mkr

There is a thread about Travelbank you may find helpful:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ravelbank.html

Further, purchase on United or codeshare seems to be implied in other language on united.com

shdflyer

Can't see anywhere to apply the $100 in my Travelbank to a purchase. Called and reps don't have a clue, even web support folks I am talking to don't understand this feature!
Thanks!

northsideguy

You can apply your travel bank credit on the payment page. After you select your flight, you go to the traveler information screen. Then to seat selection page, and then to the payment page. Here you can go to the Redemption Options section and apply your travel credits or if you have an eletctronic voucher.

Hope this helps, safe travels!

shdflyer

After 45 minutes with web support trying to apply my Travelbank $ to a reservation, they finally figured out that the reason I cannot use it is because my reservation includes a codeshare. They figured out that Travelbank $ can only be used on itineraries that are UA metal all the way. I made some dummy domestic reservations with codeshares to test this and this appears to be true. Web support said they will be updating the website to indicate this limitation...

docbert

The website has the following on the TravelBank page :

"These funds can then be used to purchase travel to anywhere United or United Express flies"

Which I presume is their way or saying "no codeshares", but obviously there's plenty of flights that are codeshares that fly to places that United/UX does fly...

alexperi

This is correct, travelbank funds can only be used on UA metal. UA flight numbers codeshared on other metal will prevent the travelbank option from showing. Also found this out the hard way some months back... it's not very clear from the T&C.

sammyindc

Do you get $5 for codeshare reservation made on united.com? Had 3 flights on US Airways and did not get anything from them. I know travel bank can only be redeemed on UA metal but it doesn't specify if it can be earned on codeshare flights.

emcampbe

Not very clear? There is nowhere on travel bank T&Cs that says they can't be used on codeshares. But no, the option usually won't show up when booking.

When I was booking to BKK in August (for a December trip), with an NH segment as one of the TPACs - here's what I did. I held the ticket (using pay with cash - I think) and then kept calling. It took about 5 or 6 calls to web support and reservations, but they eventually ticketed it for me.

The first few calls, I got told they couldn't use it because of the codeshare. I told them that was unacceptable as the terms didn't mention this anywhere, and that certs you can't use on codeshares always specifically mention this.

Finally, got a reservations agent who agreed this was the case. She first spent about 45 minutes trying to manually add it, then took my info and was going to work on it for means call back. Within 2 hours, she called back saying it had been ticketed, and that the travel bank funds were still in the account, but would come out within 2 days (used a credit card to pay for the balance).

I pressed so much on this because we weren't talking about a few bucks, but about $1500 from a gift registry my wife and I set up so we could use it did our honeymoon. Not sure, really, what is so difficult about either putting no codeshares on the T&Cs, or allowing the use. I presume I got lucky with a great agent - and that this is very YMMV.

Interestingly enough, day before we left I booked a domestic trip involving US air segments on the UA site, and wanted to use a TCV to cover a portion. Didn't think I would be able to (said some codeshares were allowed) and surprisingly, had the option for gift cards, travel bank credit, etc. was able to successfully apply on the site, and seemed to go through. Titan email shortly after saying ticketing was taking longer than normal, but would confirm within 24. 24 hours later - another email saying they couldn't be used. Was able to ticket by calling and paying total on CC.

WineCountryUA

seems very clear, even if UA can not process it
united.club FAQS

LilAbner

I had a major schedule change (MR) with a mis-connect and asked res if I cancelled whether I would get my $30.00 "Travel Bank" funds put back. The agent had absolutely NO IDEA what I was talking about. Rather than educate her, I immediately went to "Plan B" and that was to book another r/t to the same destination & back (same booking code), a few months down the road, for an additional fee of $16.00.

I still don't know what happens to these funds if a trip is cancelled, and apparently neither do many res agents, as they don't have the foggiest idea what "Travel Bank" means!

lcnyc123

Yeah, a lot of the agents have no idea what it is.. even after I explain it to them and point them to the website link describing the program. Still, no clue. I had one rep at the GS line tell me I had to call Chase for a Travelbank issue. I told her Chase had nothing to do with it!

Anyway, I booked a nonrefundable ticket using Travelbank money once and then had to cancel within the 24 hour period for cancellations without penalty. It took a couple of days, but I got my travelbank money back automatically without any issues. Not sure if the same applies with tickets cancelled outside of the 24 hour window though... I think the Web desk handles issues with Travelbank, so you might try calling United and asking to be directed to the Web desk. That's what an agent told me once.

sjefenole

I've usually been pretty good about not relaxing until I have a ticket number, but for some reason I've been relaxing more and never had problems with United in this regard. Now searching for my record locator number yields nothing. I called them and they have no record of that number either.

They suggest booking and writing to customer service or calling 1-800 WE DONT CARE

I checked my travel bank and low and behold there it is:
DEBITS

Redemption:SFO To MSY
Travel Date:2013-02-02 16:38
Confirmation Number: XXXXXX
Traveler Names: XXX

Any ideas?
Of course now the ticket price is much higher...

docbert

Anyone know what happens to your existing credit when your membership expires? Obviously no membership means no new money hitting your balance, but does the balance remain to spend after the membership expires, or does it zero out on expiry? How about tickets that were bought whilst a member, but flow after membership expires?

Best I can work out from the website, the credit should remain (as that's in TravelBank, which doesn't require any membership fees), but there's no real mention of the book before/flown afterwards case...

aacharya

Are you sure it says travel date of February 2nd, not redemption date?

I imagine the confirmation never ticketed which is very odd.

hobo13

I've had instances where using TravelBank funds in combination with a 1016 e-cert causes a rez not to ticket. I was actually told by Premier Services that you cannot combine TravelBank funds with an ecert, which is just ridiculous considering the website allows you to do just that.

More lousy IT from the world's leading airline.