Some insisted customers accept future travel credits instead of full refunds, even if that’s ultimately what flyers were entitled to. Travel voucher class action Law firm Slater and Gordon are investigating the legality of airlines and other tour operators offering credit vouchers instead of refunds. Meanwhile, if you’re 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. Fortunately, United has just made it much easier to redeem your ETCs, whenever you’re ready to fly again. As with many carriers around the world, United Airlines has been issuing credits for canceled trips. Additionally, by this time, the coronavirus had placed many countries — including Belgium — in lockdown. There’s never any guarantee, but it’s certainly worth making the request. When you cancel your flight on a nonrefundable United Airlines ticket, you will not get a refund. That began a pointless loop of explaining my problem and then receiving the message to try again later. United Airlines | MileagePlus - How to get residual/"future flight credit" from non-refundable flight - Originally Posted by mcrw00 Got it. Unfortunately, I haven’t had success redeeming future travel credits for revenue tickets online —you can always give reservations a call at (800) 864-8331 to rebook if you receive an error, such as the one I’ve repeatedly encountered below. Your first instinct may be to cancel and redeposit the award, for added flexibility, but if you had been able to lock in a lower-rate award with your original booking, it may be advantageous to call in and request an agent’s help in making the change. Credits issued on canceled flights are good for up to 24 months. And with time running out, our Expedia contact promised to personally correct Funk’s reservation. In the U.S., airlines are required to give refunds if a flight has been … United Airlines should have refunded your tickets. In actuality, it's hit or miss. Unfortunately, the airline’s website only seems to track a portion of a customer’s available ETCs — I keep mine organized in a spreadsheet, and I recommend you do the same. The information for the United TravelBank Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. “Can you help me?” Funk asked. If your new flight requires fewer miles or a lower cash co-pay, you’ll receive a refund for the balance once you reissue the ticket. Our executive contact at Expedia is always quick to help the consumers who contact us. And unfortunately, that’s when Funk became embroiled in an endless loop of computer chatbots and unhelpful “assistance.” She found it impossible to request a refund or even to ask for a future flight credit from United Airlines. I’ve gotten some background on why she might be seeing this message. It shows an intimidating warning that the cancellation is prone to airline change fees. United responded that our tickets were nonrefundable but offered us a voucher for future flights. If the airline cancels, you get a full refund. Fact: If United Airlines cancels your flight during the coronavirus pandemic, it owes you a refund. The U.S. Department of Transportation stepped in and reminded United it must offer cash refunds to all customers when their flight is cancelled and then United decided to redefine cancellation. In most cases, if United cancels your flight, you’re eligible for a refund to your original form of payment. Like this, United Airlines flight credit: How to make the most of it after the pandemic, Coronavirus fears: What you need to know about canceling your vacation, Credit card disputes: How to use them in the right way, Here are the answers to the top coronavirus travel questions, How to rent a vacation home: the ultimate guide, This is how to find the best travel insurance for your next trip, You can get banned from Facebook — permanently. But when Funk tried to request a refund for the canceled flight through the United Airlines website, she found no refund option. Screenshot courtesy of United Airlines. You also won’t lose value when redeeming an ETC — any balance will remain on the certificate for future use. But the new e-cert at least would be emailed to me upon issuance, right? *Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. That’s true even when the original flight was clearly canceled by the airline. Related: What it’s like to fly in the U.S. right now. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). She had been wasting hours of each day worrying about, and trying to cancel, the unwanted flight modification. See, What it’s like to fly in the U.S. right now, American Airlines joins Delta in welcoming all customers on COVID-tested flights to Italy, Royal Caribbean cancels Israel cruise season, putting pivotal hub on hold, Best deals of the week: Flight sales to Hawaii, Memorial Day destinations and more, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, Earn 80K bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. — William Boucek, Frankfort, Ill. Answer. Save. United Airlines. If your new flight requires fewer miles or a lower cash co-pay, you’ll receive a refund for the balance once you reissue the ticket. If you’re purchasing a higher-cost flight, you can combine ETCs with a credit card payment to cover the difference. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Unlike ETCs, future flight credits can be used to cover the cost of partner flights, as long as those flights are available for United to book, either on United’s own website or by calling reservations at (800) 864-8331. She has an apartment there and enjoys watching the springtime flowers bloom in her garden. New Policy: United Airlines Will Refund You In A Year For Your Canceled Flight. 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