Jan 4, 2017, 7:25 am
Last edit by: presario1626
The United gift registry has been discontinued.
Reminder: you must enroll and select UA as your airline BEFORE making a reimbursable purchase. Unless you check your bags or experience change fees, United has the fewest options for reimbursement because of the codes they use for transactions.
United does not sell giftcards. As of December 2016 American Express no longer reimburses MPX transactions.
Airline Taxes on Award Tickets
Reminder: you must enroll and select UA as your airline BEFORE making a reimbursable purchase. Unless you check your bags or experience change fees, United has the fewest options for reimbursement because of the codes they use for transactions.
United does not sell giftcards. As of December 2016 American Express no longer reimburses MPX transactions.
Airline Taxes on Award Tickets
Doesn't seem to work anymore; see post 179 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25297196-post179.html and #391
Economy Plus and First Class Upgrade FeesAs of December 2016 there were conflicting posts; one stating that an upgrade to E+ coded as an "upgrade fee" and was, therefore, not reimbursed. Others said they were reimbursed as it was coded as "preferred seat upgrade." In February 2019, three separate FTer reported receiving varying amounts of reimbursement (dependent upon which card was used for the purchase) after purchasing an E+ annual subscription. The E+ subscriptions code as "preferred seat upgrade". Upgrading from E to FC will also not be reimbursed because it codes as a passenger ticket even when done after buying the original ticket. There seems to be a distinction between seat upgrades being reimbursed, while ticket upgrades are not.
Award AcceleratorI would not risk this. The last report of being reimbursed for Award Accelerator was for $68 on October 27, 2011. Every post about Award Accelerator since has reported "No reimbursement."
Eligible incidental fees include:- Checked baggage fees (including overweight/oversize)
- Itinerary change fees
- Phone reservation fees
- Pet flight fees
- Seat assignment fees (E+)
- In-flight amenity fees (beverages, food, pillows/blankets, headphones)
- In-flight entertainment fees (excluding wireless internet because it's not charged by the airline)
- Airport lounge day passes & annual memberships
- Onboard WIFI
Airline fee $200/$100 reimbursement reports: UA only (2017-2019)
Mar 25, 2017, 3:22 pm
#151
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 2
I'm new to the AMEX Platinum. How does the gift registry work - what can you purchase there, just United GC's? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the 50% back on the selected airline through AMEX? How are people using this?
Mar 25, 2017, 3:43 pm
#152
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
The 50% back is only on the Business Platinum card, so for people like me with the Personal Plat, it doesn't matter. Being Houston based, I have enough revenue United flights every year that I burn through the $200 easily.
Mar 25, 2017, 9:11 pm
#153
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: Starwood/Hyatt/IHG-PLAT/Hilton-DIA
Posts: 468
just deposited $200 more to my existing $100 travel bank balance, so I should have $300 total.
when i login, it says $100 available balance, $300 total balance.
it only lets me use $100 "available" balance at checkout...
anybody know what the deal is or how long it takes from total balance to become available balance? TIA
when i login, it says $100 available balance, $300 total balance.
it only lets me use $100 "available" balance at checkout...
anybody know what the deal is or how long it takes from total balance to become available balance? TIA
Mar 25, 2017, 9:49 pm
#154
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
Check back tomorrow. IME gift registry funds are never immediately available, it takes an overnight cycle or two. BTW, this is in the wiki but the wiki only refers to "new gift registry" while I've found it holds true to existing ones.
Mar 28, 2017, 7:46 am
#155
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Platinum, SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,990
Hmmm I was able to make the contribution without any problem. My issue is booking the ticket. If I click the link to manage my gift registry and then try to buy the ticket that way, I get an error. If I just go through a normal process on united.com, there isn't a clear way (that I can see) to actually specify to use gift registry funds. Help!
Mar 28, 2017, 10:52 am
#156
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Did you read the Wiki? It's like a gift card, but the difference is it goes directly into your MileagePlus account, so it's not easily transferable like buying a Delta/AA/etc gift card, and then you can use the Gift Registry (also called travel bank) funds towards future flights.
Apr 1, 2017, 2:44 pm
#157
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: SFO
Posts: 1,746
$200 registry (one shot) posted 3/29, credited 3/31.
Apr 2, 2017, 11:26 am
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,048
Apr 3, 2017, 8:29 am
#160
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 68
99% sure, but just to check so I don't do something stupid.
Myself and my wife both have a plat. We can add all $400 to one registry (for ease of redemption) and it shouldn't be a problem, right?
Myself and my wife both have a plat. We can add all $400 to one registry (for ease of redemption) and it shouldn't be a problem, right?
Apr 3, 2017, 2:07 pm
#161
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Programs: Milege+, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,685
Apr 7, 2017, 12:11 am
#162
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA MM, AS MVP Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 2,110
is it possible to use gift registry funds AND an e-cert on the same ticket?
Apr 10, 2017, 1:33 pm
#163
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: New York
Programs: SQ Silver, Hilton Gold, IHG Spire RA
Posts: 71
Datapoint: Purchased E+ for $204, 2 days later I was reimbursed for $100 (Amex Gold)
Posted as: PREFERRED SEAT UPGRADE
Posted as: PREFERRED SEAT UPGRADE
Apr 12, 2017, 12:46 am
#164
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 227
Do you think AMEX would entertain the idea of letting us make a one-time re-selection of the designated airline at this point in the year if that airline is United?
Apr 12, 2017, 3:38 am
#165
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 12
Why don't you call and ask? No matter what nobody on this forum can fix it for you..worst case they say no right?