United – refund for refundable bookings as credits?

[as02]

Hi All!
I’m in a slightly tricky situation and would love your expert guidance! I booked 2x United roundtrips using the latest Amex offer, receiving 2x cashbacks. I had booked refundable tickets since I wasn’t sure of the trip but did not want to lose the offer.
As it turns out, I now actually need to call off the trip.
If I cancel the tickets, I will get refund back into my card and the cashback will be reversed.

Is there a way for me to get the refund as United credits instead? I do travel to the US frequently so don’t mind getting credits, as long as I can retain the cashback.

Thank you!

[Skywalker]

https://www.united.com/en/gb/refunds

“All refunds are credited to the original form of payment used. Please allow up to seven business days for a refund to post to your credit card. If the refund does not post within one billing cycle, please contact your credit card company for information. For all other forms of payment, please allow up to 20 days for a refund to be processed.

If your ticket qualifies, your refund will be credited to your original form of payment unless you request an electronic travel certificate. Please allow up to 7 business days for us to process your request. The timing of refunds for tickets purchased in international locations may be different.”

[Wiseoldman]

Your best option is to call United and speak to CS and request credit to certificate/mileage bank. Another option (not risk free!) is if you paid for tickets in one transaction for £xx do the refund in two separate time points. So when the refund comes back to Amex it is not the same amount as you paid. This sometime breaks the link between the original transaction and refund preserving the cashback. Like I said its not guaranteed.