If you've been using United TravelBank to drain your Amex Platinum $200 airline credit, that party ended eleven days ago. American Express quietly stopped reimbursing these purchases on February 5th - and according to multiple reports, Delta might be next on the chopping block.

The last major nerf to this benefit came back in 2015 when gift cards stopped working entirely. For years after that, savvy cardholders found workarounds - Southwest drink tickets, Delta gift cards purchased through third parties, and most recently, United TravelBank deposits.

That TravelBank loophole has been remarkably durable. Until now.

In what year did American Express last make a major change to the Platinum card's airline incidental credit?

The answer is waiting for you near the bottom... keep scrolling.👇

Multiple cardholders reported on Doctor of Credit and FlyerTalk that their United TravelBank deposits made after February 5th are no longer triggering the Platinum card's $200 annual airline fee credit. Some were told directly by American Express representatives that the change is permanent.

Even more concerning: a few cardholders report hearing that Delta purchases may be next to lose reimbursement eligibility, though Amex hasn't officially confirmed this.

The credit was always intended for legitimate airline incidentals - checked bags, seat selections, and in-flight purchases. Those transactions should continue working across all carriers. The problem is that many Platinum cardholders never actually incur $200 in true incidental fees throughout the year.

That's why workarounds became so popular. TravelBank deposits were particularly useful because they never expired and could be applied to any United ticket purchase - essentially functioning as a $200 statement credit toward future flights.

This isn't the first time Amex has closed loopholes on premium card benefits. The 2015 gift card crackdown was brutal - overnight, cardholders lost the ability to purchase airline gift cards and have them coded as fee reimbursements.

The company likely views these moves as necessary cost controls. The Platinum card now carries a $695 annual fee with generous perks across hotels, rideshare credits, entertainment subscriptions, and lounge access. If thousands of cardholders are gaming the airline credit system, that cuts directly into profitability.

For more on maximizing American Express premium card benefits, check out our full Amex coverage including retention offer strategies and hidden perks.

For decades, Southwest Airlines was America's fun airline. Flight attendants cracked jokes during safety demonstrations. Gate agents wore Hawaiian shirts. The company actively encouraged employees to bring personality to work.

That version of Southwest is gone, according to current employees and frequent passengers who say the airline has become uptight, rule-obsessed, and joyless.

Flight attendants describe an environment where strict enforcement of minor policies has replaced the autonomy they once enjoyed. Passengers report gate agents rigidly blocking open seats even when planes are half-empty - a stark contrast to Southwest's historical approach of letting things flow naturally.

The cultural shift coincides with major operational changes. Southwest recently introduced assigned seating after 53 years of open seating, added baggage fees for Basic Economy tickets, and tightened policies around Companion Pass bookings.

These aren't just policy tweaks - they represent a fundamental departure from what made Southwest different. The airline built its brand on being the anti-corporate carrier where rules took a backseat to common sense and customer experience.

Several factors seem to be driving this transformation. Southwest faced significant operational challenges in recent years, including the December 2022 meltdown that stranded hundreds of thousands of passengers. Management likely responded by implementing tighter controls and standardized procedures.

The airline is also under intense pressure from activist investors to improve profitability. That pressure led directly to decisions like assigned seating and new fee structures - moves that boost revenue but chip away at Southwest's unique identity.

Long-time Southwest loyalists are noticing. Some are exploring alternatives like Alaska Airlines, which has maintained a reputation for friendly service while offering better premium cabin options and a stronger route network to the West Coast and Hawaii.

It's worth noting that operational discipline and fun don't have to be mutually exclusive. Airlines like JetBlue and Virgin America (before its Alaska merger) managed to maintain personality while running reliable operations. The question is whether Southwest's new leadership believes that balance is possible - or even desirable.

Office Depot and OfficeMax stores are running their profitable Mastercard gift card deal this week. Buy $300 or more in Mastercard gift cards and receive $15 off instantly at the register.

The promotion runs through February 21st with a limit of 10 transactions per household or business. Different stores may impose varying limits that don't align with the advertised terms, so it's worth calling ahead if you plan multiple trips.

The math works out to a 5% discount on Mastercard gift cards, which typically carry around $5.95 in activation fees per card. When you factor in credit card rewards, the deal becomes even more attractive.

For example, buy two $200 Mastercard gift cards for $400 total. After the $15 instant discount and activation fees, you're at approximately $402.90 out of pocket. Pay with a 2% cash back card and you net roughly $4 in profit per transaction - plus you've manufactured $400 in spending toward minimum spend requirements or bonus categories.

This is particularly useful if you're working toward a credit card welcome bonus and need to hit minimum spending thresholds. Just be aware that some issuers have begun excluding gift card purchases from counting toward welcome bonuses on certain products.

For more strategies on meeting minimum spend requirements, check out our credit card strategy guides.

IHG One Rewards completely overhauled its loyalty program in 2022, and many travelers still haven't caught on to how much value it now offers. Between brands like InterContinental, Kimpton, Six Senses, and mid-tier properties like Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, the portfolio covers nearly every travel need.

The program's sweet spot is its fourth-night-free benefit on award stays. Book four consecutive nights at eligible properties and the fourth night costs zero points. That's an instant 25% discount on longer stays, and it stacks with other promotions.

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card carries no annual fee and grants automatic access to the fourth-night-free perk. That alone makes it worth keeping long-term even if you're not actively using it for everyday spending.

Consider a scenario: You book a four-night stay at a Holiday Inn Express that costs 25,000 points per night. Without the benefit, you'd pay 100,000 points. With the fourth-night-free, you pay just 75,000 points. That's a savings of 25,000 points - roughly $125 in value - from holding a card with zero annual fee.

This benefit becomes even more valuable at higher-tier properties. A four-night stay at an InterContinental might run 70,000 points per night without the discount, but only 210,000 points total (instead of 280,000) with the fourth night free. You can read our complete IHG One Rewards guide for more strategies on maximizing this program.

IHG made significant improvements to elite status benefits in its 2022 overhaul. Platinum Elite status now delivers genuinely useful perks including suite upgrades (when available), complimentary breakfast for two, and late checkout.

The threshold is reasonable: 40 qualifying nights gets you Gold Elite, and 70 nights unlocks Platinum. For frequent travelers splitting stays across multiple hotel programs, IHG's mid-tier status is often more attainable than comparable levels at Marriott or Hilton.

The correct answer is 2015 - that's when American Express stopped allowing airline gift card purchases to trigger the Platinum card's airline fee credit. It was a major change that caught many cardholders by surprise, much like the recent United TravelBank policy shift.

That's all for today. See you tomorrow with more miles, points, and travel news.

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