Jan 1, 2022, 11:44 am
Last edit by: rrgg
Your question is probably answered in this Wikipost
Reminder: you must enroll and select UA as your airline, then wait a day before making a reimbursable purchase. It can take a few days or a full week to be reimbursed.
Travel Bank: There'sa separate thread at this link for general discussion of Travel Bank. Travel Bank is available again Jan. 3, 2022 and posts as a Special Service Ticket reimbursed by Amex (but unofficially). May appear as United Electronic Ticketing or United Airlines Houston. Purchase here: https://www.united.com/offers/travelcash If your transaction returns a Payment Failed error, try adding your American Express card to your United Airlines profile, and repeat the transaction using the stored card. DO NOT CALL Amex to ask about being credited for this.
On December 31, 2021 United suspended Travel Bank deposit transactions and posted a message "Offer has ended."
United does not sell gift cards.
As of December 2016 American Express no longer reimburses MPX transactions.
READ BELOW for EXPENSES WHICH MAY BE REIMBURSED
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:
A general discussion of Travel Bank is in a separate thread .
(2021 discussion of UA available at this link.)
Reminder: you must enroll and select UA as your airline, then wait a day before making a reimbursable purchase. It can take a few days or a full week to be reimbursed.
Travel Bank: There'sa separate thread at this link for general discussion of Travel Bank. Travel Bank is available again Jan. 3, 2022 and posts as a Special Service Ticket reimbursed by Amex (but unofficially). May appear as United Electronic Ticketing or United Airlines Houston. Purchase here: https://www.united.com/offers/travelcash If your transaction returns a Payment Failed error, try adding your American Express card to your United Airlines profile, and repeat the transaction using the stored card. DO NOT CALL Amex to ask about being credited for this.
United does not sell gift cards.
As of December 2016 American Express no longer reimburses MPX transactions.
READ BELOW for EXPENSES WHICH MAY BE REIMBURSED
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.)
A general discussion of Travel Bank is in a separate thread .
(2021 discussion of UA available at this link.)
Airline fee $250/$200 reimbursement reports: UA only (2022)
Dec 31, 2021, 11:33 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,207
Sure, agreed. I mean when I said, "beginning of the year" I didn't literally mean 12:01 AM, Jan 1st, but rather in January. Again, not saying this will stop working, but certainly UA has suspended Travel Bank in the past, so it would not be without precedence were it to occur.
Regards
Regards
Dec 31, 2021, 11:41 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: UA 1K, DL Med, Marriott Plat
Posts: 54
Is there an automated voice IVR system to load Travel Bank by phone? I think many are here to spend on air before midnight 2021, hence the sudden interest 
Dec 31, 2021, 12:10 pm
#18
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
The Travel Bank went live in June 2020: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32570327-post165.html
I don't think there is any reason to believe that United's decisions to open or close these features has anything to do with American Express.
Dec 31, 2021, 1:57 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: SPG, Hilton, Marriott, Delta, AA, United
Posts: 16
As usual I procrastinated on using my travel credits. I've been doing Southwest for the last couple of years, and saw this travel cash was an option now. So I bought SW with my Platinum and Gold cards a couple days ago, and I chatted with Amex and they changed my Aspire to United. Waited a day...but then I forgot to make the purchase today! Remembered just now and got the same "offer has ended" message. Really hope they bring it back up today but seems unlikely this late in the day. I might actually fly somewhere this year too...should have just stuck with Southwest.
Dec 31, 2021, 2:51 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,411
I procrastinated too and it appears that I will leave $200 on the table of Amex, since UA decided to do some site maintenance on the last day of the year.
I will behave with more alacrity next year
I will behave with more alacrity next year
Dec 31, 2021, 3:18 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 354
the WN method still works well if you can change your chosen airline accordingly
Dec 31, 2021, 4:38 pm
#22
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,642
I used to try to be "nice" about this and use the credit for its purpose (according to how Amex defines it) and then try to fill in with gift registry/gift card/travel bank purchases at the end of the year if I was short. But ever since UA suddenly discontinued the gift registry without warning, I just try to use up the entire credit in the first week of January. It's not worth risking it, and I will definitely be able to use any TB purchases over the course of the year because I fly UA enough.
Dec 31, 2021, 5:43 pm
#23
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Bergen County NJ
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic 1, Amtrak Select, Marriott Plat , AMEX Plat (noted for club access reference)
Posts: 774
Just tried, as I normally use my AMEX credits but this year with lack of travel still have $110 to use. Got the same message "This offer has ended". Maybe I'll buy a United Club pass or 2 even though you can pick them up on eBay for like $20 but better than nothing.
Dec 31, 2021, 6:25 pm
#24
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AS,AA,JB, HH Gold, Starriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Explorist, Global Entry
Posts: 1,929
Dec 31, 2021, 6:51 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 240
- I bought $200 TB via Biz Plat Dec 2021, andif I did another $200 Dec 2022.... does that second purchase "restart" my 18 month clock for the whole "bank" of $400?/QUOTE]
In the United app > My Wallet > TravelBank Cash, you'll see your Cash Balance and 5 yr expiration date.
In the United app > My Wallet > TravelBank Cash, you'll see your Cash Balance and 5 yr expiration date.
Jan 1, 2022, 1:44 am
#26
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 20
TB Dead again
I guess this is dead again, hopefully it's just maintanence but it would suck to lose TB since WN travelfunds only lasts a year versus 5 years on TB.
Jan 1, 2022, 1:53 am
#27
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 38
Friend did call United. They told it is suspended for now (and not maintenance). I hope the suspension is temporary.
Jan 1, 2022, 2:00 am
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,882
Airline fee $250/$200 reimbursement reports: UA only (2022)
It's the start of a new year, and it's time for a new thread. I am looking forward to more discussion about UA reimbursements in 2022!
Jan 1, 2022, 6:52 am
#29
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Marriott Titanium and LTP, Hilton Gold, United Silver
Posts: 786
They did this last year, too. Let's just se how things proceed
