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)
Jul 31, 2023, 10:04 am
#496
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold,HH Gold
Posts: 2,751
Used for United Club
I used the personal Plat card to pay for annual United Club access and received $200 credit within a week. That was nice.
Jul 31, 2023, 3:20 pm
#497
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: 3,337
Good to read, thank you for posting, hopefully the first of many similar posts (and a return to more immediate gratification). 3-4 days was the typical interval between purchase and credit until a year or 2 or 3 ago when it became 6-8 days.
Aug 1, 2023, 8:31 am
#498
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 1
I don't know if you were able to get an answer but I would love to know if the Amex incidental fee credit applies to going from Economy to Economy Plus. It looks like a seat selection fee on the website while Premium Plus is another cabin (and may not be covered). I'd appreciate it if you knew! Thanks!
Aug 1, 2023, 3:32 pm
#499
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 99
Paid some bag fees at YVR (Vancouver, Canada) and the pending charge shows as "UNITED E T CANADA". Should be no problem w/ Amex Plat airline credit, correct? Thanks!
Aug 4, 2023, 3:28 pm
#500
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 40
I've been getting "Enter Valid Credit Card" when I try to use my dad's Amex Biz Plat for TB purchase. Anyone else experience this?
Aug 6, 2023, 6:18 am
#502
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 29
August data point
Changed selected airline via chat 5 Aug. Confirmed airline on app = United on 6 Aug. Went to website listed in intro in iPhone Safari and purchased 2 x $100 Travel Bank credits using saved card. Charges from “United Electronic Ticketing” show as Pending.
Will update if/when credit posts.
Will update if/when credit posts.
Aug 11, 2023, 8:06 pm
#504
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Rockies
Programs: UA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy occasionally Bonvoyed Mostly
Posts: 428
Here's a DP for the Aspire that's a bit weird
Purchased $50 TB beginning of August and still no credit
Purchased 2x$100 TB a few days after the first purchase, and both credited.
Has anyone had $50 TB not getting credited ?
Purchased $50 TB beginning of August and still no credit
Purchased 2x$100 TB a few days after the first purchase, and both credited.
Has anyone had $50 TB not getting credited ?
Aug 11, 2023, 8:21 pm
#505
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
TD
Last edited by Traveler Dave; Aug 11, 2023 at 10:14 pm
Aug 12, 2023, 4:04 pm
#506
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 29
Update - credit took 5 Calendar days
Changed selected airline via chat 5 Aug. Confirmed airline on app = United on 6 Aug. Went to website listed in intro in iPhone Safari and purchased 2 x $100 Travel Bank credits using saved card. Charges from “United Electronic Ticketing” show as Pending.
Will update if/when credit posts.
Will update if/when credit posts.
Aug 12, 2023, 6:58 pm
#507
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,939
Some people have had problems getting credit when they made the purchase too soon after changing the airline to United.
Aug 15, 2023, 4:52 pm
#508
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Rockies
Programs: UA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy occasionally Bonvoyed Mostly
Posts: 428
How long was $50 TB purchase after you changed the airline for the "incidental credit" to United? If too soon, that might the problem, rather than the $50 amount.
Some people have had problems getting credit when they made the purchase too soon after changing the airline to United.
Some people have had problems getting credit when they made the purchase too soon after changing the airline to United.
Now i'm contemplating if I should reach out to AmEx to get the credit manually and risk drawing their attention or just "bite the bullet" and use the 50 for other expenses.
Aug 15, 2023, 5:24 pm
#509
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,977
That's only about two weeks? When the automated system misses a transaction on the first pass, it does not keep looking at the same date. At some point a cleanup batch will look at that date again, and it may be reimbursed without any action on your part. I would let it go for now.
Aug 20, 2023, 11:15 am
#510
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Rockies
Programs: UA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy occasionally Bonvoyed Mostly
Posts: 428
That's only about two weeks? When the automated system misses a transaction on the first pass, it does not keep looking at the same date. At some point a cleanup batch will look at that date again, and it may be reimbursed without any action on your part. I would let it go for now.