If you’re an IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card holder, you may not know about a little-known perk, but one worth understanding – United Travel Bank Cash. If you have the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, you’re eligible for $50 in United TravelBank cash every year.
In this post, we’ll break down exactly what these IHG credits for United TravelBank are, how to use them, and smart ways to get the most out of this limited-time benefit.
United TravelBank is United Airlines’ credit system. You can use these credits for your (or someone else’s) ticket. It’s separate from United MileagePlus miles and works more like cash toward a ticket price. Because it doesn’t require a points redemption calculation, it’s one of the simpler benefits to use, assuming you don’t let it expire.
How IHG Credit Cards Tie In
If you carry the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, you’re eligible for $50 in United TravelBank cash every year. They expire after 6 months of issuance.
- $25 credited in early January (expires July 15)
- $25 credited in early July (expires January 15 of the next year)
These credits are automatic—but only after you register your United MileagePlus account at ihg.com/united. Once linked, you’ll begin receiving the deposits directly in your United TravelBank account.
Here are the steps:
- Visit ihg.com/united
2. Then submit your United MileagePlus number. That’s it! Once you register, it might take a couple of weeks to get your first credit. Make a note to use it up before it expires.
United TravelBank cash functions like a prepaid balance tied to your United account. When booking directly at united.com, you’ll see an option to apply TravelBank cash at checkout. It can cover part or all of a fare, including taxes and fees on most bookings. One important limitation: TravelBank cash cannot be applied to award tickets booked with MileagePlus miles, only to paid fare purchases. Keep that in mind when planning how to use it.
Pro Tips for Maximizing Your Credits
If $25 (or even $50) doesn’t seem like much, here are a few smart strategies to make the most of it:
1. Book During the Overlap Window
Between Jan 1–15 and Jul 1–15, both credits may be active. That gives you a rare chance to apply up to $50 in TravelBank cash at once.
2. Book a Cheap United Flight
Use the credit toward a low-cost domestic route. Even if the total is more than your credit, you’ll reduce your out-of-pocket cost. If you also carry a card that earns strong rewards on airfare, such as a Chase Ultimate Rewards card or an Amex Membership Rewards card, you can apply your TravelBank credit to reduce the cash portion of a ticket while still charging the remainder to a rewards card. This way you earn points on the remaining balance and get the credit’s full value.
3. Create a Future Flight Credit
Some travelers use a “book-and-cancel” method:
- Book a cheap flight using your TravelBank credit.
- Wait 24 hours.
- Cancel the flight to receive a Future Flight Credit, typically valid for a full year.
This trick turns a short-lived $25 benefit into longer-term value—especially useful if you’re not sure when you’ll fly next. However, you will need to use it within a year.
If you’re booking for two people, apply the credit to the cheaper of the two fares. Since TravelBank cash applies per booking rather than per person, this is a practical way to extract value even on a trip where your own ticket costs more than $25.
4. Don’t Overlook the IHG Program Itself
The TravelBank credit is just one piece of the IHG card’s annual value. The card also comes with a free night award each year, Platinum Elite status with IHG One Rewards, and a fourth-night-free benefit on award stays. When you stack all of these benefits together, the card’s annual fee becomes much easier to justify, even if you only stay at IHG properties a handful of times per year. For a full picture of what IHG elite status gets you, see our IHG One Rewards program guide.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
While $25 every six months won’t get you far on its own, it’s free money for those who fly United at least occasionally. For frequent travelers in United hub cities like Chicago, Houston, Newark, or Denver, it’s an easy way to chip away at flight costs.
If you’re not a regular United flyer, don’t let it go to waste — either combine it with another credit or convert it into a future flight credit while you can. And if you’re evaluating whether the IHG Premier card fits into your broader hotel rewards strategy, this benefit is a small but real part of the annual value calculation alongside the free night certificate and Platinum Elite status.
