Please note that airline policies can change without notice. TravelBank cash. Of Uniteds two flight credit offerings, electronic travel certificates are the most useful since theyre valid for longer (two years from the issue date) than future flight credits. You can also use these credits for other purchases such as Basic economy seat selection, Economy Plus seating and preferred seat selections. Certificates may not be redeemed through a travel agency. Navigating Uniteds various travel credits and policies can seem daunting, and perhaps needlessly complex. Future flight credit holders can use their credit to book a flight with one of United's partner airlines, while travel certificate holders are limited to United flights only. Future flight credits must be used by the person on the original ticket. Travel certificates arent transferable and cannot be sold, but they can be used by anyone as long as the travel is booked by the original certificate holder. Any sale or barter of a certificate, or any offer to sell or enter into such a transaction, shall render a certificate null and void such that the certificate shall no longer be redeemable by any person, including the original recipient. United Electronic Travel Certificate vs Future Flight Credit, Re: United Electronic Travel Certificate vs Future Flight Credit, ++++ COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION ++++, Covid-19 Coronavirus Information for Air Travel, ++++ ESTA (USA) and eTA (Canada) requirements for visa-exempt foreign nationals ++++, ++++ TIPS - PLANNING YOUR FLIGHTS +++++++. Her writing has since been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, and The Balance. Additionally, if your flight credit was issued as part of a refund for a cancelled flight , then it also cannot be converted into a travel certificate. The ETC option was just recently added. If youve had to cancel or change a United Airlines flight or have experienced any United operational issues, youve likely received a United travel credit. This compensation comes from two main sources. so we will have the balance to spend in the next couple years. Hope this helps! Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, The best places to see cherry blossoms around the US this spring, Looking back: How my points and miles strategy has changed over the years, The best increased card offers to sign up for this March. Secondly, its important to note that the conversion process may take some time. Electronic travel certificates on the other hand can be used by anyone. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Instead, it offers the United TravelBank. You can apply future flight credits towards travel on United, United Express and United partner-operated flights purchased on united.com or the United app. Confirm the email address with the agent to make sure they have your most updated email address on file.5. Enter your personal details and paper certificate number. Thats certainly your best bet if youre looking to move to a lower-cost flight, or prefer to use your credit to book travel for someone else. These are subject to the same restrictions as upcoming flight credits. To give you more flexibility, electronic travel certificates* are now valid for 24 months from the date they were issued. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. If youre not a MileagePlus member or your travel credits arent listed, you can look up your credits directly in checkout, using the confirmation number, PIN or your email address. The most convenient way to redeem your travel credit is online at united.com or via the United app. EDIT: you cant convert it to a certificate, but you can use it to book for someone else - youll have to know the flights and persons you want to book for when you try to do that though. When Should You Apply For A Travel Rewards Credit Card. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Was wondering if anyone has heard if it's possible to convert a United Airlines flight credit to travel certificate when booked on OTA. One exception is future flight credits issued or set to expire before Dec. 31, 2022, which have had their expiration extended to Dec. 31, 2023. When you reach the Payment information page, select "United payment types." You will see an option to redeem a travel certificate. You can also call United at 800-UNITED-1 (800-864-8331). Update: was able to convert my FCC to ETC. Essentially, the travel certificate has more flexibility in terms of travel date and travelers on your reservation, but the future (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? To use your travel credit, search and select your flight as usual. Choose your flights and enter your contact information. Here is a list of our partners. Enrollment required. Please let us know your opinion. Heathrow connection time/British Airways vs American? If it is ineligible for donation, please note that frequent flyer miles, credit card points, cash and crypto can also help people start a new beginning in a new home. Enter your certificate number or PIN and the issuer's last name and select "Apply.". United has eliminated change fees for most of its flights (excluding basic economy), including all those that originate in the U.S. united convert future flight credit to travel certificate. Does anyone know where I would find the option to obtain an ETC? In this case, youll receive future flight credit valid for later travel. These have the same limitations as future flight credits. Here are our picks for the. Electronic travel certificate (Offers the most flexibility for domestic travel and international travel on United), - Validity: Can be applied to book a new ticket up to 12 months from today, for travel up to 24 months from today, - Travelers: Can rebook new tickets for any travelers, - Airline eligibility: United and United Express flights only, - Usage: Must book directly with United (not valid for use at third-party travel agencies), Future flight credit (Offers flexibility to book travel on partner airlines, but current ticket restrictions will apply), - Validity: Travel must commence within 12 months from original ticket issue date, - Travelers: Must book travel for same travelers on existing ticket, - Airline eligibility: Any flight operated or marketed by United, including codeshare and Star Alliance flights, - Usage: Can rebook flight directly with United, or can rebook through original third-party travel agency. If you have unused United travel credit that you would like to convert to a travel certificate, there are a few things that you need to know. Electronic certificates may be used for travel on United- and United Express-operated flights, and United Express-marketed flights operated by other airlines. Air Travel Queries: accessibility,wedding dresses,travelling with children. You can also use these credits for other purchases such as Basic economy seat selection, Economy Plus seating and preferred seat selections. Tell the United customer support agent that youd like to convert your future flight credit to an electronic travel certificate.3. Youll find your wallet under the My United tab. If it has expired, youll need to contact United customer service to see if they can extend the credit or issue a new one. I ban shills. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Related: Heres what to do if you need to cancel your trip. I booked a flight on 2/13 for a 3/17 flight to Europe. Alternatively, you can call the reservations line at (800) 864-8331 to have your certificates combined over the phone. TravelBank funds cant be used to pay the taxes and fees on an award flight. Flights right now are generally much less than what we originally paid so while planning a replacement flight I added extras (like choosing my seat and prepaying for checked luggage) to bring the cost to what I originally paid in order to get the full value of the FFC. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Unfortunately, they cannot be combined with ETCs or future flight credits, and, since they offer the longest validity, Id use up any other credits before tapping your TravelBank. Step-by-step guide to using your United travel funds. Both types of credits can be used to book new travel, but there are some important nuances to note. United Airlines | MileagePlus - Understanding/Using UA Electronic Travel Certificate & Future Flight Credit {Archive} - I have flights for August from YYZ to HNL returning OGG to YYZ originally booked in January this year. The extension will be processed by United by the end of January 2022 and will be good for another year, until January 2023. In reviewing the identical flight prices in August (versus busy Spring Break) our flight prices in August are half of what we paid for 6 tickets. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. So I'm wondering, what is the downside of the Electronic Travel Certificate? You will be asked to enter the last name of the certificate recipient. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Uniteds policy is that future flight credits can only be used by the original purchaser and are non-transferable. Can I use more than one certificate at a time? If you need to change the name on your future flight credit, you will need to contact United customer service for assistance. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. Have $450 credit for 2 passengers so basically $900 locked up in these flight credits. Electronic travel certificates: These are valid for up to 24 months after they were issued. The price shown is the discounted price. When you reach the Payment information page, select "United payment types." Photo: Steve Lynes via Flickr. Where can you see your United travel fund balance? To convert your United Future Flight Credit to a Travel Certificate, simply log into your account on united.com and navigate to the "My Profile" section. You can then use those credits to book award flights on United, or on one of United's partner airlines. Travel must be booked by the expiry date, so keep track of that all-important date. Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now. If you have future flight credit with United Airlines, you may be wondering how to convert it into a travel certificate. This process is fairly simple, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Note: If your voucher/credit is not on this list, please do not message us asking if we can accept it. That means you cant mix future flight credits with travel certificates. Do you think there is a risk of United removing the ETC option over the next 8 weeks? My flight with United was cancelled and I rescheduled for a later date. Until recently, customers taking advantage of Uniteds free-change policy had been able to request an ETC when voluntarily canceling a flight. United has three primary options for its travel funds, including future flight credits, travel certificates for canceled flights and purchased TravelBank cash. In most situations, the most you can hope for is a credit toward future travel. are eligible for future flight credits for 24 months after the tickets initial issuance date. The flights are considerably cheaper now and if i changed them online the United site. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Earn $1 in TravelBank cash every time you spend it on anything else. So how do we make money? United Airlines issues two types of travel credits, future flight credits and travel certificates, depending on the reason for issuance. Verify that each $25 TravelBank Cash is credited according to your IHG Rewards Premier credit card benefit into your United MileagePlus account. The Science of Sound. Using the United app or United.com, customers with an electronic travel certificate (ETC) or a future flight credit (FFC), can enjoy more options and flexibility than ever including the ability to: Of United's two flight credit offerings, electronic travel certificates are the most useful since they're valid for longer (two years from the issue date) than future flight credits. Go to the Source. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. All Rights Reserved. You. Went in to look for the ETC choice but only FFC appeared to be available so I didn't go through with it yet. Connecting Flights at London Heathrow Airport, TUI Airways (formerly Thomson) Dreamliner - Movies and Seating Information, Best Layover Cities to conti onward to Florence, International connection with separate tickets at LAX. Using your credits is easy Step 1: Find your credits and view your credits in your MileagePlus account, or look them up below. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Theres never any guarantee, but its certainly worth making the request. Redeem your certificate On the united.com home page, enter the origin, destination and travel dates. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-106234387', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flights or do you have to use them up on a single reservation? Instead, it offers the United TravelBank. If your original ticket was purchased with an award or an upgrade certificate, for example, then you likely wont be able to convert it. ETCs can be redeemed for travel operated by partners, as long as at least one segment in the itinerary is operated by United and United Express. You can earn a travel certificate for doing this. First, youll want to search for a flight directly on the United site. These credits can normally only be used by the traveler whose name was on the original reservation. Related: Hotel and airline elite status extensions stretching into 2023. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. 2) Provide your confirmation number and the first four digits of your credit card number. You want a travel credit card that prioritizes whats important to you. The same applies when using the future flight credit tool to rebook canceled award tickets. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Heres what to do if you need to cancel your trip, Hotel and airline elite status extensions stretching into 2023, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. United Airlines issues future flight credits and electronic travel certificates. Find the right card for you. Just be sure to have the persons name and contact information when youre ready to book the flight. United Airlines will automatically display flight credits as a payment option during the checkout process. Will BA let me fly to Canada to get my TRP at the border. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. When do I have to make a decision? Certificates are not valid for travel on Star AllianceTM flights or United-marketed flights operated by other airlines. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. Credit Score ranges are based on FICO credit scoring. 2023 Forbes Media LLC. 3) The agent will tell you how much United credit is available to you. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Confirm the due date on your voucher. You'll now get a new future flight credit when rebooking to a less expensive flight. OK92033) Property & Casualty Licenses, NerdWallet | 55 Hawthorne St. - 11th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. These instructions can help you apply your unused travel funds to a future flight. This is most likely because when you cancel a flight, these add-ons are reimbursed to your original mode of payment. We were supposed to fly mid-March, and at that time you had to make some sort of decision before your original (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. These can be used for travel on United and partner flights, but they must be used by the person who has the original ticket. If your TravelBank balance doesnt cover your total flight cost, United may allow you to cover the cost by combining TravelBank cash with: There are three major types of travel funds that youll find within your United account. But even if they say their policy is flight credit, you can remind them that DOT RULES say you can choose a refund instead. So lets look at how to apply travel funds on United, where you can find them and the different types of travel funds. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Finally, if youre still having trouble, contact United customer service directly and they should be able to help you out. **Future flight credits issued on or before Dec. 31, 2021, will be valid until Dec. 31, 2022. TravelBank cash: This credit is valid for five years from the date it was deposited into your account. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. United Airlines have extended all future flight credits by year until March 31, 2022. When you change your flight to a less expensive fare: If you need to alter your flight and the new fare is cheaper than the previous one, the remaining funds will become a travel credit. You can do it online or call the rep for the booking. For bookings made after March 31, 2021, future flight credits will need to be used for travel that takes place within 12 months of when the original ticket was issued. Choose your flights and enter your contact information. Tickets for airlines are not transferrable. At checkout, choose travel credit as your payment option. First, youll need to log in to your account using the Sign In button in the top right corner of the United homepage. Apply these funds when purchasing a flight, though youll want to be aware of any limitations before you book. I cancelled it on 3/10 under whatever travel waiver was going on at the time. If you havent already, you must first sign up for the IHG and United TravelBank Cash perks. They can also be combined with other ETCs and can be redeemed for travel for someone other than the person whose original trip was changed. The rules for applying travel funds will differ depending on which types you hold. Swear. A United spokesperson told Travel + Leisure that any electronic travel certificates that would otherwise expire between August 1 and December 31, 2021, will also remain . I was just looking at this today. With our guide, youll be able to smoothly navigate United travel credit usage and get best value from them. Future flight credits for United tickets issued between May 1, 2019, and March 31, 2021, must be used for travel that takes place by March 31, 2022. Meanwhile, if youre looking to book a cash fare, you may be able to call United reservations at (800) 864-8331 to have your future flight credit canceled, with the balance issued in the form of an ETC, instead. Today I log into my account to start the process and I discover I can take the credit as an Electronic Travel Certificate which has a much more generous timeline to use it. For a while, if you moved to a lower-cost flight, you lost any residual value. Thanks! 5) You can also redeem your points toward a flight on united.com/credit Reference: united credit. Please do not include any spaces. Arrive terminal 3 depart terminal 5 next day. Select "My trips" and "Change . Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Yes. We have a ticket for departure on May 27 that we are planning to cancel. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-106283069', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight itinerary. Valid only for purchases made for air travel, including the cost of the ticket, taxes, and surcharges. Like many other carriers United Airlines has eliminated change fees on many flights and has been issuing credits for canceled trips since the height of the pandemic. more. As a gesture of goodwill: In some cases, United may be willing to offer you travel credits for future travel. Would rather have a travel certificate so I can just rebookat my own convenience. ETCs can be used multiple times if the flight costs less than the value of the certificate, the balance will remain on your account. These can be used for flights on United and partner-operated flights. Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. The carrier is extending the window for redeeming flight credits, which are typically . Any remaining credit left after applying a travel certificate can be used in the future using the same PIN number as long as it is prior to the expiration date. (Example: 15XXXX123JX45K6) Select the "Search" button. How long is United flight credit good for? The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Future flight credits can also be used to purchase some extras such as Basic Economy seat assignments and Economy Plus seating. To use your United credit, you will need to do the following: Since I'm not able to fly for a while (new baby coming), was wondering if I can just change it to a travel certificate so my family can use it. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Registries will become inactive after five years. Learn more. Positive identification may be required when using a certificate toward the purchase of a ticket. Can you use miles for someone else? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-106230042', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise has canceled. Enter your offer code, plus the PIN provided, in the "Promotions and certificates" field. I'm in a similar boat to you - ours is on 26 May. Read More: United Mileage Plus: The Ultimate Guide. Future flight credits, for instance, have a shorter validity period. However, the credit only can be used with the original passanger's name. Special flairs: If you're a United employee or Global Services member, PM /u/Player72 with proof (ID badge or something) and you can get a special flair. Scan this QR code to download the app now. To help with the uncertainty around future travel be it summer vacations, conferences, events and more customers now have until April 30 to make changes to, or cancel, any travel they have booked through the end of the year without fees. This change may not occur right away. This will all need to be filled out before continuing to the next page. If you tried to cancel previously, only FFC was offered. Also, United just extended the future flight credit out to 24 months from date of issue, so even if they don't cancel any of the flights and you are forced to cancel yourself and take a credit, it's valid for two years with no change fees. Learn more: Your guide to travel cancellation refunds and vouchers. United travel credits We have two types of travel credits, and both can easily be used to shop for flights and amenities on our website or app. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. If you are a MileagePlus member, your travel credits should appear automatically. If youre purchasing a higher-cost flight, you can combine ETCs with a credit card payment to cover the difference. Hopefully we'll be able to travel again by then, and the airline will still be flying! We recommend stating agent please until you are connected.2. Electronic travel certificates. NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539, NMLS Consumer Access|Licenses and Disclosures, California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812, Property and Casualty insurance services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc. (CA resident license no. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Advisor site. Next, check to see if the credit can be used for the flight youre trying to book. These have the same limitations as future flight credits. These funds are only applicable towards flights. And while our site doesnt feature every company or financial product available on the market, were proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward and free. Hopefully we'll be able to travel again by then, and the airline will still be flying! Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. From there, click the Future flight credit tab and select the Book with credit option to book a new trip. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed. On the next page, look for the section labeled Future Travel Credits. Here, you will see all of your future flight credits that are available for use. Can you turn flight credit into trip credit? If United cancels even one flight in your itinerary, or changes the times of any flight, they are obligated to give you a full refund if you choose not to accept future flight credit. You can apply a travel certificate to travel occurring after the expiry date as long as you book the ticket prior to expiry. For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. There are three major types of travel funds that youll find within your, Lets say you purchased a nonrefundable flight in 2021 but needed to. It must be used for the same travelers booked on the original trip.". The agent will tell you they are sending an email with the electronic travel certificate. In early 2020, UA changed the 1-year life of tickets and ETCs to 2 years and also change rebooked flights had to "commenced" in the original ticket's life vs the older, but unenforced "complete travel. We'd love to hear from you, please enter your comments. If youre not a member, head to Uniteds site and enter your confirmation number or PIN to check your travel credit. Youll need to click through seat selection and other bundle options to reach the checkout page. With all the covid craziness, it doesn't expire for 2 years. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Contacting the airline directly should be your first move if you have a voucher that is about to expire. How Much Are Travel Points and Miles Worth in 2023? Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. If you call United reservations to use your credit, you may be charged a fee. However, finding and using these funds isnt the most intuitive experience. Select the travel credit(s) you wish to use and finish checking out. United has three primary options for its travel funds, including future flight credits, travel certificates for canceled flights and purchased TravelBank cash.