Last edit by: boboqui
Reminder: you must enroll and select UA as your airline, then wait a day -- BEFORE making a reimbursable purchase.
WARNING: Beginning in mid-January 2021 Travel Bank (and its former Gift Registry) purchases are coded as Gift Certificates rather than Special Service Tickets. Travel Bank purchases are no longer reimbursed.
In mid-February 2021 United again changed the processing of Travel Bank deposit transactions. They are coded as Special Service Tickets, and reimbursed by American Express, but no assurance this will continue. Purchase here: https://www.united.com/offers/travelcash
Travel bank amounts that you can purchase are $50, $100, $250, or more (see screenshot in this post). There is no $200 amount so Platinum card holders with $200 credit will need to purchase 2 x $100.
If credit is not automatically issued (unlikely based on data points), do not contact Amex customer service as it might lead them to close the loophole.
See also this thread in the United Airliines forum on TravelBank: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...get-bonus.html
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 Fees Subscription worked in Feb 2020, data point here. As 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:
Discussion continues here: Airline fee $250/$200 reimbursement reports: UA only (2022)
In mid-February 2021 United again changed the processing of Travel Bank deposit transactions. They are coded as Special Service Tickets, and reimbursed by American Express, but no assurance this will continue. Purchase here: https://www.united.com/offers/travelcash
Travel bank amounts that you can purchase are $50, $100, $250, or more (see screenshot in this post). There is no $200 amount so Platinum card holders with $200 credit will need to purchase 2 x $100.
If credit is not automatically issued (unlikely based on data points), do not contact Amex customer service as it might lead them to close the loophole.
See also this thread in the United Airliines forum on TravelBank: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...get-bonus.html
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 Fees Subscription worked in Feb 2020, data point here. As 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
- FareLock
- Pet flight fees
- Seat assignment fees (E+)
- In-flight amenity fees (beverages, food, pillows/blankets, headphones)
- In-flight entertainment fees (excluding wireless internet unless it is billed by the airline.)
- Airport lounge day passes & annual memberships
- Onboard WIFI (provided it is billed by the airline.)
Discussion continues here: Airline fee $250/$200 reimbursement reports: UA only (2022)
Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: UA only (2020-21)
#211
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,846
#212
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,132
Would appreciate the help: I've looked at my UA account, and can't for the life of me find out how to add funds to the travel bank. Can someone please help me? Thanks!
--------------------------
I found a way: I clicked on the link kindly provided by bocasierra in post 165: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32570327-post165.html
I was able to make only one transaction of $100 to my UA account. After two failures of trying to make an additional transaction to my account, I added $100 to my wife's account.
NB: Made change from different airline to UA via chat, and changed showed up immediately in my account page. Here to hoping credits are properly processed.
Thanks to all those who posted about this opportunity!
--------------------------
I found a way: I clicked on the link kindly provided by bocasierra in post 165: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32570327-post165.html
I was able to make only one transaction of $100 to my UA account. After two failures of trying to make an additional transaction to my account, I added $100 to my wife's account.
NB: Made change from different airline to UA via chat, and changed showed up immediately in my account page. Here to hoping credits are properly processed.
Thanks to all those who posted about this opportunity!
Last edited by 747FC; Aug 9, 2020 at 1:48 pm Reason: Success story
#213
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 482
Data point:
AMEX Hilton Aspire
$250 added to travel bank on 6 AUG
$250 reimbursement on 8 AUG
AMEX Hilton Aspire
$250 added to travel bank on 6 AUG
$250 reimbursement on 8 AUG
#214
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,486
#215
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 264
i would have kept UA on file had I known their 3 year travel bank “under maintenance” project was finally complete.
Last edited by radiolarian; Aug 9, 2020 at 7:36 pm
#216
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: South Carolina
Programs: A3 *G, Hilton Diamond, Accor Silver
Posts: 218
I chatted with a rep today who changed mine from AA to UA and it only took about 5 minutes! After closing the chat session I saw that my Plat and Aspire now reflect UA as my airline.
#217
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: BA
Posts: 954
Don't really understand how it works that you can apparently only add funds to the TravelBank once? Does the option to contribute just disappear once you add funds? What happens if you go to the same page you were on? Wish there was a $200 option, ha. Don't know if it's possible to merge funds from two separate TravelBanks...
#218
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: SFO
Posts: 220
Don't really understand how it works that you can apparently only add funds to the TravelBank once? Does the option to contribute just disappear once you add funds? What happens if you go to the same page you were on? Wish there was a $200 option, ha. Don't know if it's possible to merge funds from two separate TravelBanks...
#219
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: BA
Posts: 954
How strange - what's the purpose of a TravelBank you can only add funds to once..? Give me a $200 option or the ability to add $100 twice, lol.
#220
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,846
#221
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 4
Hilton Aspire
$250 travel bank purchase Aug 7th
$250 credited Aug 10th
Still waiting for my platinum to get credited. will update after.
$250 travel bank purchase Aug 7th
$250 credited Aug 10th
Still waiting for my platinum to get credited. will update after.
#222
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
Most people probably don't try to add funds multiple times within a short period, so if it's just a time limitation, that limitation might have been there all this time but not obvious until you called attention to it.
#223
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: SFO
Posts: 220
Neither. But rather a more specific conclusion: you can't quickly add funds using the same promo link (posted earlier in this thread).
#224
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,846
In another thread, it’ stated that when using the 10% bonus you could only add funds once. After the promotion ended people have claimed the ability to add additional funds once again to their travel bank accounts
#225
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 41
United gift
Will American Ex Platinum credit a purchase from the United store? I’m considering in purchasing a travel pillow with the credit.