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When I say “tragedy,” I am absolutely being sarcastic. It appears–though it is too early to tell–that has a well-known American Express loophole allowing cardmembers to receive credit for the purchase of United Airlines “Travel Bank” credit has been closed. My response: you weren’t entitled to it in the first place, so too bad, so sad.
I love me a good loophole, just like everyone else. I’ve been at the forefront of so-called “mistake fares” (though I would not necessarily call them that) going to 2009. I’m all for taking advantage of these sorts of deals, precisely because airlines and credit card companies take advantage of us every opportunity they can get and when it comes towhees fares, it is often hard to distinguish whether it is a mistake or a fare sale.
But I’ve read so much outrage this week about how American Express has, effective around February 6, 2026, eliminated the so-called Travel Bank “loophole” in which purchasing these pseudo gift cards from United Airlines no longer triggers up to $200 in reimbursement.
Understanding The $200 American Express Platinum Travel Credit
Back up for a moment. One of the benefits of an American Express Platinum card is a $200 annual airline credit. You must choose the airline in advance and the credit is only good for “incidental” fees, not “airline tickets, mileage points purchases/transfers, gift cards, duty-free purchases, award tickets, and seat upgrades.”
- Selection Required: You must select one qualifying airline online or by calling Amex before charging fees.
- Eligible Fees (Incidental Only): Baggage fees, pet fees, flight booking fees, seat selection fees, in-flight refreshments, and airport lounge day passes.
- Ineligible Charges: Airline tickets, mileage points purchases/transfers, gift cards, duty-free purchases, award tickets, and seat upgrades.
- Separate Charges: Incidental fees must be charged separately from the ticket price.
- Timing: Credits generally appear 6-8 weeks after the charge.
But there has been a long-running loophole with United Airlines in which members could buy “Travel Bank” credit (essentially future flight credit) and it would be coded as an ancillary purchase and therefore eligible for credit.
Anecdotal reports suggest that these purchases are now coded in the same way as ticket purchases, therefore are no longer valid for reimbursement as an incidental fee. Although AMEX warns credits may take 6-8 weeks to appear, typically it occurs in 4-6 days and for “Travel Bank” purchases made on or after February 6th, the credit is not appearing.
It merits mentioning that the coding change of Travel Bank purchases may have been done by United Airlines and not be a deliberate action of AMEX at all.
Why Are You Complaining About An Obvious Loophole?
Right now we just have a loose amalgamation of data points and since 6-8 weeks have passed not since February 6th. Ultimately, this story must be marked as developing.
At the same time, my thought is, “Really?”
The rules explicitly say that gift cards are excluded and clearly buying “Travel Bank” credit is not anything close to “baggage fees, pet fees, flight booking fees, seat selection fees, in-flight refreshments, and airport lounge day passes.”
I begrudge no one for taking advantage of this loophole while available and yes, I can lament its passing too…if indeed it is passing.
But I also cannot understand the outrage I am seeing, as if it is the end of the world for American Express Platinum cardholders and their “coupon book” of deals. Unlike an ambiguous airline fare, here it seems there was nothing ambiguous: AMEX clearly said these sorts of purchases are not eligible for credit.
I actually do like American Express as a company, but I just had to laugh while flying through San Francisco (SFO) recently and seeing 50 people standing outside the “temporary” centurion Lounge in the D gates waiting to get in.
That turns “luxury” upside down. The value proposition of an AMEX card is still compelling for many travelers, but no longer a no-brainer as in years past.
CONCLUSION
It appears that American Express may no longer be counting United Travel Bank purchases as ancillary credit in terms, which means an end to an effective $200 annual rebate for United flyers that hold the AMEX Platinum card. I don’t celebrate that change at all (if indeed that is the change), but can you really blame AMEX when the T&Cs are perfectly clear that such purchases should not count toward the annual credit?
Oh, and let me be a bit ironic as well. Do you need an American Express Platinum card? Without groveling, would you sign up via my link please?
Link: Learn more about American Express Platinum Card®
Thank you in advance for helping support his independent website, that looks out of you, but will not coddle you…
I think, regardless of this negative development for cardholders, it may still make sense to hold an American Express Platinum card. But I find the current rebate-style approach to card benefits annoyingly complicated.
image: United Airlines
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