emcampbe

try applying for a new account, and see what happens?

seriously though, I still see it online as well. But I kind of hope not. I have the card, and so does my wife. We haven’t heard anything about this. i barely use mine anymore - was really nice to have to earn 1.5% on purchases when the spend counted toward the 25K PQD waiver you until last year (I used it for non-Select bonus categories to get a bigger reward while meeting the spend threshold). Also like the fact it gives a standard value vs. the miles earned on other cards. But honestly, not using it much anymore - it still gets the in-flight purchase discount (but then again, I think my Select does now to - not that I’m flying anywhere). But other than that, seems much better to use the 1.5% back Freedom Unlimited for any non-bonus categories on other cards (especially since the UR points can get an even better value when moves to my CSR account).

It might make sense though, as they seem to slowly but surely be killing the TravelBank. First they stopped allowing contributions from the registry, then they got rid of United.com Club ($5 back to TB for every ticket bought on UAs website), and now maybe this. Not sure if this is exactly correct, but the Card may actually be the only current way to get funds in the TravelBank, and I doubt the card was very popular, so I speculate (with no knowledge - inside or otherwise), that Ua May just be dumping the TravelBank itself.

notquiteaff

Bummer, I was hoping to downgrade my ancient Select card to this TravelBank card next month. Hopefully they will keep the no-AF MileagePlus card around as an option.

alchemista

I don't want to really apply for a new account. I did try clicking apply on the website and it seems to be fine, but I'm not sure what will happen. It's crazy that they were going to send me a TravelBank card and then I received a MileagePlus card. Another interesting thing the CSR said though was that the AF was $60 for what they sent me, not $95. If I get time I'll call again and see if I get the same info again.

gaobest

I still do not comprehend how to redeem TravelBank. Is it cash back like the Chase amazon card? Or can I use it only for UAL flights?

also what becomes of this card if TravelBank is closed down?

finally, is there logic in having Explorer Card when we are Sheltering? I had it mainly for the Award redemption since I could book any Standard Award only if I have the Explorer card (eg I needed 3 Sfo/rdu flights and could only get all 3 by having Explorer).
I already rarely travel on United and I buy discounted F, so I don’t need a free checked bag like before. So is this card essential for casual UAL General members?

WineCountryUA

Much of this is covered in "TravelBank"- United.com Club & Gift Registry Q&A - No new/renewals as of 23 Apr 2019
Use of TravelBank Cash
At purchase, select "United payment types -- Certificates and United® TravelBank cash"


unitedclub.com and the gift registry were closed - TravelBank and TravelBank Card are still working (the cc is still accepting applications -- earlier report it may be soon closed to new applications)
"TravelBank"- United.com Club & Gift Registry Q&A - No new/renewals as of 23 Apr 2019

probably best for a different thread.

Free card, no forex, 1.5%/2% cashback, 25% inflight purchase discount, ....
And in the past, a free way to keep miles from expiring

gaobest

With this free TravelBank card That I use monthly, will my mileage plus miles avoid expiration?
it’s hard to justify paying $95 on a card because the miles keep losing severe value.

WineCountryUA

Was useful in the past but now United announces "MileagePlus Miles Never Expire" (effective immediately 28 Aug 2019)

gaobest

I forgot about the miles not expiring. There really is A low point in earning miles per dollar because of the devaluation. It’s 75k one way Sfo/ORD in F. It once was only 50k.

fumje

Didn't see if you had a followup in your effort to get the TravelBank card, but Chase has now confirmed they are ending / converting all existing TravelBank cards in September.

emcampbe

when did they confirm this (I ask as a cardholder here, who has not gotten any notification - ditto for my wife)? I’m assuming we will be notified at some point? Any idea what they are being converted to (I suspect that we’ll probably just drop this card if it’s being converted to something else). If true, RIP.

that said, this card really lost most of its value, at least for us, with the deval and change from PQM/S/D to PQF/P. Up until then (and while not ‘advertised’), the spend on this card counted toward the PQD waiver, so we used it to hit the waiver with items that were not in bonus categories for our Select cards, so at least this gave us 1.5% back. With the intro of PQP, the spend doesn’t count toward any. Also appreciated a card that gives the rewards in $ for UA vs. miles. Also I don’t think this was advertised anywhere, but they apparently waived the United.com club annual fee (when that existed) with this card - I found out when I realized at some point that We didn’t get charged for it the last couple of years it existed.

That all said, in the COVID world, this card has even less value, as I’m not that interested in gaining rewards toward proprietary airline currency vs. actual cash.

elCheapoDeluxe

I got the notice in the mail today that I'll be converting to the "United Gateway Card". 1mi/$ on most spend, 2mi/$ on united, gas, local transit Eh. While travelbank funds were nice because they counted toward PQD, etc - I don't see myself using the new benefits. Really, this is just a way to park the account at no annual fee because it is my oldest credit account and I don't want to take a hit on my rating. My Chase Sapphire Reserve gives me a better ratio on United miles than this United card, so I will now use it for even less. Maybe to get a discount on in-flight purchases every now and then if I remember to bring it. Also getting rid of Price Protection on the new card and adding roadside dispatch & emergency assisance services - which is usually a pretty useless benefit.

WineCountryUA

What about forex? I have used the card when traveling and not so sure about the "safety" -- a card that I could cancel without disrupting my main card.

ryanmcv

I also received a notice in the mail today that my TravelBank card will be converted to the Gateway card in September. The benefits guide included in the mailer shows that the new card will NOT have foreign exchange fees.

WineCountryUA

OK. so it will still work as a safety card --- but I preferred cashback over miles -- got too many, low valued miles.

elCheapoDeluxe

I'm with you. It was nice to have some diversification for when miles don't make sense. I'm sure since the united.com club was discontinued they would just like to axe the travelbank code from the web site entirely. It is a shame they don't follow Alaska and establish a bank for cancelled ticket funds to be combined. I'm loving that since flying AS more.

My disappointment would be tempered if incorporate the one benefit of the "mileageplus" cards I miss since downgrading - the ability to clear cpu's on award tickets. Not holding my breath.