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)
#541
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: MR
Posts: 15
when people say they purchased 2x $100 on the same day, are they doing 2 separate transactions of $100 or is there a way to add 2 $100 in the cart and checkout together? i cant do the latter.
also i read that people were having issues with doing a 2nd transaction somewhere above, in that case how is the 1st option handled?
also i read that people were having issues with doing a 2nd transaction somewhere above, in that case how is the 1st option handled?
#542
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 3
Amex Plat Personal
Signed up for UA as benefit airline today
Made purchase about 30 min later
Bought $250 wallet funds
Will report back if/when it posts, but glad to see multiple reports already of getting the $200 credit in one go. Buying a flight to Japan for the end of next year, looking forward to $200 off (or $400 if I can get next year's credit towards the flight somehow)
Edit: Benefit meter moved 12/15 and credit appeared (but is dated 12/14 for some reason)
Signed up for UA as benefit airline today
Made purchase about 30 min later
Bought $250 wallet funds
Will report back if/when it posts, but glad to see multiple reports already of getting the $200 credit in one go. Buying a flight to Japan for the end of next year, looking forward to $200 off (or $400 if I can get next year's credit towards the flight somehow)
Edit: Benefit meter moved 12/15 and credit appeared (but is dated 12/14 for some reason)
Last edited by Anki; Dec 16, 2020 at 7:01 am Reason: Updated post
#543
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,017
Amex Plat Personal
Signed up for UA as benefit airline today
Made purchase about 30 min later
Bought $250 wallet funds
Will report back if/when it posts, but glad to see multiple reports already of getting the $200 credit in one go. Buying a flight to Japan for the end of next year, looking forward to $200 off (or $400 if I can get next year's credit towards the flight somehow)
Signed up for UA as benefit airline today
Made purchase about 30 min later
Bought $250 wallet funds
Will report back if/when it posts, but glad to see multiple reports already of getting the $200 credit in one go. Buying a flight to Japan for the end of next year, looking forward to $200 off (or $400 if I can get next year's credit towards the flight somehow)
#544
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: USA
Posts: 44
Can I just directly add full $250 in a single transaction for Aspire credit? Or do I need to break it down into multiple $100 transactions? I'm wondering if there is any transaction limit or something similar to what we have for DL or WN airlines. Thanks!
#545
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NGS
Programs: UA Silver, ANA MC, HH Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Bonvoy Plat, IHG Plat, Shangri-La GC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,229
You can do a full $250 transaction with the Aspire Card. People who don't have the Aspire Card but have other Amex cards are making the $100 transactions because they get a $200 credit, not the $250 credit of the Aspire Card.
#546
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 4
12/04 Switched airline to UA via chat and purchased $100 on the gold card
12/07 Transaction posted
12/11 Meter hasn't moved and no reimbursement so far
Might have a period where it wouldn't trigger after just changing airlines. Waiting another week before attempting again.
12/07 Transaction posted
12/11 Meter hasn't moved and no reimbursement so far
Might have a period where it wouldn't trigger after just changing airlines. Waiting another week before attempting again.
#547
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: USA
Posts: 44
12/04 Switched airline to UA via chat and purchased $100 on the gold card
12/07 Transaction posted
12/11 Meter hasn't moved and no reimbursement so far
Might have a period where it wouldn't trigger after just changing airlines. Waiting another week before attempting again.
12/07 Transaction posted
12/11 Meter hasn't moved and no reimbursement so far
Might have a period where it wouldn't trigger after just changing airlines. Waiting another week before attempting again.
#549
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 1
12/04 Switched airline to UA via chat and purchased $100 on the gold card
12/07 Transaction posted
12/11 Meter hasn't moved and no reimbursement so far
Might have a period where it wouldn't trigger after just changing airlines. Waiting another week before attempting again.
12/07 Transaction posted
12/11 Meter hasn't moved and no reimbursement so far
Might have a period where it wouldn't trigger after just changing airlines. Waiting another week before attempting again.
#550
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,896
#552
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 3
12/07 Chatted with Amex and changed airline to UA on both Gold and Platinum
12/07 After getting email notice of the change ~1min later I made the purchase on both cards
12/09 Transaction posted but bar didn't move
12/12 Meter on both cards moved saying I used the credit but no reimbursement yet
12/07 After getting email notice of the change ~1min later I made the purchase on both cards
12/09 Transaction posted but bar didn't move
12/12 Meter on both cards moved saying I used the credit but no reimbursement yet
Last edited by Dream_; Dec 12, 2020 at 11:52 am
#553
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 4
12/07 Chatted with Amex and changed airline to UA on both Gold and Platinum
12/07 After getting email notice of the change ~1min later I made the purchase on both cards
12/09 Transaction posted but bar didn't move
12/10 Meter on both cards moved saying I used the credit but no reimbursement yet
12/07 After getting email notice of the change ~1min later I made the purchase on both cards
12/09 Transaction posted but bar didn't move
12/10 Meter on both cards moved saying I used the credit but no reimbursement yet
#555
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 1
Can someone please help me understand how I can puchase the travelbank for United airlines? Thanks. When I go to my UA account, I'm unable to find any link to purchase travel bank.