Amex Airline Statement Credits
The American Express annual airline credit of $200 can be tricky to maximize if you're not a frequent flyer, but there's a straightforward strategy that works perfectly for United Airlines passengers. The most reliable method is purchasing United TravelBank credits in $50 increments—you'll need to make four separate transactions to use up your full $200 credit, but these credits expire after 5 years and can be applied to any future United flight, making them essentially as good as cash for anyone who flies United regularly. This approach eliminates the guesswork around airline incidental fees and ensures you capture the full value of your credit without having to time purchases around actual travel dates.
While there are various other methods and workarounds for different airlines that can help you maximize this credit, the United TravelBank strategy remains the most straightforward and reliable option for those loyal to United's network. The key is treating these credits like a travel savings account—purchase them early in your cardmember year so you don't risk losing the benefit, then use them whenever you're ready to book your next United flight.
