Options voucher - validity warning
 

Just thought i would let you know of a few "glitches" that EK staff do not tell you at the time of offering their options vouchers for downgrades etc.

I was bumped down last year when traveling LHR-DXB-BOM, on the final outward sector, they had sent a 2 class aircraft so no F class. I was given an options voucher, first i was offered a DXB-BOM-DXB, when i said that it would be pointless, as it is cheaper to buy LHR-BOM other than purchasing LHR-DXB then using the voucher, they agreed and wrote me a full F class LHR-DXB-INDIA. This was July 2nd last year. My return date, for various reasons, was exactly a year later. I tired to use the ticet last Spetember, but was told that I could not use it until I had fully utalized the ticket it was issued against. I was told the options voucher had a validity of 1 year.

Now I have completed my trip, I called and asked to ""äctivate" the voucher as it were. However, what they fail to tell you is that the ticket is valid for a year from the date it was initially issued, regardless of when you can actually use it.

After lots of iratte calls to the EK customer Service Center, they have agreed to give me (at no cost, this would usually cost 250$) a 2 month extention.

So for what ever reason you are issued a voucher, make sure youare able to use it.

I thought it was fairly clear the voucher is valid for a year (for both outbound and inbound travel) from the date it is issued. I didn't know about the having to complete all legs of the initial trip to use it bit (as you could potentially only finish that trip after 12 months). But in either case, you would need to complete travel by 2 July 2010. Another thing they may have forgotten to mention is that you earn miles (and tier miles) on such a ticket.