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)
#1276
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
No, there's risk to do that same-day, and fairly regular DP's to illustrate the risk, and even a line in bold text in the Wiki.
#1277
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,192
#1278
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,899
How come for the Platinum, people bought 2x$100 and yet for the Aspire, 1x$250 worked?
#1279
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,213
#1281
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IST
Programs: TK Elite/*G
Posts: 36
$100x2 travel bank purchased April 1 on Plat, reimbursed April 5
#1282
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,899
April 6, 2021
1x$250 with Hilton Aspire. Shows up as "United Electronic Ticketing" under pending transactions. Hopefully, I'll get a credit before the end of this week!
1x$250 with Hilton Aspire. Shows up as "United Electronic Ticketing" under pending transactions. Hopefully, I'll get a credit before the end of this week!
#1283
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: MileagePlus, Amex MR, Chase UR
Posts: 24
Apr 2, 2021
2 x $100 + 1 x $50 with Hilton Aspire. As of Apr 7, 2021, meter moved but credits have not posted yet. Hopefully will post in a day or two since the meter moved. Original charges posted as 'Special Service Ticket'.
UPDATE: Credits posted by Apr 8.
2 x $100 + 1 x $50 with Hilton Aspire. As of Apr 7, 2021, meter moved but credits have not posted yet. Hopefully will post in a day or two since the meter moved. Original charges posted as 'Special Service Ticket'.
UPDATE: Credits posted by Apr 8.
Last edited by stevenou; Apr 8, 2021 at 9:00 am
#1284
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: National EE, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond, AC 50K
Posts: 422
Set AMEX GOLD Airline $100 credit to United March 31 via online chat. Waited 48 hours.
Purchased $50 United travel bank credit on April 2. AMEX GOLD $50 credit posted April 8th.
Purchased $50 United travel bank credit on April 2. AMEX GOLD $50 credit posted April 8th.
#1285
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 3
UPDATE: all charges (3x$50 and 2x$100) eventually processed (even though the said they failed) and $250 was reimbursed by Hilton Aspire AmEx. Asked for a refund from United for the two $100 charges since I didn't think they would go through, and that was refunded. However the fee reimbursement was not reversed, even though the fee charge was.
#1286
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 240
UPDATE: all charges (3x$50 and 2x$100) eventually processed (even though the said they failed) and $250 was reimbursed by Hilton Aspire AmEx. Asked for a refund from United for the two $100 charges since I didn't think they would go through, and that was refunded. However the fee reimbursement was not reversed, even though the fee charge was.
#1287
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,899
The transaction now changed to "United Airlines Houston TX". The meter moved and I see "You have used all of your $250 Airline Fee Credit for this year. It will renew again starting Jan 2022". However, no credit have posted yet. I suppose it's now imminent.
#1289
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,347
UPDATE: all charges (3x$50 and 2x$100) eventually processed (even though the said they failed) and $250 was reimbursed by Hilton Aspire AmEx. Asked for a refund from United for the two $100 charges since I didn't think they would go through, and that was refunded. However the fee reimbursement was not reversed, even though the fee charge was.
#1290
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 4
UPDATE: all charges (3x$50 and 2x$100) eventually processed (even though the said they failed) and $250 was reimbursed by Hilton Aspire AmEx. Asked for a refund from United for the two $100 charges since I didn't think they would go through, and that was refunded. However the fee reimbursement was not reversed, even though the fee charge was.