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)
#481
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 3
New to AMEX Aspire and was nervous about trying the travel bank route but it worked!
- June 30: Charged $250 to card (as one single purchase) to fund United travel bank. Appeared on AMEX statement as “UNITED AIRLINES HOUSTON TX”
- Never saw “the needle move”
- July 6: $250 airline incidental credit appeared on statement
#482
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: 1,554
DP
07/03 2x $100 UA TravelBank
Pending as UNITED ELECTRONIC TICKETNG
07/10 2x $100 credit
Pending as UNITED ELECTRONIC TICKETNG
07/10 2x $100 credit
#483
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 4
06/12 - $50 TB
06/20 - $11 TB Credit
#484
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: All
Posts: 27
Data point on gifted TB
2x $100 TB gifted directly to a friend on 7/1/23. 2x $100 credited back 7/7/23.
#485
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 8
DP
7/05 bought a $300 premium plus upgrade
7/11 received $75 (all i had left) fee reimbursement
7/11 received $75 (all i had left) fee reimbursement
#486
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: MIA, FLL
Posts: 15
Travel Bank Data Point
07/06 - 2 x $100 TB purchased (charged as "UNITED AIRLINES HOUSTON TX")
07/12 - 2 x $100 credits posted
07/12 - 2 x $100 credits posted
#487
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,489
7/7 New Platinum Biz card with UA newly selected, purchased 2 x $100 TB
7/13 meter moved to show $200 credit used
7/14 2 x $100 credit posted with date of 7/13
7/13 meter moved to show $200 credit used
7/14 2 x $100 credit posted with date of 7/13
#488
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: brooklyn usa
Posts: 18
Is travelbank locked again? All I see is 'Verifying your offer'
#489
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 6
DP
07/11 - $100 TB
07/16 - Reimbursed
07/19 - $100 TB
07/24 - Reimbursed
07/16 - Reimbursed
07/19 - $100 TB
07/24 - Reimbursed
#490
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Signatures.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 49,055
#493
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: brooklyn usa
Posts: 18
From there, it just has a spinning star with 'verifying your offer' written above the spinning star. Some say the star is still spinning today, because it is. It never stops spinning till I close the page.
#494
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA, but I play the field
Posts: 1,451
#495
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,196
7/23 Purchased $250 in Travelbank funds with Hilton Aspire card
7/27 Credit posted
7/27 Credit posted