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)
#873
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: United 1P
Posts: 688
A naive question, can I use the travel bank balance to purchase a ticket for my family members or friends? Thanks!
#875
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: United 1P
Posts: 688
From the wikipost,
Can I use the Travel Bank funds to purchase a ticket to someone else?
Yes but you have to be the purchaser
#876
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 1
If you mean paying to select seats or a bad yes that is covered. If you're changing the ticket to standard economy it is less likely to work.
#877
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,351
Another DP for UA travel bank:
Purchased 2 x $100 on biz plat 8/29, reimbursement of 2 x $100 posted 9/1.
#878
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: IAH or SIN
Posts: 8
Added DP.
$100 United Bank purchase on 9/4 (Platinum).
Credit posted today - Sept 9
$100 United Bank purchase on 9/4 (Platinum).
Credit posted today - Sept 9
#879
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 9
Thanks everyone. I just wanted to add that I signed up for Amex Aspire. Had a $250 incidental credit and saw this.
Went ahead and bought the $100 Travel Cash.
I also actually had a real incidental charge ($8.99).
They both show up as "United Electronic Ticketing"
and they were both credited in 3 days.
Thank you everyone!
Went ahead and bought the $100 Travel Cash.
I also actually had a real incidental charge ($8.99).
They both show up as "United Electronic Ticketing"
and they were both credited in 3 days.
Thank you everyone!
#880
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: ORD
Programs: American Airlines EXP, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 410
Additional data points -
Amex Platinum - 2 x $100 travel bank purchases, posted 9/17, credited 9/20
Amex Business Platinum - 2 x $100 travel bank purchases, posted 9/7, credited 9/10
Amex Platinum - 2 x $100 travel bank purchases, posted 9/17, credited 9/20
Amex Business Platinum - 2 x $100 travel bank purchases, posted 9/7, credited 9/10
#881
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6
Hilton Aspire
Aug 19 - $250 Travel Bank purchase
Aug 21 - $250 Credit Received
Aug 19 - $250 Travel Bank purchase
Aug 21 - $250 Credit Received
#882
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,299
“It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is post’ is.” Part of the questions about UA TB credits probably has to do with how AmEx states the dates of Recent Transactions which for AMEX AIRLINE FEE REIMBURSEMENT is 2 days earlier than (what most of us would consider) the actual posting date. My most recent Biz Plat credits took 3 days although I couldn’t see them for 5 days.
Example/Datapoint:
Sep 20 Credit AMEX AIRLINE FEE REIMBURSEMENT -$100.00 (posted online 9/22/22)
Sep 20 Credit AMEX AIRLINE FEE REIMBURSEMENT -$100.00 (posted online 9/22/22)
Sep 17 UNITED AIRLINES HOUSTON TX $100.00
Sep 17 UNITED AIRLINES HOUSTON TX $100.00
Example/Datapoint:
Sep 20 Credit AMEX AIRLINE FEE REIMBURSEMENT -$100.00 (posted online 9/22/22)
Sep 20 Credit AMEX AIRLINE FEE REIMBURSEMENT -$100.00 (posted online 9/22/22)
Sep 17 UNITED AIRLINES HOUSTON TX $100.00
Sep 17 UNITED AIRLINES HOUSTON TX $100.00
Last edited by Dr Jabadski; Sep 25, 2022 at 7:48 am Reason: typo correction
#883
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,351
Another successful DP on Amex Biz Plat.
2 x $100 charged on 9/25
2 x $100 reimbursed 9/28
2 x $100 charged on 9/25
2 x $100 reimbursed 9/28
#884
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Toronto
Programs: Marriott Titanium (Lifetime)
Posts: 18
Another successful DP on MS Amex Plat: