How To Earn Cash-Back On Every United Flight

can apply TravelBank to flights ONLY on UA metal.

I’ve been doing this for years and never had any problems. Always pays for itself and every couple of years I can buy a one-way ticket for nothing.

Been a member for years and yes I've always booked one-ways to get the $10 per "trip" instead of $5 - good tip!

I'm kind of amazed I've never read about this on a blog before.

Why does United offer this?

Oh man I have been missing out! Joined now, thanks for this. Also, its like getting travel credit and miles right? Cause when you use the travelbank to fly you will be getting the miles for the ticket purchase!

@Adam I think they have started noticing this - I usually see domestic RT, when booked as one-ways, now pricing $15-20 more expensive than booking as one RT ticket - thus negating the advantage of booking an extra ticket.

Benji -- Yup, getting Travel Bank credits is completely separate from the miles you earn from flying. That's why I call it a "frequent buyer program".

PsiFighter37: You might see two one-ways pricing higher than a round-trip in a few markets. But by and large, I generally see round-trips costing the same as two one-ways these days. It's the impact of the low-cost carriers on the market.

Just be aware that if you regularly book UA flights on one of UA's overseas sites (often cheaper), you can't get Travel Bank credit for those.

One point to note: it is only for US residents

Jimmy -- I expect the reason that they offer this is to get you to book direct. I believe the airlines still pay some commission to the Online Travel Agencies for every ticket sold. It's nowhere near as lucrative as for hotel bookings, but still, if United was going to pay a $7 commission to Orbitz, but can pay you a $5 commission instead, it's a good deal for them. Plus, if you book direct, they have the option to sell you all sorts of other things, like economy plus seats, upgrades, club passes, or even a credit card.

So I expect this is a good deal for them in the end. Which is why its odd that they don't promote it more.

Can I join now and apply to flights I have already booked, but have traveled on?
Can I join now and apply to flights I have already booked and traveled on earlier this year?

Matt’s comment is similar to my experience. Just save them for a few years and you’ll have a free ticket. In my experience the $5 is credited after the travel has been completed.

I'm curious to know if you can claim the $25 membership fee as an airline incidental on the Ritz Carlton credit card, CSR, Platinum Amex, etc.

My only problem with using this is that I refuse to fly UA, unless there is no other option. If I ever get to the point of flying UA I'll be sure to join!

Travel Mark: I believe that you need to be a member at the time you book the ticket. Think of it has a "Frequent Buyers Club". So the date of purchase is the date of record (though the credit doesn't book until the flight is flown.)

Question, if you make 1 reservation for 2 tickets -- ie me and my spouse. That means I make $5x2 or just $5 per reservation?

And when is the annual fee due? Is it per calendar year based on United terms or it's due based on the date you signed up?

Thanks!
B

B: Each ticket gets it's own $5 credit. You can basically think of it as every 016 ticket number being booked while logged into your account. Does not matter in theory if they are on the same reservation (6 digit alpha-numeric code) or not. I say in theory, cause there used to be a glitch with that. But I think it's mostly taken care of now.

And it's based on 1 calendar year from when you sign up. So if you sign up today, you will be a united.com member through june 20 2019.

My recent experience has been that award travel does not earn the credit.
That has not always been the case. YMMV.

I use to be a member and I think they ended my membership and gave me a certificate. It was sweet when continental was around and I used it often. Not a fan of united and its surly flight attendants.

When signing up does the membership fee code as travel? Should I use my CSR or my United MileagePlus Explorer card?

But... you'd have to fly UA.

Noted. Got it! Thanks for the tip, it does add up, as 1 round trip is booked 2 way, for both me and my spouse, That's already $5x4= $20, and we fly at least 4x a year domestically..

Travis, on a related note, have you any insights/idea when the Gift Registry will be back up and running? The website still hows it will return in early 2018, but we are beyond that. My outreach to UAL web suppport customer service provided nothing as they had no idea when the program would be back up and running. Thanks much.

My account is paid for this year and has not been credited for tickets purchased.

This the current notice on my account:
We're sorry, our gift registry page is currently unavailable for maintenance. You can still use the funds from your gift registry to book travel during this time, but you will not be able to receive contributions or update your registry details. We expect the page to be up and running again in early 2018.

Think I am short about $50 and will follow up eventually.

Another great post Travis, thank you again.. .but
My Bad!! I'm coming almost FOUR years later, and couple hundred bucks behind!...
thanks for the refresher, I completely missed the 2014 post!

Travis,

Not sure about others' experience, and as a member for many years, but after paying the annual fee this year, I've not had any money credited to my account for bookings. The program seems to be broken for anything other than taking the annual fee.

This the current notice on my account:
We’re sorry, our gift registry page is currently unavailable for maintenance. You can still use the funds from your gift registry to book travel during this time, but you will not be able to receive contributions or update your registry details. We expect the page to be up and running again in early 2018.

Not sure if you guys saw this, but United recently discontinued this with no notice to current members. Might be worth a follow-up post! Was good for a few bucks while it lasted.