_544700)
December 31, 2017 16:08

I’m trying to figure this out as well. You could do a refundable DL ticket. I know that works, but it’s a bit much for just $50.

Hannah
Hannah (@guest_542184)
December 27, 2017 21:07

I just signed up for a gold delta skymiles business credit card
50 dollar statement after first purchase
Can I buy a 50 dollar delta gift card and get a statement credit?

Sam
Sam (@guest_542889)
December 28, 2017 16:29

Yes. It can be any purchase, not limited to delta

Pat
Pat (@guest_541684)
December 26, 2017 22:22

Does this difference of Delta GC apply to the Travelite Amex CC issued by First National bank as well?

WR
WR (@guest_539577)
December 21, 2017 12:54

Those who like to value the $200 credit as a $200 reduction in the AF are looking pretty foolish now. United gift registry dead, Alaska gc dead, Delta looking to be dead soon. I wonder if this is the handy work of the RAT team. I will get my AA GCs on January 1st, as I’m sure by this time next year all the GC options will have dried up.

This just makes it that much harder for me to bite on a retention offer, and much more likely just to churn the different flavors for signup bonuses. If Amex wants me to pay a 2nd year AF, the first thing they need to do is get this airline credit in line with their competition. I’m tired of this stupid GC game.

Ableyang
Ableyang (@guest_539361)
December 20, 2017 21:21

Is it the same case for BofA Premium?

Steven
Steven (@guest_539552)
December 21, 2017 11:32

No, so far the only gift card that has triggered BoA incidental is $50/$100 AA GC

Ableyang
Ableyang (@guest_540037)
December 22, 2017 11:45

Thank you Steven.

LD
LD (@guest_539343)
December 20, 2017 20:52

RE: Alaska Airlines

Bought 2 one way tickets for $93 and change on 2 different cards and they were each credited. For each ticket on separate cards I bought a $35 seat change on Virgin Airlines site for a bulk head seat. Neither of the 2 purchases triggered a credit on either card.

Borgdrone
Borgdrone (@guest_539308)
December 20, 2017 19:44

After i change my selection to delta. How much time do i need to give before i buy the gift cards to make sure that i get the credit. This is for amex business platinum.

rct12345
rct12345 (@guest_539380)
December 20, 2017 22:00

As per recommendation on flyertalk, give it 24 hours to be safe.

P
P (@guest_539381)
December 20, 2017 22:02

My Amex Personal Platinum was same day as purchase and it worked but it took two days for the purchase to actually post and another two days for the credit to post. This was also when Alaska gift card was still working. I say give it a day after changing or selecting your airline.

Points Adventure
Points Adventure (@guest_539436)
December 21, 2017 00:53

never had trouble with ~10 minutes after airline selection.