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)
#466
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,973
You can do it as soon as you register and check your email for the confirmation that you selected United. Have done it that way many times. However, if you feel more comfortable waiting the 24 hours and then purchasing then there's no harm in doing that.
#468
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Gold, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .59 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,876
I have read this thread and its predecessors for years. Based on the data points (DP) presented, I would estimate there is a 95% chance of the AmEx credit posting correctly if TravelBank funds are purchased immediately after selecting UA as one's airline with AmEx -- or even shortly before selection -- as opposed to a 99.9% likelihood if waiting 24 hours.
Each of us have our own personal levels of risk tolerance, as well as individual time sensitivity in buying a ticket with those TravelBank funds.
Each of us have our own personal levels of risk tolerance, as well as individual time sensitivity in buying a ticket with those TravelBank funds.
#470
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (non-BIS), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,571
(* Murphy's law is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as: "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." In some formulations, it is extended to "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time.")
(** Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on AmExs part.)
#472
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,978
That didn't use to happen as much pre-Covid, because pre-Covid business fares were all that existed in the last two weeks or so.
#473
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 49
HH Aspire:
June 25: card approved, UA selected, $250 TB purchase after receiving email confirmation
June 27: charge posted as June 25
July 1: needle moved
July 2: credit posted
June 25: card approved, UA selected, $250 TB purchase after receiving email confirmation
June 27: charge posted as June 25
July 1: needle moved
July 2: credit posted
#474
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15,180
So, interesting. Booked two separate OW award tickets. Canada-US (return leg) charged on June 25 for $62.60 in fees. US-Canada charged on June 26, and was $5.60 in fees.
Couple of days later, had to cancel. Refunds dated June 28.
Today, noticed a credit for the $5.60 charge - so apparently this triggered the airline fee reimbursement. Surprised because theoretically, not eligible. Also, had already received a refund, two days prior to the credit posting. Also, the $62 charge was not credited, nor showing on my dashboard as used, so I guess that [correctly] didn't get credited.
So, I guess, should I expect the $5.60 airline 'fee' reimbursement to be clawed back, since it was refunded, or will it probably stick?
Also, there's something interesting about the credit...I remember also getting the airline fee credit a year or two ago for tickets purchased on the card, but using a bunch of travel credit that brought the price down. Think those reimbursements were <$50, maybe around $30. There was a couple. So weird that actual ticket purchases are getting reimbursed.
Couple of days later, had to cancel. Refunds dated June 28.
Today, noticed a credit for the $5.60 charge - so apparently this triggered the airline fee reimbursement. Surprised because theoretically, not eligible. Also, had already received a refund, two days prior to the credit posting. Also, the $62 charge was not credited, nor showing on my dashboard as used, so I guess that [correctly] didn't get credited.
So, I guess, should I expect the $5.60 airline 'fee' reimbursement to be clawed back, since it was refunded, or will it probably stick?
Also, there's something interesting about the credit...I remember also getting the airline fee credit a year or two ago for tickets purchased on the card, but using a bunch of travel credit that brought the price down. Think those reimbursements were <$50, maybe around $30. There was a couple. So weird that actual ticket purchases are getting reimbursed.
#476
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: LAX, SNA
Programs: B6 M4, AA Plat Pro, WoH Globalist, IHG Diamond Amb, MB Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 1,655
DP
2x $100 UA TravelBank - 07/03
Pending as UNITED ELECTRONIC TICKETNG
Pending as UNITED ELECTRONIC TICKETNG
#477
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Boston, MA (BOS)
Programs: AA PLT Pro 2MM, DL Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Ambassador + LT Plat, COFC Venture X, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 5,588
Purchased $100 UA travel bank on 5/26/23
$100 credit posted on 6/6/23
$100 credit posted on 6/6/23
#478
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP Gold, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 33,366
So, interesting. Booked two separate OW award tickets. Canada-US (return leg) charged on June 25 for $62.60 in fees. US-Canada charged on June 26, and was $5.60 in fees.
Couple of days later, had to cancel. Refunds dated June 28.
Today, noticed a credit for the $5.60 charge - so apparently this triggered the airline fee reimbursement. Surprised because theoretically, not eligible. Also, had already received a refund, two days prior to the credit posting. Also, the $62 charge was not credited, nor showing on my dashboard as used, so I guess that [correctly] didn't get credited.
So, I guess, should I expect the $5.60 airline 'fee' reimbursement to be clawed back, since it was refunded, or will it probably stick?
Also, there's something interesting about the credit...I remember also getting the airline fee credit a year or two ago for tickets purchased on the card, but using a bunch of travel credit that brought the price down. Think those reimbursements were <$50, maybe around $30. There was a couple. So weird that actual ticket purchases are getting reimbursed.
Couple of days later, had to cancel. Refunds dated June 28.
Today, noticed a credit for the $5.60 charge - so apparently this triggered the airline fee reimbursement. Surprised because theoretically, not eligible. Also, had already received a refund, two days prior to the credit posting. Also, the $62 charge was not credited, nor showing on my dashboard as used, so I guess that [correctly] didn't get credited.
So, I guess, should I expect the $5.60 airline 'fee' reimbursement to be clawed back, since it was refunded, or will it probably stick?
Also, there's something interesting about the credit...I remember also getting the airline fee credit a year or two ago for tickets purchased on the card, but using a bunch of travel credit that brought the price down. Think those reimbursements were <$50, maybe around $30. There was a couple. So weird that actual ticket purchases are getting reimbursed.
#479
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15,180
I suspect that somehow, the system is considering amounts under a certain threshold, even from electronic ticketing, as 'fees', given this has happened, as I mentioned upthread, in previous years when I had low amounts left to pay for tickets after using ETCs. Like I said, I think as much as ~$30.00.
The other interesting part here is that I had already received a refund for the original charge, also, as I had to cancel. So wondering if the credit will be clawed back at some point.
Curious about this, as I have not heard of it. What 'tax only' charges did Amex used to give credit for?
#480
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (non-BIS), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,571
Please, thank you for the datapoint. I know very well how difficult it is sometimes to wait when I’m eager to post here , but (it would be a more helpful datapoint if you were to) let us know if and when the credit posts.