US Airways Dividend Miles - US airways Take the flighter Voucher (free Round trip) usage problem

My wife and I got this free round trip voucher last July and it expires in 4 months. I happen to go to a conference late June in LA, and my wife intends to go with me so that we could use those two vouchers.

For her, since it's our own expense, the out-of-pocket needs to be minimum, I guess the free round trip is the only option.

But for me, since my company will reimburse the airfare, I'm debating which way to use it, I can either use it as $200 off and get the mileage along with the receipt showing amount of money (for reimbursement); or I could use a free round trip option, the only thing that I'm not sure is if I will get a receipt showing the air ticket price.

Can you veterans give me some hints in how to utilize our vouchers most efficiently?

Our travel date would be June 24 (or one/two days later) to July 7 (3 days flucation would be OK).

Thanks a lot.

What you SHOULD get if you use it as a discount voucher for the ticket is that you get a receipt for the full price with the voucher used as a payment instrument... what you'll actually get is anyone's guess!

Consider this: the voucher is yours - it has value and you own it. If you use it for a $200 discount on a $400 ticket you have paid $400 and your company owes you $400 (the $200 you're out of pocket plus the $200 value of the voucher that you owned that was used on your company's business.) Whether you use the voucher or not you are out of pocket $400 on that ticket and that's what you're owed by your company... how you choose to pay for the ticket is up to you.

I have run in to this often with my company reimbursing me airfare.
US and UA does this.

If you’re fare is 600, and you apply a 200 dollar credit.
your receipt from US will show 400.00 it will not mention the 600.00 face value or your 200 dollar credit.
its gotten me twice so far, once with US and once with UA.

I have never called and asked for a receipt with the full amount, which might be an option.

Let me know if you do and if they give you one.

What you SHOULD get if you use it as a discount voucher for the ticket is that you get a receipt for the full price with the voucher used as a payment instrument... what you'll actually get is anyone's guess!

Consider this: the voucher is yours - it has value and you own it. If I use it for a $200 discount on a $400 ticket you have paid $400 and your company owes you $400 (the $200 you're out of pocket plus the $200 value of the voucher that you owned that was used on your company's business.) Whether you use the voucher or not you are out of pocket $400 on that ticket and that's what you're owed by your company... how you choose to pay for the ticket is up to you.

Theoretically you are 100% right, but considering my situation here. If you choose the free round trip option to redeem the voucher, but US airways only give me a receipt indicating this is a reward redemption (I think it comes out from X award ticket pool), no actual price for the ticket, then I would not be able to get reimbursement. This is the question I want to know from you guys' experience, if I do this, what kind of receipt I would get? I never redeem mileage award ticket before, but I assume that it would only be saying how many miles you used instead of number of $$.

Best scenario is I use it for free RT tix, and they give me a receipt showing the full price. Then basically I cash out this voucher for $400. Otherwise, if I use it as $200 off coupon, paid the rest $200 by myself. Even if they reimburse the full amount, the voucher is half cashed out.

My experience with US has been the same as laclac01 describes. The receipt, or amount paid, shows the price of the trip AFTER the $200 voucher was applied.

I doubt if the company will reimburse you for money you paid using voucher.

At least when paper ticket was the norm, I used an AA voucher to pay for the ticket - my compnay declined the payment, the receipt had a whole bunch of codes. I never could understand all the codes in the receipt, other than the total price, tax line items. Folks in finance are perhaps trained on this.

What you SHOULD get if you use it as a discount voucher for the ticket is that you get a receipt for the full price with the voucher used as a payment instrument... what you'll actually get is anyone's guess!

Consider this: the voucher is yours - it has value and you own it. If you use it for a $200 discount on a $400 ticket you have paid $400 and your company owes you $400 (the $200 you're out of pocket plus the $200 value of the voucher that you owned that was used on your company's business.) Whether you use the voucher or not you are out of pocket $400 on that ticket and that's what you're owed by your company... how you choose to pay for the ticket is up to you.

If you used the voucher and the company reimbursed you for the value of the voucher, isn't that the same thing as selling the voucher (to your company) and sellling the voucher to anyone else is against the airline's rules?

Use the voucher for a free RT for your wife (book that 1st as seats are limited), buy a ticket for yourself and get reimbursed by your company. Don't try to pull any fast ones.

I doubt if the company will reimburse you for money you paid using voucher.

At least when paper ticket was the norm, I used an AA voucher to pay for the ticket - my compnay declined the payment, the receipt had a whole bunch of codes. I never could understand all the codes in the receipt, other than the total price, tax line items. Folks in finance are perhaps trained on this.

I'm new to this kind of voucher, but its T&C says only for me (my name on it) and I'd naturally think it would be quite a fuss to sell this kind of thing for a price. I sold coupons before, but not vouchers especially a voucher with so many restrictions. Please inform me where I could go and sell it.

This is indeed a headache type of stuff, for one thing it has so many restrictions when you booking, for another the expiration date is approaching.

Thanks a lot.

I'm new to this kind of voucher, but its T&C says only for me (my name on it) and I'd naturally think it would be quite a fuss to sell this kind of thing for a price.

The voucher must be used by you as the code that it was assigned is the actual PNR (record locator) from the trip on which you "earned" the voucher.

A few years ago I used some NW vouchers in the manner you describe with no problem. The cost of the ticket was the full price, and the $300 voucher value was just the same as having paid $300 cash and the balance on my credit card. I used a US voucher last fall, but it wasn't a business trip, so I had no cause to look at the receipt. Actually, you have to book those trips on the phone (yes, they waive the call center fee) and for some reason they never even sent me an email receipt, and I had some problems checking in when I took the trip - I wasn't in the computer when I tried to use the kiosk.

The voucher must be used by you as the code that it was assigned is the actual PNR (record locator) from the trip on which you "earned" the voucher.

Not correct. I am looking at a Take Flight Certificate right now issued to my wife. It reads "TFC is transferable with valid PIN..." Her valid PIN is written on the front.

Not correct. I am looking at a Take Flight Certificate right now issued to my wife. It reads "TFC is transferable with valid PIN..." Her valid PIN is written on the front.
It's a question of semantics I guess. The voucher, as is, can only be used by the person on the voucher. Using the PIN on the voucher you can transfer it to another person, who then is the only person that can use the voucher.

I didn't see that part before or I would have clarified. I've definitely transferred a voucher to someone else before. Can't remember if you have to go to the airport or can do it over the phone; I went to the airport but that was mainly because I was already at the airport.

Getting back to the original challenge - can the OP get a receipt that has the full cash value of the ticket despite using a voucher?

I don't advocate slight-of-hand when it comes to reimbursement for work, it's usually not worth the risk. However, you could use a trick I used to get a receipt to look the way I wanted it to...


Purchase the ticket at the regular price (w/o the voucher).
Print the receipt.
Immediately call US back cancel the first flight and buy another using the voucher.
If you want you can print the new receipt. In case you change your mind.
Use the first receipt for your reimbursement.


My company's travel department did this once when my hosts needed a receipt that indicated "coach" but I wanted to use TA-Certs to upgrade to Envoy. Bought a coach ticket, printed receipt, canceled first ticket and immediately bought another using the Certs.

US typically lets you cancel or make changes up to 24 hours after booking even for non-refundable. I've had to invoke this a couple times when I punched in the wrong dates on the website. I'd try to do all this on the same phone call with a US agent, but you may get charged for a phone booking.

US typically lets you cancel or make changes up to 24 hours after booking even for non-refundable. I've had to invoke this a couple times when I punched in the wrong dates on the website. I'd try to do all this on the same phone call with a US agent, but you may get charged for a phone booking.

Absolutely no longer the case in my experience - and hasn't been possible for some two years now.

Now if you were to call in and explain what you were doing in advance (need a receipt for the full price, using a voucher, etc.), they may note the PNR such that it can be canceled within 24 hours, but I wouldn't count on being able to book then cancel without prior arrangement.

Absolutely no longer the case in my experience - and hasn't been possible for some two years now.

Now if you were to call in and explain what you were doing in advance (need a receipt for the full price, using a voucher, etc.), they may note the PNR such that it can be canceled within 24 hours, but I wouldn't count on being able to book then cancel without prior arrangement.

Good warning - IIRC it was March 2008 when we did the above, but using a travel agent and setting it up with US ahead of time.