UA "TravelBank" Q&A , with new option to deposit funds

Jun 14, 22, 9:04 am - Wikipost

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The United Travel Bank has been around for many years. UA had a program where purchasing a ticket on united.com would receive a $5 Travel Bank bonus. This was called united.com Club and had an annual $25 subscription fee. This ended in early 2020. But funds are still accessible for 18 months after earning.
Also at one time the Travel Bank had a Gift Registry pre-2018.
For more on those prior Travel Bank Programs, see "TravelBank"- United.com Club & Gift Registry Q&A - No new/renewals as of 23 Apr 2019

Then for a period of time, Chase / UA offered a 1.5% cash-back Travel Bank credit card where the cash-back went into the Travel Bank, that ended Sept 2020
Chase United TravelBank Card becoming non-cashback Chase MP Gateway Card 21 Sept 2020

*NEW* In July 2020, the Travel Bank was recasted as a cash pre-funding option that might have a short term bonus offering -- cash or miles or both.
Additionally it might be used for bank credit card travel reimbursement funds (no longer for some --such as AMEX )

TravelBank Terms and Conditions

What can I use Travel Bank funds for?
1. Only for an all UA operated itineraries
2. *NEW* ~~Award fees & taxes and~~ subscriptions appears eligible for use of TravelBank funds
3. Not for in-flight purchases, post-purchase E+ access or upgrades, ....

There have been reports that the Travel Bank option may not appear if doing Advance Flight Searches with options selected such as upgrade availability, ...
Purchases as need to be in USD $ and point of sale USA
For those with "Business Travel" option, when your account is linked to a UA corporate account, TravelBank may not be available. It does seems to be available for "Break from Business" usage

It may sometimes still fail to show and you may need to use an phone/twitter/FB/... agent
Sometime the app is more reliable

Do Travel Bank funds expire?
They could per T&Cs
- Older methods for funding -- united.com, travel bank card cash back .... have 18 month expiration from last deposit
- New cash funds have a 5 years expiration from deposit
- Bonus from cash deposit -- depends on promo T&Cs but recent terms have been 4 months
- Each $1 TravelBank Cash issued as Chase purchase bonus is valid through June 30, 2022
- CLEAR signup $100 TravelBank credits will be valid for 9 months (late Aug/early Sept 2021) after the credit is deposited into member’s accounts.

Where can I see my Travel Bank balance / expiration?
Look in your My Account section and click on Details. https://www.united.com/en/US/account/travelbank

Funds have to be used / trip booked by expiration. Travel can be after expiration

Where can I add funds?
https://www.united.com/offers/travelcash

Quote:

Members can choose from six purchase amount options and once purchased the value remains valid for five years from the date it is deposited in your TravelBank account. Purchases are not refundable and are limited to $5,000 per day per MileagePlus account. This purchase is also subject to all of the TravelBank terms and conditions.

Do I get PQP credit for flight purchases with Travel Bank funds?
Yes, UA treats the Travel Bank funds just like a cash purchase

What if I refund a ticket purchased with Travel Bank funds?
With a refund, the funds go back to original form of purchase, so the Travel Bank portion of the funds go back to the Travel Bank. (insufficient data to know if that is with the original expiration date or a new date). More recent reports suggest ETCs may be used unless this is an cancellation within 24 hours of purchase.

Can you use Travel Bank funds in conjunction with a Credit Card and/or ETCs?
Yes, you can select to pay in whole or in part with Travel Bank funds and then the remainder, if any, with the other forms of payment. There have been mixed reports about ETCs -- YMMV

Can you "deposit" your ETCs (or FFCs) into your Travel Bank?
No

Can I use the Travel Bank funds to purchase a ticket to someone else?
Yes but you have to be the purchaser

Can I transfer Travel Bank funds to someone else?
No

Can I cash out my Travel Bank funds?
No

What merchant category is Travel Bank?
It's treated as an airline purchase. American Express posts it as a ticketing fee while pending and then changes to just United Airlines.

Why does Travel Bank state "This offer has ended?"
This message appears during website maintenance.

Does Travel Bank count as a reimbursable incidental with American Express?
This topic is discussed in a separate thread. Do not contact Amex.

Does Travel Bank count as a reimbursable incidental for other credit cards? Post your experiences
Yes, for BoA cards

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Dec 4, 20, 12:16 pm

#76

WineCountryUA

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Filler03

How sure are you that TB funds can be used for partner flights? Thought the T&Cs said no.

You are correct, not sure what I was thinking

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeyefan

But again I ask, what can TBfunds be used for. Just ticketing? C+? Upgrades? Lounge passes? Etc? No one knows.

It's an payment option at online purchase ticketing, not aware of any other use

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Dec 4, 20, 9:25 pm

#77

Hawkeyefan

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Thx.....if you aren't booking airfare anytime soon but want to do some add ons to already purchased tix, you would be out of luck with TB funds.

Dec 5, 20, 9:44 am

#78

cfischer

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeyefan

Thx.....if you aren't booking airfare anytime soon but want to do some add ons to already purchased tix, you would be out of luck with TB funds.

that's only true for the bonus amount and you can buy a ticket far into the future ... and no change fees ... so unless you are worried with money being tied-up, perhaps not that bad? Still thinking about whether to purchase another $1k.

Dec 5, 20, 11:30 am

#79

Hawkeyefan

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I went for $250 which gets the 10% bonus. Trial run.

Dec 5, 20, 12:20 pm

#80

MBS MillionMiler

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Aargh! Not a huge deal, but I had $48 left on my Plat Amex airline reimbursement. I was hoping for a Black Friday-ish deal from UA. Waited until Tuesday, saw no deals and did my last $50.

It’s only $5...

Dec 5, 20, 5:05 pm

#81

Hawkeyefan

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Quote:

Originally Posted by MBS MillionMiler

Better than a sharp stick in the eye...

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Dec 6, 20, 10:21 am

#82

Kacee

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This is basically 10% off all UA operated flights. I've exhausted my AMEX credits and am continuing to stock up.

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Dec 6, 20, 12:58 pm

#83

Flying Machine

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

This is basically 10% off all UA operated flights. I've exhausted my AMEX credits and am continuing to stock up.

In a few weeks you’ll be able to use your credit once again with Amex. I’m looking forward to doing the same. Hopefully they’ll have a 10% additional offer in the first week of the new year. When I receive the email from my prior 10% additional it seems that there was a short fuse on the usage I have to look for that does anyone recall how good the additional offer is good for?

Dec 6, 20, 3:56 pm

#84

cfischer

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying Machine

the old offer was different. It was bonus will deposit later and then is valid for 4 months. Now it seems the bonus is added right away and valid for 4 months as well. If they have another offer in January is hard to tell, but I will probably also wait w/ Amex-related purchases.

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Dec 7, 20, 1:31 pm

#85

UA Fan

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Can one use the TB funds for others? Also is it possible to make 3 transactions of $250 each in one day?

Dec 7, 20, 3:58 pm

#86

cfischer

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Quote:

Originally Posted by UA Fan

Can one use the TB funds for others? Also is it possible to make 3 transactions of $250 each in one day?

yes, you can buy ticket for others. You can use this promo once per MP account.

Dec 7, 20, 4:28 pm

#87

gpicur

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Travel Bank Web Address Please

OH Wise United Flyertalkers,

Can someone please direct me to the URL Address where I can view my Travel Bank Activity ?

I can see my balance at My Account, what I am trying to see if there is a place that lists my deposits and ticket purchase activity.

Thanks

Dec 7, 20, 6:02 pm

#88

WineCountryUA

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Quote:

Originally Posted by gpicur

On United.com, when viewing your account and there you can see your balance. Direct below the balance it has "View Details"

Dec 7, 20, 8:28 pm

#89

Brian Chen

Join Date: Feb 2015

Location: New York

Posts: 229

How do I use my travelbank cash? I see no option and when I check out it doesn't say anything about travelbank, help!

Dec 7, 20, 8:34 pm

#90

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Chen

How do I use my travelbank cash? I see no option and when I check out it doesn't say anything about travelbank, help!

It is a payment option, look for "Travel certificates and United® TravelBank cash"

Note it will only show for all UA operated itineraries -- just like ETCs

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