One of the perks of the IHG Rewards Premier and Business Premier cards is the annual $50 in United TravelBank Cash. This benefit, introduced in a 2022 refresh of the card, is divided into two $25 deposits each year—one around January 5th and another around July 5th. While this is essentially free money for cardholders, there’s a catch: each deposit expires after six months, limiting your ability to save up for bigger-ticket purchases. Even so, it’s a nice bonus, especially considering the card’s $99 annual fee.
Key Dates and Expirations
United TravelBank credits deposited on or about January 5th expire on July 15th of the same calendar year. Credits deposited on or about July 5th expire on January 15th of the following year. This tight expiration window means you can’t carry over unused funds indefinitely.
How to Stack Both Credits
Despite these restrictions, there’s a short window twice a year when you can combine both $25 deposits to use the full $50 toward a single United or United Express flight. For example:
- If you haven’t used the $25 deposited in July, you can stack it with the new $25 deposit made on or about January 5th and use the full $50 before January 15th.
- Similarly, you can stack the funds from July and the January deposit between July 5th and July 15th.
This overlap is an excellent opportunity to maximize savings on a United ticket. However, note that TravelBank funds can only be used for revenue flights operated by United or United Express. They cannot be applied toward taxes on award tickets or flights on partner airlines. If you use TravelBank Cash as a partial payment, the remaining balance must be paid with a credit card.
Setting Up Your TravelBank Benefit
To take advantage of this benefit, link your IHG Rewards Premier card with a United MileagePlus account. You can do this easily through this website. Once linked, the initial $25 deposit can take up to two weeks to appear, although many users report seeing the funds almost immediately.
Pro Tip for Using TravelBank Funds
While many frequent travelers prefer to use points for flights, combining the TravelBank credit with other promotions or discounts can significantly reduce the cost of a cash fare. For instance, a $50 discount might make a good deal unbeatable.
If you haven’t checked your TravelBank balance recently, now is the perfect time to see if you can apply the funds to an upcoming trip. With the January 15th expiration date just around the corner, don’t miss this chance to double dip and make the most of this free perk from IHG.
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