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)
Dec 14, 2018, 3:10 pm
#706
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,783
Dec 17, 2018, 1:33 pm
#708
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
Yeah, not going to happen. A) I didn't think you could change mid-year, and B) I'll be mileage running to keep 1K on United. Flying DL on a trip to save $100 will cost me even more in the long run. But thank you!
I figured one does. I'm just guessing. It is an ancillary item.
Dec 19, 2018, 7:55 am
#709
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 493
I still have $80 left. I'm stuck with UA since I partially used it earlier this year. Can you buy mileage and get credit??? It really makes me mad I am going to lose this credit.
BTW, I have an Amex Business Plat card for years. Amex keeps making this card more worthless every year. Now they are raising the fees to $595 from $450. The new "benefits" suck, so I'm out of here when the card expires in February. I had enough of this. Gonna switch to AA and get some gift cards in January, then "bye bye" to Amex Plat ....
BTW, I have an Amex Business Plat card for years. Amex keeps making this card more worthless every year. Now they are raising the fees to $595 from $450. The new "benefits" suck, so I'm out of here when the card expires in February. I had enough of this. Gonna switch to AA and get some gift cards in January, then "bye bye" to Amex Plat ....
Dec 19, 2018, 8:32 am
#710
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,192
I still have $80 left. I'm stuck with UA since I partially used it earlier this year. Can you buy mileage and get credit??? It really makes me mad I am going to lose this credit.
BTW, I have an Amex Business Plat card for years. Amex keeps making this card more worthless every year. Now they are raising the fees to $595 from $450. The new "benefits" suck, so I'm out of here when the card expires in February. I had enough of this. Gonna switch to AA and get some gift cards in January, then "bye bye" to Amex Plat ....
BTW, I have an Amex Business Plat card for years. Amex keeps making this card more worthless every year. Now they are raising the fees to $595 from $450. The new "benefits" suck, so I'm out of here when the card expires in February. I had enough of this. Gonna switch to AA and get some gift cards in January, then "bye bye" to Amex Plat ....
Dec 19, 2018, 10:30 am
#711
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: Delta GM, Delta Amex Plat,
Posts: 148
Just a data point,
Tickets purchased on 12/10
Upgrade to E+ via UA app on 12/15
Reimbursed on 12/18
On a different note, UA is still offering me $149 to upgrade to First even after the E+ upgrade purchase. That's the same price they offered when I was still in Y. Slightly frustrating...
Tickets purchased on 12/10
Upgrade to E+ via UA app on 12/15
Reimbursed on 12/18
On a different note, UA is still offering me $149 to upgrade to First even after the E+ upgrade purchase. That's the same price they offered when I was still in Y. Slightly frustrating...
Dec 19, 2018, 12:29 pm
#712
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,192
Just a data point,
Tickets purchased on 12/10
Upgrade to E+ via UA app on 12/15
Reimbursed on 12/18
On a different note, UA is still offering me $149 to upgrade to First even after the E+ upgrade purchase. That's the same price they offered when I was still in Y. Slightly frustrating...
Tickets purchased on 12/10
Upgrade to E+ via UA app on 12/15
Reimbursed on 12/18
On a different note, UA is still offering me $149 to upgrade to First even after the E+ upgrade purchase. That's the same price they offered when I was still in Y. Slightly frustrating...
Dec 20, 2018, 4:11 pm
#713
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA PP, UA 1K/MM, WoH Globalist, HH Gold
Posts: 1,194
Would this work:
Purchase a refundable ticket and then cancel. Instead of having the funds go back to the AMEX card, have it applied to your Travel Bank?
Purchase a refundable ticket and then cancel. Instead of having the funds go back to the AMEX card, have it applied to your Travel Bank?
Dec 20, 2018, 11:53 pm
#714
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,423
Dec 21, 2018, 2:49 am
#715
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA PP, UA 1K/MM, WoH Globalist, HH Gold
Posts: 1,194
Dec 23, 2018, 6:29 pm
#716
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 7
i was just approved for Amex Gold and have selected united as my preferred airline 30 minutes ago 
from my 20 minutes researching, the only "loophole" is getting E+ seats then calling them to manually reimburse ?
has anyone tried the following ?
-buying gift cards on MileagePlus X app (Bestbuy, Walmart... ect)
-paying to enter complimentary wait list upgrade ( 20K miles + 450$). did that last year and amex statement showed it as Document Type: UPGRADE CHARGE. you dont get lounge access, only the seat.
from my 20 minutes researching, the only "loophole" is getting E+ seats then calling them to manually reimburse ?
has anyone tried the following ?
-buying gift cards on MileagePlus X app (Bestbuy, Walmart... ect)
-paying to enter complimentary wait list upgrade ( 20K miles + 450$). did that last year and amex statement showed it as Document Type: UPGRADE CHARGE. you dont get lounge access, only the seat.
Dec 23, 2018, 7:12 pm
#717
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,423
If you are not a frequent UA flyer, and are not going to incur change fees, wifi charges, United Club fees, award-related fees, baggage fees, or E+ fees, you should select a different airline that will allow gift card purchases.
OT, but that's wrong. If you upgrade to Polaris business class, you get Polaris lounge access.
Dec 24, 2018, 12:53 pm
#718
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,654
I'd be unlikely to ever use it for on board purchase, as the MPE card is offering 25% cash back for on board purchases of food, wifi, etc.. But it does not give the cash back for wifi subscriptions because they are not purchased on board, so...
Dec 30, 2018, 1:11 pm
#719
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
Another year, another set of united club passes purchased. I gotta change my 200$ credit to another airline for next year. this is a total waste.