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)
#1351
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 3
This might have been asked already but does anyone know if buying TB on the same day as enrolling in a specific airline for the Amex Plat airline fees means that you won't get the credit. For reference, I bought $50 TB on 05/03, and the transaction posted on 05/05 as "UNITED AIRLINES HOUSTON TX" but the meter still hasn't moved and I still haven't been reimbursed as of 05/06.
#1352
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SFO sometimes
Programs: UA 1K, AA gold, A3 gold
Posts: 1,634
5/3 2x$100 on personal plat
5/8 finally showing tracker has moved
5/8 finally showing tracker has moved
#1353
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Rockies
Programs: UA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy occasionally Bonvoyed Mostly
Posts: 428
#1354
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 21
Yep - looks like it was a slow week for them. I was sweating as well.
05/03 Plat 2x100 TB purchase
05/08 $100 x 2 credited
05/03 Plat 2x100 TB purchase
05/08 $100 x 2 credited
#1355
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 14
Seems like 5 days are standard lately.
5/5 Vanilla Plat 2 x $100 TB purchased
5/10 2 x $100 reimbursed
5/5 Vanilla Plat 2 x $100 TB purchased
5/10 2 x $100 reimbursed
#1359
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
#1360
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Amex Plat
May 8. 2 x $100 Travel Bank Purchase
May 11. 2 x $100 Amex Reimbursement
This was one of the most useful threads I've ever used.
May 8. 2 x $100 Travel Bank Purchase
May 11. 2 x $100 Amex Reimbursement
This was one of the most useful threads I've ever used.
#1361
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rockin' the Bakken
Programs: Several
Posts: 978
Amex Plat
2x $100 TB purchases on 5/9
2x $100 credits on 5/12
2x $100 TB purchases on 5/9
2x $100 credits on 5/12
#1362
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
Plat
2x $100 purchased on 5/9
2x $100 credits on 5/13
2x $100 purchased on 5/9
2x $100 credits on 5/13
#1364
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 587
Platinum Card:
5/10: Purchased 2 X $100 worth of Travel Bank Funds
5/13: Reimbursed 2 X $100
5/10: Purchased 2 X $100 worth of Travel Bank Funds
5/13: Reimbursed 2 X $100
#1365
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP, Hilton Diamond, Marriot LTG
Posts: 614
Platinum Card:
5/11: Purchased 2 X $100 worth of Travel Bank Funds
5/14: Reimbursed 2 X $100
5/11: Purchased 2 X $100 worth of Travel Bank Funds
5/14: Reimbursed 2 X $100