Jan 1, 2023, 12:30 pm
Last edit by: friedablass
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READING PRIOR TO POSTING REGARDING UA TB:
Your question is probably answered in this Wikipost
Reminder: you must enroll and select UA as your airline; it is generally viewed as prudent to wait a day before making a reimbursable purchase. It usually takes 5-10 to be reimbursed.
Travel Bank: There's a separate thread at this link for general discussion of Travel Bank, including important limitations on its use. As of Jan 3, 2022, and with ongoing success in 2023 as reported below, Travel Bank posts as a Special Service Ticket reimbursed by Amex (but unofficially), or United Electronic Ticketing or United Airlines Houston. Purchase here: https://www.united.com/en/US/account/travelbank 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.
Gift Cards: United does not sell gift cards.
MileagePlus X App: As of December 2016 American Express no longer reimburses MPX transactions.
READ BELOW for OTHER 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 .
(2022 discussion of UA available at this link.)
Metadiscussion: WHEN to report missing airline fee reimbursements?
Your question is probably answered in this Wikipost
Reminder: you must enroll and select UA as your airline; it is generally viewed as prudent to wait a day before making a reimbursable purchase. It usually takes 5-10 to be reimbursed.
Travel Bank: There's a separate thread at this link for general discussion of Travel Bank, including important limitations on its use. As of Jan 3, 2022, and with ongoing success in 2023 as reported below, Travel Bank posts as a Special Service Ticket reimbursed by Amex (but unofficially), or United Electronic Ticketing or United Airlines Houston. Purchase here: https://www.united.com/en/US/account/travelbank 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.
Gift Cards: United does not sell gift cards.
MileagePlus X App: As of December 2016 American Express no longer reimburses MPX transactions.
READ BELOW for OTHER 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 .
(2022 discussion of UA available at this link.)
Airline fee $250/$200 reimbursement reports: UA only (2023)
Jan 10, 2023, 1:17 pm
#182
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ATL
Posts: 52
International trip coming up booked through United but flying Turkish and Lufthansa. Will the credit be applied with baggage fees paid or because not actually flying United, they will not be reimbursed?
Jan 10, 2023, 5:05 pm
#183
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,351
No because you are going to pay for the baggage to Turkish/Lufthansa.
Jan 11, 2023, 12:05 am
#185
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: Delta Skymiles, United MileagePlus, JetBlue TrueBlue, Qatar Airways Privilege Club
Posts: 1
Between P2 and me, we have two personal Plats and a Biz Plat.
Selected airline was United from 2021. Didn't change or re-select.
1/10: Bought $100 x 6 across all three cards
Will update if credits post.
Selected airline was United from 2021. Didn't change or re-select.
1/10: Bought $100 x 6 across all three cards
Will update if credits post.
Jan 11, 2023, 8:38 am
#186
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 1
I've had issues in the past when making the purchase the same day as selecting the airline. Now I always wait until the next day to purchase and this seems to resolve the issue.
1/10/23 - Selected United as airline
1/11/23 - Purchased 2 x $100 plat
1/16/23 - Meter moved
1/17/23 - Credits posted dated 1/16
Will update when credit posts
1/10/23 - Selected United as airline
1/11/23 - Purchased 2 x $100 plat
1/16/23 - Meter moved
1/17/23 - Credits posted dated 1/16
Will update when credit posts
Last edited by jbish95; Jan 16, 2023 at 4:54 pm Reason: Updating dates
Jan 11, 2023, 8:43 am
#187
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,670
We have a solid 20-30 data points of credit posting at this point, so we do not need any more for buying, or even for posting. Only abnormal data points maybe of interest.
Jan 11, 2023, 9:02 am
#188
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,043
Regards
Jan 11, 2023, 9:15 am
#189
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 15
1/2/23 Charged 1x$250 Hilton Aspire
1/2/23 Charged 2x$100 Platinum
1/10/23 Credited $250
1/10/23 Credited $100
1/2/23 Charged 2x$100 Platinum
1/10/23 Credited $250
1/10/23 Credited $100
Jan 11, 2023, 9:46 am
#190
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SMF / SFO
Posts: 226
I wonder what's wrong for me. Meter has still not moved since my 2x $100 TB purchases on 1/1 (Personal Platinum). I also did another $50 TB purchase last night (1/10), so will see if there's any change.
My 2x $100 TB charge details are:
UNITED AIRLINES HOUSTON TXSpecial Service Ticket
Flight from CHICAGO O'HARE INT on January 1
CHICAGO O'HARE INTCHICAGO O'HARE INT
I checked last year's TB charges and they show exactly the same, and those credited quickly.
My 6-monthly order of Aesop hand wash on 1/1 from Saks has already credited.
My 2x $100 TB charge details are:
UNITED AIRLINES HOUSTON TXSpecial Service Ticket
Flight from CHICAGO O'HARE INT on January 1
CHICAGO O'HARE INTCHICAGO O'HARE INT
I checked last year's TB charges and they show exactly the same, and those credited quickly.
My 6-monthly order of Aesop hand wash on 1/1 from Saks has already credited.
Jan 11, 2023, 10:18 am
#191
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,959
I think this is a symptom of batch processing. Your transaction wasn't picked up on the first pass, the system does not keep looking at that date for eligible transactions, it's looking at more recent dates. Periodically they seem to run a different process which looks retrospectively for missed transactions. This is why they build a variable timeframe into the terms. In any event you need to wait two weeks from the transaction posting date before customer service will even look at it.
Jan 11, 2023, 12:05 pm
#192
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: D/FW
Programs: DL MM/Silver; UA 1K ; Hilton Gold; Marriott Titanium; Avis Pref+,Hertz PC
Posts: 585
Personal Platinum
Charged 2x $100 TB on 1/6/23
Both credited on 1/11/23
Charged 2x $100 TB on 1/6/23
Both credited on 1/11/23
Jan 11, 2023, 12:36 pm
#194
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
