Jan 8, 2015, 2:07 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
*NEW* Now See All Your Electronic Travel Credit(s) (ETCs) on Your United.com Account!
Update 30 Aug 2021
See discussion in COVID19 Schedule Change (6+hrs)/Cancellation Refund, UA resisting refunds, DOT ruling
Checking the balance: http://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps...s/default.aspx
Enter type (see below) and PIN as a single code without any spaces. Then the page will say it couldn't find anything and offer you a place to enter your last name. Note, will show remaining value but not expiration date,
What does "type" mean? Good question. See the following answer from post 670:
Electronic Travel Certificates (ETCs) / vouchers canonly be used for travel on an entirely UA/UX operated paid itinerary.
Late August 2021 Now useable on partner and codeshare itins!
ETCs can now be used to pay pre-paid baggage fees.
Not valid when there are partner flights or any segment that uses partner metal.
Cannot be used to pay award flight fees.
Cannot be used for E+ fees, WiFi fees, UA subscriptions (Wifi, E+ fees, UC membership, ...), upgrades fees (but OK for up-fares), change fees, ....
ETC can be used by anyone with the PIN and last name of the original person receiving the ETC.
If not fully used the residual can be used later with the same original expiration.
ETCs will be used for the total amount needed (no partial payments if the ETC has a greater value)
TVCA certs with PINs (by far the most common ecert most customers will receive -- such as goodwill compensation from Customer Care or refunds on flights) are considered a form of payment and don't reduce thePQDs PQP earnings.. So the full value of the ticket is earned, no reduction
Expiration -- ETCs generally have a 1 2-year life. The ETC should be used prior to expiration -- but the actual travel days can be after expiration. While not publically documented, it does appear ETCs have a 30 day (one month?) post-expiration grace period.
How do I use the ETC?
Online works fine or you can call and used an agent (a fee may apply)
Online, either select "all search" options and scroll to the bottom of the screen to enter
or
wait until you get to the Payment Options at the end of the purchasing steps and select "United payment types"
Enter pin code (7 or 10 digits) and Last Name on the ETC
Where online can I view my unused ETCs?
You cannot. No such listing is available. UA now displays some ETCs in Your Account (May 2020)
Reports suggest ETCs from flight credits seem to be displayed but customer service ETCs are not.
Now See All Your Electronic Travel Credit(s) (ETCs) on Your United.com Account!
You can call and ask an agent to look these up for you. Note agents will not provide the ETC PIN on the phone.
Can an ETC be used for covering the costs of a post-purchase upfare?
Multiple reports of success but one mentioned it would need to be the sole method of payment.
Can only be done by an agent -- not online
Can not be an upgrade fee, must be an upfare.
Can an ETC be used to UC membership or E+ access fee or change fee or award fee or upgrade co-pay or baggage fee or ...
ETCs can only be used for airfare,not for any fee
August 2020 - ETCs can be used for internet access, E+, subscriptions, upgrades, bag fees
Can I partially use an ETC and then pay the remainder with a credit card (to get the card's benefits)?
No, the ETC must be fully used (up to the needed amount). Only if the ETC is insufficient, can a credit card then be used.
If I make a booking with an ETC and then cancel -- what happens?
Normally it would just stay as flight credit. If refunded, it goes back to the original ETC (recent reports suggest a new ETC is now issued). If that has expired, it gets tricky, UA may create a new ETC -- this situation generally takes manual handling. It does not get converted to cash
How many ETCs can be used at one time?
There is a limit of one ETC per passenger. If you have multiple passengers on the PNR, you can apply 1 ETC each ( does not have to be the same value ETC nor does ETC to be applied to every passenger). (Recent reports suggest the use of multiple ETCs per passenger). If you have more ETCs than passengers, you can now combine ETCs. You can also use one-ways to double the number of opportunities to use ETCs vs roundtrips.
Combinability update July 2017 - ETCs can be combined (either a new ETC created with the expiration date of the earliest-expiring ETC or multiple ETCs used on a PNR). Appears will only combine ETC if you need to do this to book a flight. Initially, UA seemed to allow the combining for future use but most reports now suggest you need to also have a flight booking in mind using the new combined ETC.
Combinability update June 2020 - ETCs can be combined at the website payment screen without calling (see post 690)
Related threads
Extending a Credit/Travel/ETC Voucher by booking a refundable fare?
Is there any way to combine multiple travel certificates into one? {out-of-date -- see not above}
UA Electronic Travel Certificate & Codeshares/partner flights
Using ETCs in Canada (outside of US) on new United.com
Archive: UA Electronic Travel Certificates (ETC): General Q&A, ... {Archive}
Link to Travel Credit Lookup by E-mail Page:
https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/credit.html
Note: page first shows FFCs; scroll down further for ETCs.
David
https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/credit.html
Note: page first shows FFCs; scroll down further for ETCs.
David
We’re extending electronic certificatesTo give you more flexibility when you travel, electronic certificates are now valid for 24 months from the date they were issued. This includes all currently valid electronic certificates and all new ones issued on or after April 1, 2020. All electronic certificates due to expire prior to December 31, 2022, will be extended until December 31, 2022.
This policy change will automatically appear, but it may not be reflected everywhere right away. We’d appreciate your patience as we work to make that happen.
.
This policy change will automatically appear, but it may not be reflected everywhere right away. We’d appreciate your patience as we work to make that happen.
.
Checking the balance: http://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps...s/default.aspx
Enter type (see below) and PIN as a single code without any spaces. Then the page will say it couldn't find anything and offer you a place to enter your last name. Note, will show remaining value but not expiration date,
What does "type" mean? Good question. See the following answer from post 670:
Electronic Travel Certificates (ETCs) / vouchers can
Late August 2021 Now useable on partner and codeshare itins!
ETCs can now be used to pay pre-paid baggage fees.
Not valid when there are partner flights or any segment that uses partner metal.
Cannot be used to pay award flight fees.
ETC can be used by anyone with the PIN and last name of the original person receiving the ETC.
If not fully used the residual can be used later with the same original expiration.
ETCs will be used for the total amount needed (no partial payments if the ETC has a greater value)
TVCA certs with PINs (by far the most common ecert most customers will receive -- such as goodwill compensation from Customer Care or refunds on flights) are considered a form of payment and don't reduce the
yes they do. https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...arn-miles.html Q&A #7
How do I use the ETC?
Online works fine or you can call and used an agent (a fee may apply)
Online, either select "all search" options and scroll to the bottom of the screen to enter
or
wait until you get to the Payment Options at the end of the purchasing steps and select "United payment types"
Enter pin code (7 or 10 digits) and Last Name on the ETC
Where online can I view my unused ETCs?
Reports suggest ETCs from flight credits seem to be displayed but customer service ETCs are not.
Now See All Your Electronic Travel Credit(s) (ETCs) on Your United.com Account!
You can call and ask an agent to look these up for you. Note agents will not provide the ETC PIN on the phone.
Can an ETC be used for covering the costs of a post-purchase upfare?
Multiple reports of success but one mentioned it would need to be the sole method of payment.
Can only be done by an agent -- not online
Can not be an upgrade fee, must be an upfare.
Can an ETC be used to UC membership or E+ access fee or change fee or award fee or upgrade co-pay or baggage fee or ...
ETCs can only be used for airfare,
August 2020 - ETCs can be used for internet access, E+, subscriptions, upgrades, bag fees
Can I partially use an ETC and then pay the remainder with a credit card (to get the card's benefits)?
No, the ETC must be fully used (up to the needed amount). Only if the ETC is insufficient, can a credit card then be used.
If I make a booking with an ETC and then cancel -- what happens?
Normally it would just stay as flight credit. If refunded, it goes back to the original ETC (recent reports suggest a new ETC is now issued). If that has expired, it gets tricky, UA may create a new ETC -- this situation generally takes manual handling. It does not get converted to cash
How many ETCs can be used at one time?
There is a limit of one ETC per passenger. If you have multiple passengers on the PNR, you can apply 1 ETC each ( does not have to be the same value ETC nor does ETC to be applied to every passenger). (Recent reports suggest the use of multiple ETCs per passenger). If you have more ETCs than passengers, you can now combine ETCs. You can also use one-ways to double the number of opportunities to use ETCs vs roundtrips.
Combinability update July 2017 - ETCs can be combined (either a new ETC created with the expiration date of the earliest-expiring ETC or multiple ETCs used on a PNR). Appears will only combine ETC if you need to do this to book a flight. Initially, UA seemed to allow the combining for future use but most reports now suggest you need to also have a flight booking in mind using the new combined ETC.
Combinability update June 2020 - ETCs can be combined at the website payment screen without calling (see post 690)
Related threads
Extending a Credit/Travel/ETC Voucher by booking a refundable fare?
Is there any way to combine multiple travel certificates into one? {out-of-date -- see not above}
UA Electronic Travel Certificate & Codeshares/partner flights
Using ETCs in Canada (outside of US) on new United.com
Archive: UA Electronic Travel Certificates (ETC): General Q&A, ... {Archive}
UA Electronic Travel Certificates (ETC): Q&A, OK for partners, 2 year life (Dec 2022)
Aug 18, 2017, 1:28 pm
#121
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
I believe that's what happened with the 'pay in person'.
UA US .bomb had that option, but the one I was looking at was UA HK .bomb or UA KR .bomb. The lower-priced flights that I saw were in Google flights directed to KR.
UA US site, however, can only quote a higher price. Not sure if it has anything to do with POS with respect to specific fare basis.
Aug 18, 2017, 1:48 pm
#122
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SNA
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 1,536
Can agents in the clubs combine certs?
Aug 21, 2017, 7:51 am
#123
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: San Francisco
Programs: 1K 2.2MM
Posts: 2,352
Residual cert value
I see in the wiki that using a cert for less than its full value allows you to bank the balance. Is this true? Do you just use same cert and pin next time? Also see you earn pqd on flight, but do you receive pqMs too? Think the answers to both are yes, but want to check the latest.....
Aug 21, 2017, 10:19 am
#124
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: UA Platinum MM; DL Silver; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Hilton Gold; Marriott Gold
Posts: 24,249
You'll earn PQM, PQS, and PQD just the same as you would if you used another form of payment. That's all the e-cert is: a form of payment.
Aug 21, 2017, 10:41 am
#125
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
I see in the wiki that using a cert for less than its full value allows you to bank the balance. Is this true? Do you just use same cert and pin next time? Also see you earn pqd on flight, but do you receive pqMs too? Think the answers to both are yes, but want to check the latest.....
Aug 23, 2017, 3:57 pm
#126
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: Virtuoso Luxury Travel Agent; Bonvoy Titanium Elite; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 663
Sorry if this has been answered, on a long haul flight and internet is very slow.
I booked a ticket using an electronic certificate today. It's still within the 24h cancellation rule.
I'd like to cancel and rebook for a day later. Will the value used from the cerificate go back immediately so I can apply it on the new ticket? If not, can an agent help here?
I booked a ticket using an electronic certificate today. It's still within the 24h cancellation rule.
I'd like to cancel and rebook for a day later. Will the value used from the cerificate go back immediately so I can apply it on the new ticket? If not, can an agent help here?
Aug 23, 2017, 4:00 pm
#127
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
....
I booked a ticket using an electronic certificate today. It's still within the 24h cancellation rule.
I'd like to cancel and rebook for a day later. Will the value used from the cerificate go back immediately so I can apply it on the new ticket? If not, can an agent help here?
I booked a ticket using an electronic certificate today. It's still within the 24h cancellation rule.
I'd like to cancel and rebook for a day later. Will the value used from the cerificate go back immediately so I can apply it on the new ticket? If not, can an agent help here?
Enjoy your flight
Aug 23, 2017, 4:17 pm
#128
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 32
I can confirm I was able to combine multiple E-certificates with different last names. It did take some time and the agent seemed only willing to do this if I was prepared to book a flight immediately over the phone (which I did). She initially tried to charge me $25 for phone booking, but I pushed back (bc of her request that I immediately book over phone) and she waived that fee.
Aug 23, 2017, 5:03 pm
#129
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
Sorry if this has been answered, on a long haul flight and internet is very slow.
I booked a ticket using an electronic certificate today. It's still within the 24h cancellation rule.
I'd like to cancel and rebook for a day later. Will the value used from the cerificate go back immediately so I can apply it on the new ticket? If not, can an agent help here?
I booked a ticket using an electronic certificate today. It's still within the 24h cancellation rule.
I'd like to cancel and rebook for a day later. Will the value used from the cerificate go back immediately so I can apply it on the new ticket? If not, can an agent help here?
I included my Customer Care correspondence in my DOT complaint, which shook loose a refund after a couple of weeks. Customer Care couldn't explain why the refund had not been issued automatically.
An additional $100 ETC showed up a few weeks later with no explanation.
Aug 23, 2017, 5:10 pm
#130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
Like you, I booked and canceled within twenty-four hours, paying with an ETC. I didn't notice that the ETC hadn't been credited until weeks later when I tried to use it again. A Customer Care agent regretfully informed me that ETC payments were non-refundable despite the twenty-four-hour rule and despite this supposed limitation not being mentioned in the certificate's terms and conditions.
I included my Customer Care correspondence in my DOT complaint, which shook loose a refund after a couple of weeks. Customer Care couldn't explain why the refund had not been issued automatically.
An additional $100 ETC showed up a few weeks later with no explanation.
I included my Customer Care correspondence in my DOT complaint, which shook loose a refund after a couple of weeks. Customer Care couldn't explain why the refund had not been issued automatically.
An additional $100 ETC showed up a few weeks later with no explanation.
OP: if you call to change the ticket for the correct date, the agent should be able to take care of it all on the phone. If you would rather refund and re-ticket, you'll want to save the original PNR from this reservation, as that will be the easiest way for the agent to find your new ETC after the refund is processed. They're supposed to email it to you, but my success rate with that is spotty, at best.
Sep 7, 2017, 4:03 pm
#131
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 22
I have an ETC and would like to purchase a ticket that costs less than the ETC's value. When I try to book on .bomb, it applies to the entire price of the ticket. Does anyone know if it's possible to book the ticket with the "pay later" option and then just finalize the payment over the phone partially? In that case would they not charge the phone fee since the reservation was already made and it's just a payment issue being resolved that can't be handled by the website?
The reason I want to avoid paying for the ticket in full with the ETC is that I'd like to pay some small amount with my CSR credit card to get travel protection/insurance.
The reason I want to avoid paying for the ticket in full with the ETC is that I'd like to pay some small amount with my CSR credit card to get travel protection/insurance.
Sep 17, 2017, 4:23 am
#132
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 362
Data point: I just called in to have two ETCs combined. It was no problem but the agent did require me to make the booking there and then on the phone with the combined ETC. I am very happy at this new policy.
Sep 20, 2017, 10:09 am
#133
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Carolina
Programs: UA LT Gold, American Kettle, Hertz #1 Presidents Circle, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 927
Like you, I booked and canceled within twenty-four hours, paying with an ETC. I didn't notice that the ETC hadn't been credited until weeks later when I tried to use it again. A Customer Care agent regretfully informed me that ETC payments were non-refundable despite the twenty-four-hour rule and despite this supposed limitation not being mentioned in the certificate's terms and conditions.
I included my Customer Care correspondence in my DOT complaint, which shook loose a refund after a couple of weeks. Customer Care couldn't explain why the refund had not been issued automatically.
An additional $100 ETC showed up a few weeks later with no explanation.
I included my Customer Care correspondence in my DOT complaint, which shook loose a refund after a couple of weeks. Customer Care couldn't explain why the refund had not been issued automatically.
An additional $100 ETC showed up a few weeks later with no explanation.
My question is how long should I wait for the new ETC to arrive? I want to use it for the Itinerary that I need to rebook in the next couple of days.
Sep 20, 2017, 10:14 am
#134
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
In theory, it's not supposed to take longer than an hour or two, although I think they give themselves 1-2 days just in case.
Sep 20, 2017, 5:11 pm
#135
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: BDL/NYC/BOS
Programs: UA/*A Gold, Global Entry, Marriott Plat, Hilton+IHG Gold, Hertz PC, DL
Posts: 1,752
had to combine two ETCs today. one was under my name, the other under a friend's.
both were from the same original itinerary, fwiw.
i tried to have the twitter folks combine the two into a new, single PIN code via DM. this was the response:
no problem. i called in and got an agent with a positive attitude. he was familiar with the fact that ETCs could be combined, but seemed pessimistic that ETCs with different last names would be okay. i was put on hold while he spoke with a supervisor, who said that it was fine.
i then had him apply the funds to a reservation that i had saved with the 'pay cash at airport' option on .bomb; he had no problem doing that. the phone call took just over 20 minutes, but was relatively effortless compared to prior phone experiences. there were roughly 2 minutes of talk time and 18 minutes of hold time.
both were from the same original itinerary, fwiw.
i tried to have the twitter folks combine the two into a new, single PIN code via DM. this was the response:
These can be combined, however we cannot collect PIN info over social media. You will need to call to combine these certificates.
Please also note if you are combining these, you also need to be redeeming them for travel. We cannot combine the ETCs together, and just issue back to you. You'll need to be booking travel that these two ETCs intend to be used for.
Please also note if you are combining these, you also need to be redeeming them for travel. We cannot combine the ETCs together, and just issue back to you. You'll need to be booking travel that these two ETCs intend to be used for.
i then had him apply the funds to a reservation that i had saved with the 'pay cash at airport' option on .bomb; he had no problem doing that. the phone call took just over 20 minutes, but was relatively effortless compared to prior phone experiences. there were roughly 2 minutes of talk time and 18 minutes of hold time.