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 28, 2021, 10:59 pm
#976
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
Many think that's what happened -- AmEx asked UA to make a change that's bad for their business, and UA complied. If we go with this scenario, I'm really curious what kind of leverage AmEx has over UA, and if they promised to do anything in return.
Jan 28, 2021, 11:02 pm
#977
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,347
ETA:
I didn't see this until after I posted my response as I was probably typing while this was posted. But this is essentially my question as well.
Jan 29, 2021, 6:39 am
#978
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
American Express is both a card issuer and a network operator. United has a contract with the network operator. If the contract requires transactions to be accurately classified it is straightforward for American Express to ask UA to process TravelBank purchases as gift cards. The same happened at AA. Why is anyone surprised this time?
Jan 29, 2021, 7:24 am
#979
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,347
American Express is both a card issuer and a network operator. United has a contract with the network operator. If the contract requires transactions to be accurately classified it is straightforward for American Express to ask UA to process TravelBank purchases as gift cards. The same happened at AA. Why is anyone surprised this time?
I for one prefer flying DL when both airlines are available to my destination and will rarely fly UA. Now with funds in my travel bank I will look to use that first. So UA got cash from me they wouldn't have normally gotten.
Jan 29, 2021, 2:35 pm
#980
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,679
This is why so many countries, especially the EU, have passed very strong regulations for card networks and regulate them more like utilities than businesses, because they theoretically have unlimited power against merchants.
Jan 29, 2021, 4:56 pm
#981
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,039
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 because it's not charged by the airline)
* Airport lounge day passes & annual memberships
* Onboard WIFI
Jan 29, 2021, 5:24 pm
#982
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Jan 29, 2021, 7:31 pm
#983
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
Hold that thought.
Yes - AMEX is both a card issuer and a network operator. In this case - being a card issuer has a potential impact. But just because AMEX is a network operator, it does not mean that AMEX is the payment processor here.
Maybe Chase?
Yes - AMEX is both a card issuer and a network operator. In this case - being a card issuer has a potential impact. But just because AMEX is a network operator, it does not mean that AMEX is the payment processor here.
Maybe Chase?
Jan 29, 2021, 7:41 pm
#984
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,679
Amex is the payment processor, if your volume is over $1MM per year in Amex you have to go Amex Direct which means you have a direct relationship with Amex. Chase may gateway the transaction to Amex but Amex is 100% the processor here and not Chase.
Jan 31, 2021, 11:27 am
#985
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Pennsylvania
Programs: American Gold, Hilton Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 269
Datapoint: Farelock still coding for the fee reimbursement. Charged $14 fare lock on 1/27/21 and it was reimbursed on 1/29/21.
Jan 31, 2021, 12:34 pm
#986
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: USA
Programs: UA Global Services, TSA Pre✓, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,115
Reply
I bought $100 in travel bank credit on my platinum on 1/25 and coded as airfare. No reimbursement.
Jan 31, 2021, 5:18 pm
#988
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,316
From the wiki-post:
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 because it's not charged by the airline)
* Airport lounge day passes & annual memberships
* Onboard WIFI
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 because it's not charged by the airline)
* Airport lounge day passes & annual memberships
* Onboard WIFI
So it just comes back to wifi. But as I said, I'm having really mixed experiences with it actually posting as "United".
These credits don't work for premium travelers.
Jan 31, 2021, 6:19 pm
#989
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954