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)
#61
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 53
Yes, I just did it this morning and seeing the same thing. I recall seeing the exact same verbiage last year also.
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,058
I haven’t done this recently and wanted to know for the purchases to properly trigger reimbursements, do we have to do this in $100 or less per transaction? Or are people experimenting with buying $200-$250 per transaction? I have both Aspire and personal (Charles Schwab) Platinum cards.
I think the prevailing view - based on experience across multiple airlines as well as recent UA experience - is that charges of $100 or less would be viewed by the Amex automated system as "incidentals" that are eligible for reimbursement. Higher amounts may be viewed as "airfare charges" that are ineligible.
Honestly what is the argument for doing a single large charge?
Honestly what is the argument for doing a single large charge?
Other airlines, such as Southwest (WN), without such a system, have people purchasing tickets around $100 or less, to have them presumably characterized as "incidentals".
That is most assuredly not the case with UA and AmEx. It would be my Honor to get an Aspire card.
#63
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 24
I selected UA as airline today on Amex Hilton Aspire but missed the part of waiting a day on wiki page. I already made a $100 Travel bank purchase after 10 mins of selecting UA. what happens now ? will I get reimbursed ?
#65
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,351
There are even reports of people making purchases and then realizing they didn't select an airline so they quickly selected UA and they still got the credit. So there aren't any set rules. I would say to wait a week (maybe 2) and see what happens.
#66
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 24
Wait and see. There are conflicting reports on this. I personally have gotten the credits when TB was purchased the same day as selecting UA - this was as recent as the end of this December and I posted my data point in the 2022 thread. Others have not gotten the credit for same day purchases, so as an extra precaution it's suggested to wait.
There are even reports of people making purchases and then realizing they didn't select an airline so they quickly selected UA and they still got the credit. So there aren't any set rules. I would say to wait a week (maybe 2) and see what happens.
There are even reports of people making purchases and then realizing they didn't select an airline so they quickly selected UA and they still got the credit. So there aren't any set rules. I would say to wait a week (maybe 2) and see what happens.
#67
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 7
1/4 (Wed) - Purchased $250 TB Cash on Aspire
1/4 (Wed) - Purchased $100 TB Cash on Platinum
1/4 (Wed) - Purchased $100 TB Cash on Platinum
Will report with updates.
1/4 (Wed) - Purchased $100 TB Cash on Platinum
1/4 (Wed) - Purchased $100 TB Cash on Platinum
Will report with updates.
#68
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
Hopefully you’ll be reimbursed. However please do not call Amex or inquire regarding the same.
#70
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,145
1/4 2x$100 on Plat. Will report back.
#71
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 10
3rd year, hopefully goes as smoothly as years 1 and 2:
2x Platinum (2x$200)
2x Hilton Aspire (2x$250)
1x Business Platinum ($200)
UPDATE:
Charged: 1/4/2023
Counter: 1/9/2023
Credited: 1/10/2023
2x Platinum (2x$200)
2x Hilton Aspire (2x$250)
1x Business Platinum ($200)
UPDATE:
Charged: 1/4/2023
Counter: 1/9/2023
Credited: 1/10/2023
Last edited by rotorhead7700; Jan 10, 2023 at 11:35 am
#72
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,351
I personally think everyone should wait to post their data point when the credits (hopefully) come in. We all know that the ability to purchase UA TB is alive and well, no confirmation needed for that. Now we need to see if the credits will come through as they did in past years.
#73
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 2
Premier Access
Any idea if purchasing premier access would trigger the credit?
#74
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