Jan 6, 2020, 2:53 pm
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)
Jan 19, 2020, 11:37 am
#61
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 15
DP: attempting today with an itinerary for my Platinum. Will report back to see if it is successful. If so, will be doing the same on my Gold.
Jan 19, 2020, 1:34 pm
#63
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 15
Apologies if this should be in the United MileagePlus forum instead, but has anyone else had issues with the web interface for adding a pet itinerary? I had to call into the United customer service line and do it via my confirmation number.
Jan 19, 2020, 11:13 pm
#64
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,291
Yes. I couldn’t do it on the website a year or 2 ago due to having selected an exit row seat; the website did not give the reason, just wouldn’t do it. Called, phone rep told me the reason, changed my seat and booked the pet fee. It may be that pets are not allowed for other seats (? bulkhead) and the number of pets per flight and per cabin (First, Economy) is limited. Perhaps the website simply will not allow a pet fee to be booked when such a seat has previously been selected or cabin pets maxed out, without giving the reason. More recently, after selecting non-exit row and non-bulkhead seats, I’ve not had any problems booking pet fee on-line.
Last edited by Dr Jabadski; Jan 23, 2020 at 7:24 pm
Jan 20, 2020, 9:06 pm
#65
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 33
I am flying on my mother's buddy pass since she works for the airlines.
I am thinking of buying the 1st class ticket option which costs around $60 more. Normal ticket is around $72.
Do you think this will be reimbursed?? Should I buy the $72 ticket first, and then upgrade?
Thanks for the advice!
I am thinking of buying the 1st class ticket option which costs around $60 more. Normal ticket is around $72.
Do you think this will be reimbursed?? Should I buy the $72 ticket first, and then upgrade?
Thanks for the advice!
Jan 21, 2020, 11:43 am
#66
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Rockies
Programs: UA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy occasionally Bonvoyed Mostly
Posts: 428
Jan 21, 2020, 7:49 pm
#67
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SFO
Posts: 210
Award taxes of 2x $20.80 posted 1/2, no reimbursement
Jan 22, 2020, 9:18 am
#68
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1
Pleasantly surprised that a $36.91 balance left over after paying for part of a flight with leftover Travelbank (RIP) money was reimbursed.
1/16 - Purchased a $183.40 ticket through United using $146.49 in Travelbank money and $36.91 balance charged to Amex Plat
1/17 - $36.91 transaction posted to Amex Plat
1/19 - Received $36.91 credit reimbursement
1/16 - Purchased a $183.40 ticket through United using $146.49 in Travelbank money and $36.91 balance charged to Amex Plat
1/17 - $36.91 transaction posted to Amex Plat
1/19 - Received $36.91 credit reimbursement
Jan 22, 2020, 9:22 am
#69
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 41
Jan 22, 2020, 10:35 pm
#70
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 5
Purchased 4 UA lounge passes on 12/31 on AMEX Platinum and a UA Economy + subscription for spouse + one additional passenger with the Hilton AMEX. Both reimbursed fully for 2019 on Jan 3. Still see the full 2020 amount for both cards.
This year, I am going to try to purchase the Economy Plus subscription for one person only and apply one AMEX reimbursement, wait, then modify the subscription by adding the extra person and paying with the other AMEX reimbursement card and see if this works. We always get the subscriber plus one so I have nothing to lose.
This year, I am going to try to purchase the Economy Plus subscription for one person only and apply one AMEX reimbursement, wait, then modify the subscription by adding the extra person and paying with the other AMEX reimbursement card and see if this works. We always get the subscriber plus one so I have nothing to lose.
Did you find out if this was true yet?
Jan 23, 2020, 6:45 am
#71
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 15
Update:
Pet fee charge posted 1/19.
Credits posted 1/22.
Pet fee charge posted 1/19.
Credits posted 1/22.
Last edited by MDBechara; Jan 23, 2020 at 7:05 am Reason: Edited for clarity on charge type
Jan 23, 2020, 2:15 pm
#72
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Rockies
Programs: UA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy occasionally Bonvoyed Mostly
Posts: 428
Jan 23, 2020, 3:53 pm
#73
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 15
Jan 23, 2020, 7:25 pm
#75
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,291
Your profile arshi007 states “UA Platinum”. Presumably you fly a bit on UA, if you’re going to do the pet fee thing, you should do it for a reservation you intend to fly. If you like exit row seats, be aware that once refunded by UA the pet fee may remain on your reservation in some fashion thus precluding you from choosing exit row seats on-line. For that reason, I usually ask for exit row seats during the same conversation in which I cancel the pet fee, UA phone reps have been happy to assist.