We’re going deep today on how to maximize your $200 Amex airline fee credit! American Express offers Platinum cardholders a $200 Amex airline fee credit annually, which can be used to offset incidental travel costs. However, I’m sure a lot of you are unsure on how to make the most of this credit, especially when purchasing airfare isn’t directly covered. Well, I just found out that one great way to maximize your Amex airline fee credit is by purchasing United TravelBank cash, which can be used for future United Airlines flights. In this blog, we’ll explain how this strategy works and how to get the most out of your $200 Amex airline credit.

• Related Article: Encore Hotel: Amex Fine Hotel and Resorts

 

What Is the $200 Amex Airline Fee Credit?

The Amex Platinum, both consumer and business cards, offers an annual $200 Amex airline fee credit. This benefit reimburses cardholders for incidental charges such as baggage fees, seat upgrades, in-flight refreshments, and other eligible expenses. The credit does not cover airfare or award tickets.

To use this benefit, you need to select a qualifying airline from a list provided by Amex each calendar year (usually in January), and United Airlines is one of the popular options. I just so happen to have already chosen United as my airline of choice back this year. If you have chosen a different airline, you will have to wait until January to change it. Once you’ve chosen United, you can utilize your $200 airline fee credit for purchases like TravelBank cash, allowing you to fund future flights.

 

What Is United TravelBank?

United TravelBank is a virtual wallet where you can deposit funds to be used for future United flights. You can apply TravelBank cash directly to the cost of a ticket, and it works similarly to a gift card. This option is an ideal way to turn your Amex airline fee credit into actual airfare, as Amex views the purchase of TravelBank cash as an eligible incidental fee (at least for now).

 

How to Use Amex Airline Fee Credit to Purchase United TravelBank Cash

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to turn your Amex airline fee credit into TravelBank cash on United:

Step 1: Select United Airlines as Your Preferred Airline: Log in to your American Express account and navigate to the benefits section. You will need to choose United as your designated airline to use the $200 airline fee credit. This can only be changed once per calendar year, so choose wisely if you fly with multiple airlines.

Photo Credit: https://global.americanexpress.com/card-benefits/detail/airline-fee-credit/business-platinum

 

Step 2: Purchase United TravelBank Cash: Visit the United Airlines website, log in to your MileagePlus account, and navigate to the TravelBank section. You can then purchase TravelBank cash but they only let you do it in certain increments. Most people either pick (2) $100 denominations or (4) $50 denominations. I chose to do (2) $100 and I spaced them days apart just in case the first one didn’t go through since this is a hack after all.

Photo Credit: https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/mileageplus/travel-bank.html

 

Step 3: Get Reimbursed: Once you make the purchase, American Express will automatically recognize the charge as an incidental airline fee and reimburse you. This reimbursement usually happens within a few days, but it can take up to 2–4 weeks. I purchased my first $100 on August 25 and received my credit back on August 28. 

I purchased my 2nd $100 on August 30 and received my credit back a little later on Sept 4 due to Labor Day weekend. If you notice the $70 and why it’s not $100, it’s because I already used $30 of the credit earlier this year and United TravelBank only allows increments of $50 and $100. Otherwise, I would have done $100 and $70.

 

Step 4: Use TravelBank Cash for Future Flights: The TravelBank balance can be applied to any future United Airlines flight, including domestic and international travel. When you are ready to book a flight, all you have to do is select “TravelBank” as your payment method and then choose how much you want to use towards your flight. Super easy!

 

Tips for Maximizing Your $200 Amex Airline Credit

• Purchase United TravelBank Cash in Smaller Increments: Some users report that purchasing TravelBank cash in increments of $50 or $100 increases the likelihood of being reimbursed successfully. While Amex tends to reimburse in most cases, smaller transactions seem to fly under the radar more smoothly.
• Monitor the Calendar Year: The $200 credit resets each calendar year, so be sure to take advantage of this benefit before it expires. If you don’t use the full amount by December 31, you lose the remaining balance.
• Combine with Other United Offers: Keep an eye out for promotions on United Airlines. Sometimes, you can get extra TravelBank cash or earn MileagePlus points with your purchase, stretching the value of your airline fee credit even further. With that being said, I haven’t found a lot of United TravelBank Cash offers lately.

 

Recommended Products for Your Next United Trip

When you finally decide on a flight with United Airlines using TravelBank cash, you’ll want to make sure you have the most comfortable journey possible. Below are essential items that have really helped me along the way especially for those long-haul flights!

1. Travel Clamp for Phone to Watch TV/Movies
   If you’re like me, I don’t have a pop socket on my phone to hold it up when I watch movies on the plane. I usually end up holding my phone with my hand in my lap along with my head craned down at a 90 degrees angle. Well, here to fix that! There’s actually a phone clamp that you can use where you clamp it onto the tray table of the plane. This allows you to watch movies hands-free! The best part is that if you decide to work on your laptop, your phone is out of the way but still in sight. 
2. Hard Case Backpack (Foot Rest Hack)
   I know this sounds weird but hear me out! I got this hard case backpack as a birthday gift since my previous camera backpack was dying. But what I found extremely useful about it is that since it’s a hard case, I can actually use it as a FOOTSTOOL. Obviously, this probably only applies to short people like myself, but legs get so tired and I always want to prop them up. I know it’s main purpose is for camera gear, but I use it for everything since you can pull out all the inserts. 
3. Ear Plugs
   I can’t stress enough how important ear plugs are especially if you are on a long-haul flight. I am a very light sleeper and it’s amazing how much these help. I like this pack because it comes with a silicone pair and a carrying case. 
4. Noise-Canceling Earbuds
   My friend gave these to me as a Christmas present and I absolutely love them especially when they are a more affordable option than Apple AirPods Pros. They also have actual buttons you can press down on instead of just tapping so there’s less of a chance of accidentally doing something you didn’t want to do. 
5. Hydrating Lotion
   Don’t forget that flying is one of the fastest ways that your skin dries out. Make sure you always have lotion on hand to help soothe any dryness and itchiness. I literally live by this brand and have a big bottle at home too!
6. Hand Sanitizer
   Somehow, I ALWAYS forget my hand sanitizer! For the amount that I fly, you would think this is something I always have on me. But luckily now, I found these cute travel size ones that hooks onto your purse or backpack. I literally have them on almost all of my bags!

 

Final Thoughts

If you’re an Amex Platinum cardholder, using your $200 airline fee credit to purchase United TravelBank cash is one of the best ways to turn incidental fees into real flight value. I’m not sure how long this hack has been going on, but I’m upset that I’ve been sleeping on this trick for so long. I’ve probably thrown away hundreds of dollars over the years since I never use the credit for airline fee incidentals. But now, with a little planning, I can ensure that my airline credit doesn’t go to waste, and I’ll have a reserve of TravelBank funds ready for my next United Airlines trip.