Originally Posted by
sfgiants13
I believe you can cancel the flight for future credit? Would that credit be only in her name or just a general voucher I could use on anyone?
E-tickets: You can make changes to your e-ticket on united.com anytime prior to your original departure date. If you are unsure of the new travel dates, call to cancel the reservation by the first flight date to retain the value of your electronic ticket for 1 year from the purchase date. Additional restrictions apply for international travel e-tickets.
When you buy a ticket, you are basically signing a contract - the terms of the contract can't be changed - the contract is between the carrier and the person on the ticket. That's why name changes aren't allowed.
Ticket credit is good only for the person who was supposed to fly. Basically, they do it as a ticket re-issue. The pax can book another flight and they get ticket value minus change fee (typically $150) to use on another flight.
The only way to get any of that value to someone else, is to buy a new ticket to somewhere, as cheap as you can find it. The balance left will go into a voucher, which anyone can use. Though I believe it does have the original ticket holders name on it, and they need to authorize it for someone else's use.