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)
Mar 1, 2021, 3:05 pm
#1171
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,213
Mar 1, 2021, 3:07 pm
#1172
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
You're probably right and I'm just being paranoid. Only the first charge has posted so far... Completely forgot to check that.
Mar 2, 2021, 12:23 am
#1173
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA
Programs: OZ Diamond
Posts: 6,134
Happy to report my DP.
2/25: $100 TB purchased
2/26: charge "posted"
2/28: reimbursement "posted"
I have posted in quotation marks because when I checked the charge on 2/26, it was still pending. But, when I checked on 2/27, it was posted with 2/26 date. The same thing happened with reimbursement. When I checked last night (2/28), it wasn't there (meter had already moved, so I knew it was coming). When I checked tonight, it's there with 2/28 date. I guess it doesn't matter as long as it still works!
LAX
2/25: $100 TB purchased
2/26: charge "posted"
2/28: reimbursement "posted"
I have posted in quotation marks because when I checked the charge on 2/26, it was still pending. But, when I checked on 2/27, it was posted with 2/26 date. The same thing happened with reimbursement. When I checked last night (2/28), it wasn't there (meter had already moved, so I knew it was coming). When I checked tonight, it's there with 2/28 date. I guess it doesn't matter as long as it still works!
LAX
Mar 2, 2021, 10:14 am
#1174
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 5
My DP (also happy to report):
2/26: $100 (amex platinum)
3/2: reimbursed
3/2: purchased $300 more credits (gold & biz plat) - fingers crossed
I purchased travelbank credits back in January a day after they were recoded and I didn't know it had changed. So I'll have a lot of travelbank credits...
2/26: $100 (amex platinum)
3/2: reimbursed
3/2: purchased $300 more credits (gold & biz plat) - fingers crossed
I purchased travelbank credits back in January a day after they were recoded and I didn't know it had changed. So I'll have a lot of travelbank credits...
Mar 2, 2021, 11:23 am
#1175
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
Warning! I just did 2x $100 to TB on Amex platinum yesterday, so get ready for this to be shut down soon. ;-)
Mar 2, 2021, 2:20 pm
#1176
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CAK/CLE
Programs: UA Plat/AA,DL Dirt/HH Diamond,Hyatt Something-ist/Hz Prez,Avis Pres Club
Posts: 674
Purchased $50 TravelBank funds with Hilton Aspire on 2/26
Meter moved on 3/1
Credit showed on 3/2
Purchased $100 more on 3/1; purchasing last $100 today; probably have jinxed everything
Meter moved on 3/1
Credit showed on 3/2
Purchased $100 more on 3/1; purchasing last $100 today; probably have jinxed everything
Mar 2, 2021, 8:24 pm
#1177
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA
Programs: OZ Diamond
Posts: 6,134
Mar 3, 2021, 2:56 am
#1178
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,603
Purchased travelbank
Feb 25
5X Points
UNITED AIRLINES HOUSTON TX
$100.00
Feb 28
Credit
AMEX AIRLINE FEE REIMBURSEMENT
-$100.00
Feb 25
5X Points
UNITED AIRLINES HOUSTON TX
$100.00
Feb 28
Credit
AMEX AIRLINE FEE REIMBURSEMENT
-$100.00
Mar 3, 2021, 7:47 am
#1179
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
Mar 3, 2021, 7:56 am
#1180
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
3/2 Meter moved by $100
3/3 Meter shows credit is used up, $credit already posted
Guess the other $100 should be credited tomorrow.
Mar 3, 2021, 11:03 am
#1181
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: JFK/LGA
Posts: 21
DP
2/27 Switched from Delta to United via Chat
2/28 Bought 2x $100 TB
3/2 Posted
3/3 Meter says Airline Fee Used Up
I expect the credit to post shortly. There was no indication it was going to work until I Amex updated the rewards of the transaction. Once I saw I was getting 5x on the transaction, the meter filled up.
2/27 Switched from Delta to United via Chat
2/28 Bought 2x $100 TB
3/2 Posted
3/3 Meter says Airline Fee Used Up
I expect the credit to post shortly. There was no indication it was going to work until I Amex updated the rewards of the transaction. Once I saw I was getting 5x on the transaction, the meter filled up.
Mar 4, 2021, 8:24 am
#1182
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: BA
Posts: 954
Alright, I'm calling AMEX on their bluff. I decided to *gasp* use the airline incidental credit for actual prepaid incidentals.
However, my flight was cancelled for COVID-related reasons and the incidentals were refunded by United.
I contacted AMEX out of good faith asking them to reverse and restore the $200 Platinum credit. They said (on both chat and phone) they couldn't do that but that the credit would stand.
Therefore, I do not want to hear about clawbacks for refunded airline credits. If they clawback, I will push back hard. I tried to have them reverse it, but they wouldn't/couldn't do it.
However, my flight was cancelled for COVID-related reasons and the incidentals were refunded by United.
I contacted AMEX out of good faith asking them to reverse and restore the $200 Platinum credit. They said (on both chat and phone) they couldn't do that but that the credit would stand.
Therefore, I do not want to hear about clawbacks for refunded airline credits. If they clawback, I will push back hard. I tried to have them reverse it, but they wouldn't/couldn't do it.
Mar 4, 2021, 8:32 am
#1183
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 3
mmm
$50 purchase posted on 03/01, no credit yet. for some reason my meter disappeared from the website i can see the term but no meter or airlines selection. contacted amex they said united is selected and no credit has been used.
Mar 4, 2021, 9:16 am
#1184
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,040
Regards
Mar 5, 2021, 11:28 am
#1185
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CAK/CLE
Programs: UA Plat/AA,DL Dirt/HH Diamond,Hyatt Something-ist/Hz Prez,Avis Pres Club
Posts: 674
On 3/4 the meter moved showing $100 left in fee credit, with no reimbursement yet.
Today (3/5) both show the reimbursement in the transactions, and the meter now says "You have used all of your $250 Airline Fee Credit for this year. It will renew again starting Jan 2022"