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Update: If you have getting an error trying to add funds to your United TravelBank, try adding your credit card to your United Wallet and then add funds from the card to your TravelBank.
Originally posted on 1/3:
There are 3 AMEX cards that give a credit to use for incidental fees on the airline of your choice.
- The AMEX Business Platinum Card offers a $200 annual airline fee credit. Read more about the card here.
- The AMEX Platinum Card offers a $200 annual airline fee credit. Read more about the card here.
- The AMEX Hilton Aspire Card offers a $250 annual airline fee credit. Read more about the card here.
While Chase Sapphire Reserve allows you to use travel credit for anything travel related, AMEX is far more restrictive.
You need to register with a specific airline before spending. After you register for an airline you can officially only change your airline in January. However I have had success changing the airline by chatting with AMEX online.
You can choose to register for the following airlines:
- Alaska
- American
- Delta
- Frontier
- Hawaiian
- JetBlue
- Southwest
- Spirit
- United
Note that if you have a Business Platinum card, the airline you choose will also be the airline that will give you 35% of your points back when redeeming for coach travel. You may want to hold off on spending the $200 until the end of the year if you want to be able to change the airline more easily during the year, though I have never been denied an airline change by chatting with AMEX online. You also get back 35% of your points on all airlines in business and first class redemptions without having to register for an airline.
- The United TravelBank is back after taking a short hiatus that burned some extreme procrastinators. These funds are valid to book United flights for anyone for 5 years from the date of purchase. I made a $100 purchase in 2022 and was reimbursed for the purchase.
- With this option you’ll have to weigh whether to do this earlier in the year, when you know it’s available and working or whether to wait to see if you’ll have actual airline fees to pay this year. It can also be worth waiting for a TravelBank funding promotion or to get a longer expiration date on the funds. Then again the option isn’t officially covered as an airline fee, so it can stop working at any time. In 2021 it stopped working for a couple of months, before becoming eligible again.
- TravelBank funds can be used to book travel on United.com for anyone.
- JetBlue tickets under around $99 have long worked for credit. Last year I registered a card for JetBlue and bought a ticket from JFK to Los Angeles for $98.40. It was reimbursed with the airline fee credit in just 2 days:
After purchasing a flight, it is easy to cancel it, even in basic economy, and convert it into JetBlue Travel Bank funds. With JetBlue, those funds are valid for 1 year from the date of redeposit and funds can be used for anyone. In basic economy you’ll have to cancel within 24 hours of the purchase and you’ll need to have purchased the flight for more than 7 days from now. For other tickets, you can cancel and convert into Travel Bank funds at any time before departure for free.
I tested that again during the JetBlue free change bonanza and got reimbursed for the flights.
- Southwest tickets under $109 are also typically reimbursed. You can use those funds for a year, though funds can only be used by the passenger.
These are the charges that have been reported to count for airline fee credit:
- Airline tickets under around $99 are sometimes reimbursed. JetBlue and Southwest should work best. This is not officially covered as an airline fee.
- Delta tickets purchased with partial payment on your credit card and partial payment on an airline voucher or gift card are typically reimbursed. This is not officially covered as an airline fee.
- Taxes on award tickets are typically reimbursed. This is not officially covered as an airline fee.
- Award redeposit and change fees from airline of your choice. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- Baggage fees from airline of your choice. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- Buying extra miles or mileage multiplier offered with a ticket purchase online or at a kiosk. This is not officially covered as an airline fee.
- Flight change fees and same day change fees from airline of your choice. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- Food and drinks on the plane from airline of your choice. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- Food and drinks in a club from airline of your choice. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- Lounge access, memberships, and club pass fees from airline of your choice. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- Phone reservation fees from airline of your choice. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- Pet fees. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- Seat selection fees and Economy Plus/Main Cabin Extra fees from airline of your choice. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- Standby fees from airline of your choice. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- AA 500 mile upgrades. This is not officially covered as an airline fee.
- AA Five Star Service. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- AA WiFi monthly plan. This is not officially covered as an airline fee.
- $9 Spirit Fare Club Membership. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- Frontier Discount Den. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- United Economy Plus upgrades and Economy Plus Subscriptions. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- United Farelock. This is officially covered as an airline fee.
- United WiFi Subscription Purchases And Gifts. This is not officially covered as an airline fee.
- United WiFi on mainline planes only or any other WiFi billed by the airline and not a 3rd party. This is not officially covered as an airline fee.
- United WiFi day pass on any United flight.
- United TravelBank funding. This is not officially covered as an airline fee.
It’s worth noting that upgrades to another cabin is not officially covered as an airline fee. However you can chatting with AMEX 14 days after a charge to request reimbursement for it or any other charge. YMMV on the rep crediting your account for it, but that has worked for me in the past.
What airline fees have you been credited for on your AMEX card in 2022?
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110 Comments On "[TravelBank Workaround Method] Testing Out Using 2022 AMEX Airline Fee Credit Uses, How Will You Use Yours?"
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I’ve been buying AA upgrade certs, but I have some many, it’s time to change to something else. The United Travel Bank sounds promising. Looking forward to seeing some datapoints.
What kind of upgrade certs?
They are referring to 500-mile “stickers” that AA elites use to upgrade 500+ mile domestic flights.
Booked a flight on AA using miles and paid for seats with the amex
Got the credits for seat selection fees
I plan to wait a while to cancel the flight and hope they dont claw back the credits
They can claw back years later or after the card is closed. YMMV.
They could claw back united bank too, can’t they?
They can do whatever they want, but I’ve never seen reports of a clawback for a non-qualifying fee. But I have for refunded items.
how would you know years later if they clawed it back and then you already closed the card and it is hidden from your profile and then you don’t get an email etc your credit score can get shot from that
They will mail you a statement.
It’s time to come up with a way how to get the $200 hotel credits, any ideas?
United worked @ $100 eack
Did you make the United travelbank purchase in 2022? Thank you
They only began 2022 sales today.
Thanks Dan
United travel bank on one card, and Jetblue flights under $150 have always worked for me on my other card. (DP – did both of these 12/28 and was credited in days)
Now we need tricks for the hotel credit as someone else mentioned – hard to find anything in a nice city or vacation spot for under $400/night.
Las Vegas has plenty of $200 options. Also, the best chinese food around at Kosher Chinglish.
Thank you for suggesting this. Found multiple hotels under $200 in Vegas. Any other cities that you have seen that would work for under $200? Thank you Dan!
Just beware of the resort fees. I looked into some of the AMEX listed hotels and they had resort fees around 50 or more a night.
I tried using it on a $99 southwest ticket in 2021 and only got reimbursed about $2.
Only way that makes any sense is if you previously reimbursed 2 $99 tickets in 2021.
If they reimbursed anything that means it works. If they gave partial reimbursement it means that’s all you had left of the credit that year- you had probably already done 2×$99 that would leave exactly $2 🙂
I thought they were reimbursing for some fees, but you guys were right, when I went back to look, I had already used my credits earlier in the year. Woops.
Are card-holder charges eligible?
New data point: I booked a JetBlue ticket for $99.40 last week and was credited.
https://imgur.com/a/6Avi3I6
Not major news but wanted to comment on the “JetBlue tickets under around $99”
Nice, now we need some data points above $100 🙂
Dan, we booked two flights at 132.40 each, they reimbursed the 1st one as 132.40 and the 2nd as 67.60 basically using up the full $200 credit. Thanks again for keeping this all going!
Did united travel bank on 12/27 and still waiting..
You may have selected the airline and used right away. I would have waited 24hrs and then used it on United travel bank. You can try your luck with Amex they can fix it for you if they’re in a nice mood.
Same here, did it on the 25th and still waiting
Is there a way to combine credits from multiple cards for a delta upgrade
Dan, waiting to hear if you get credited for United travelbank.
Thanks
Did anyone get a United travel bank credit in 2022
It’s too soon.
Did you receive your credit(s) for your 2022 Travel Bank purchases yet?
I did. Purchase 1/3/22 and my airline credit says it’s been used as of 1/6/2022. The credit has not posted yet but I assume this will occur 1/7/22 or 1/8/22
Just added $250 to United Travel Bank. Will I receive $200 airline credit using Amex platinum, or did I need t to do $100 x 2.
My United travel bank deposit for 2022 was labeled as ticket by Amex with a ticket number so will not be getting credit.
Looks like 🙁
Mine worked, give it about a week and it should post. Purchased united travel bank as well. Purchased 1/3/22 and my airline credit says it’s been used as of 1/6/2022. The credit has not posted yet but I assume this will occur 1/7/22 or 1/8/22
For 2021 gold card (charged Dec. 31, I did united pet)
Got the credit.
I bought two $100 Travelbank purchases on Jan 3, just got reimbursed for both on Jan 8
**UPDATE***
Just got my travel bank credit worked with United!
“I was reimbursed… for a $99 JetBlue ticket… which I then deposited into my JetBlue Travel Bank.”
!! Should’ve used it for for a more expensive flight, this past Sunday.
Lol.
I did 😀
I paid $100 towards a Delta Vacations booking and was reimbursed.
For context, I made a partial deposit when I made my reservation several months ago. I paid $100 with Amex Platinum a few days ago and had that reimbursed. (Full payment is due 1 month prior to travel.)
DP:
Alaska ticket in December 2021 for $99 did not get credit
Does $250 travel bank trigger for aspire?
I think I remember someone saying only $100 at a time works?
I just got reimbursed the full $250 for Aspire
$250 has worked for me in the past, although you can always do two $100 and another $50 in separate transactions…
You can purchase more than one year of the Spirit $9 club to help max out the benefit across multiple years for $130’ish for 2 years (24 months).
I was still not reimbursed from United for 2 December 26 travelbank purchases…
If I purchase JetBlue mint ticket thru ultimate rewards and cancel after after 24 hours, will I get refunded to JetBlue travel bank ?
Yes.
@dan if I purchase tickets using travel bank as a payment but have a United explorer card can I still book basic economy and still get free luggage etc.?
Wondering something similar…. if I pay half of my ticket with my TravelBank and the other half with the United Quest card will I still get free luggage?
Couldn’t find this answer anywhere.
Yes, any amount on a card will trigger the benefits.
Used 400,000 Amex points for a trip that was cancelled. Got reimbursed credit in dollars to my card. Should I convert back to points or leave it as cash?
I just received credit for both Amex Plat and Aspire card for United travel bank even with them being labeled tickets. They were in $100 and $250 deposit amounts.
I was still not reimbursed for 2 $100 United travelbank purchases on Dec 30th, any idea?
When did you register for United?
Did you get credit earlier in 2021?
registered on that day
opened the card same day
Will delta gift cards of $50 get the credit??
No, but ticket purchases made with partial gift card and partial Platinum card charge typically work.
data point – TravelBank credit for purchase posted $100 today for it made purchase about 2-3 days ago.
Anyone know if southwest tickets that are $150/160 still work?or only if it’s right around $100
Did anyone getreimbursed for Spirit tickets?
Hi Dan,
and Anyone:
Do you also get “payment failed” when trying to buy United Travel Bank? I re-entered cc number, exp. date and 4 digits ccv of my amex card many times and make sure it’s correct, but it still keeps giving me payment error message.
I’m also getting that today. I was able to purchase last week but today it’s not working. Thought it was my card. Now I think it’s United.
Okay just read on doc that the workaround is to add the card to your United wallet as a payment method. It worked for me.
Saw this issue on another forum. Go to go to the regular united website–>”view my united”–>”wallet”, then save the credit cards there before checking out on travel bank. Having them pre-saved is the only way I could get the payments to go through, typing them in would not work.
You have to add your credit card first to the United.com site as a payment method. Then select the amount, select the card on file, and then click purchase.
I think you’re right… I have 2 Amex Platinum Business cards and tried both multiple times in multiple browsers (Chrome and Firefox) and neither worked… I even tried incognito and both $50 and $100 and they both said “Payment Failed” as well.
What’s a bummer is that I used both cards in 12/2021 and they both worked and were credited back within days. Hope the loophole isn’t closed…
Yes I tried $100 on Jan 9 and got the credit yesterday jan 14 but today when I tried to buy the 2nd $100 on Jan 14
, also getting payment failed error
United Travelbank $100 purchase worked for me. Purchased 9 Jan, coded as United Airlines Houston TX, reimbursed 12 Jan.
New purchases are coding as United Electronic Ticketing but I believe this has happened before and still worked.
Did the united travel bank last week and the travel credit fee both posted
keep trying united – saying payment failed-try again. i thought it might be my platinum card but its not. i tried the united app and on a pc.
Same issue
Try adding the card to your United Wallet first and then try buying it again.
https://www.united.com/en/us/account/payments
Worked. Thanks
@DAN maybe update the post with this detail
worked, thanks!
for the united credit can i just charge straight up $200 or 4250 for hilton card or does it need to be in $100 increments ?
250 works.
ill try that thanks! i saw on your last page about this topic people commenting as of jan 3 2022 that they tried buying and it didnt trigger. something about it saying united houston? hope this works. i did yesterday $100 on my plat to see how that goes.
Works fine, just took a little while.
do you have to make the purchase on separate days? or can i just buy 2 100 on the same day?
Didn’t get credit for travel bank for 2021. Purchase posted on 12/24, but still not credit
Select an airline
just tried my 2nd $100 .. will provide data point when hopefully credited, 1st worked about 10 days ago. Can you use TB funds on hotel/vacation packages at united too?
Doing one by one, three (2 bus and a consumer) so far, 2 left (aspire and consumer). As of 01/22 reimbursement is working, including $250 purchases.
workaround method worked! Thank you
does authorize user get travel credit?
my authorized user used credit card to purchase ticket and amex reimbursed the charges
United travel bank works! Placed two orders on 1/21 and 1/23, credits posted 1/23 and 1/25! It will show up on the benefits page as you’ve used your airline credit first, then the credits will post on your statement 1-2 days after.
I booked a $33 flight with spirit and i got reimbursed
united did $50 x2 on 1/22 got reimbursed on 1/26
Has anyone successfully purchased United TravelBank since Tuesday, 1/25? I’ve received the “Fail payment” error message even though I did the Workaround method by adding my credit card to the United Wallet. Thanks.
Purchased 2×100 on mine and my wife’s Plat and 250 on my aspire on 25 Jan recieved credit today 29 Jan.
Paid for premium select $499 upgrade on delta. chatted about 2 weeks later asked if changing the airline right before making the transaction would affect the credit was answered that it can take 24-48 hours to change asked for a manual credit posted the next day
I did United travel Bank on my credit card through United wallet two weeks ago and it worked perfectly fine. Today I tried doing it for my wife’s credit card through United wallet and it didn’t go through so I try to without United wallet and it also can you go through is it dead?
Data point – Did united travel bank through amex plat and aspire in 100 increments. Got the credit 4 days after
Is it still working? New data points ? TIA
any updates on travel credit?
Same as before.
meaning, united travel bank will still work?
Yes
TravelBank still working as of today – my credits from 4/8 just posted.
Still working for personal?
Did anyone get an Amex plat credit for travelbank in May 22.
Yes
charged united travel bank to my platinum on may 19 2022 and got the travel credit on the 24th