United TravelBank No Longer Triggering Amex Airline Credit?
The ability to use the American Express Platinum $200 airline incidental credit for United TravelBank purchases appears to have reached its end.
While the credit is technically intended for fees like checked bags and in-flight meals, it has also been possible to use it for other purchases such as United TravelBank. However, widespread reports on Reddit and FlyerTalk indicate that as of February 5, 2026, these transactions no longer trigger the reimbursement.
There have been delays on this credit posting in the past, so we are not 100% sure that it is completely dead just yet. But many people have called in about the issue and have received confirmations from American Express representatives that it no longer works.
This change could represent a significant shift in how Amex is monitoring “incidental” spend and there’s mention of Delta purchases being on the chopping block next.
As the landscape for travel rewards continues to shift, it is more important than ever to take advantage of numerous credit and coupons as soon as possible, especially if you rely on these credits to justify keeping a card.
For those who still have unused credits for the year, it may be time to use them quickly on other purchases that still trigger it, or pivot back to traditional incidental uses to avoid missing out on the benefit entirely.
