Unbelievably basic voucher question
Jun 7, 2000 | 6:37 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: ROC->NRT, now Princeton
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat 2MM, HH expired!, "Good Kid Club" (Silver)
Posts: 767
Unbelievably basic voucher question
I've achieved Elite status with different carriers, yet I confess I wouldn't know what to do with a voucher even if I gave up my seat or otherwise had reason to receive one. I am an ex-pat (Japan) that will probably return to the US eventually.
Essentially all of my travel is int'l from Japan, and I don't think vouchers would work here. More out of curiosity than anything else, I am wondering what all is up with vouchers. (I usually fly AA Plat.)
-KP
Essentially all of my travel is int'l from Japan, and I don't think vouchers would work here. More out of curiosity than anything else, I am wondering what all is up with vouchers. (I usually fly AA Plat.)
-KP
Jun 7, 2000 | 8:51 am
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Chattanooga, TN, USA**US Airways Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,338
A voucher is kind of like a gift certificate. You would use it as partial (or complete) payment of a future airfare. On AA, vouchers are paper, so you would take them to your airport or city ticket office (or maybe your travel agent). Southwest (and maybe others) use e-vouchers--the money is recorded under a six-letter code.
There might be a problem in using a voucher from before you come home here--the voucher would be in , but the ticket here would be in US$. I would think they would take it at a reasonably current exchange rate, but I'm not entirely certain on that point.
There might be a problem in using a voucher from before you come home here--the voucher would be in , but the ticket here would be in US$. I would think they would take it at a reasonably current exchange rate, but I'm not entirely certain on that point.
Jun 7, 2000 | 10:06 am
#3
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Coppell, Texas
Posts: 1,015
Vouchers are tax free gifts! You can use them to purchase tickets and they are exempt from federal aviation tax, so if your offered a $500 voucher it really is like getting 540 because the federal tax is 8%. I always take them even when they are $200. They book you on another flight maybe 2 hours later, sometimes bump you to first class. So the question is do you make $100 an hour tax free about $250,000 a year. In my case no! Remember when you use your voucher it is a form of payment so your ticket will have a ticket value, so you can expense it and you do get miles for your trip using a voucher. If you don't use it in the first year pay $75. and they will give you another year.
Jun 8, 2000 | 6:54 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: This year we're going to the BAFTAs!
Posts: 5,518
I've also been told (by CO) that one can use a voucher in any currency anywhere, with conversion being handled locally, as it is done for taxes (on international travel) that are imposed by foreign parties, such as the US Customs/Immigration fees, etc... (assuming one is flying to the US from another country.. though even my dear Canadian govt has similar fees.)
Jun 8, 2000 | 7:47 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Austin, Tx USA
Posts: 27
Can you cash out your vouchers with Airlines?
I got a $400 one a year ago for American and I don't see using it any time soon but I think it is only good for a ticket with American.
Is there anyplace online that buys these things?
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www.iHomeBusiness.org
I got a $400 one a year ago for American and I don't see using it any time soon but I think it is only good for a ticket with American.
Is there anyplace online that buys these things?
------------------
www.iHomeBusiness.org
Jun 8, 2000 | 8:12 am
#7
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Always on vacation
Programs: aa exp - spg gold - Hyatt Diamond - HH Gold
Posts: 6,007
Incredibly 
less than half and maybe as little as 10% (depending on whom you talk with) of vouchers are ever used. These things are like money - most of the ones I have seen are transferable - and I can not imagine anyone who posts or lurks here not flying enough to use them. But according to my TA she is always getting calls from someone who has one and it is almost expiring and they don't know what to do with it. Well duh, you can book future travel.
And no you can not cash out with airlines. If they wanted you to cash out they would have gave you cash in the first place. They want you to join the majority and not use the voucher.
[This message has been edited by magic111 (edited 06-08-2000).]
less than half and maybe as little as 10% (depending on whom you talk with) of vouchers are ever used. These things are like money - most of the ones I have seen are transferable - and I can not imagine anyone who posts or lurks here not flying enough to use them. But according to my TA she is always getting calls from someone who has one and it is almost expiring and they don't know what to do with it. Well duh, you can book future travel.And no you can not cash out with airlines. If they wanted you to cash out they would have gave you cash in the first place. They want you to join the majority and not use the voucher.
[This message has been edited by magic111 (edited 06-08-2000).]
Jun 8, 2000 | 9:00 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 7,149
One thing people have done is go on ebay and sell put a FedExed envelope up for bid, with a free bonus (the voucher)to the auction winner.
This is done because these things are void if transferred for consideration- ie., you're not supposed to sell them. But you can give them to whoever you want.
(the voucher)to the auction winner. This is done because these things are void if transferred for consideration- ie., you're not supposed to sell them. But you can give them to whoever you want.
Jun 8, 2000 | 12:51 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Austin, Tx USA
Posts: 27
and I can not imagine anyone who posts or lurks here not flying enough to use them.
I currently am in Rome Italy (3 more years) and I don't think American has outbound flights from here too often. I think they mainly use Milan. So I don't forsee using them that much. I like KLM while I am in Europe. So hope that helps clarify why I don't forsee using it any time soon.
Thanks for the suggestion about Ebay. I think I might just give it to my mom for a trip. It is transferrable.
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www.iHomeBusiness.org
[This message has been edited by ToddReit (edited 06-08-2000).]
[This message has been edited by ToddReit (edited 06-08-2000).]
Jun 9, 2000 | 12:05 am
#12
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Coppell, Texas
Posts: 1,015
Give your voucher for a ticket to your church for travel or buy a ticket for your favorite charity. Maybe your minister would like to go someplace.
You can also get a ticket to a place you may go to book it a year from the voucher, at that time you can always change the distination for 75 for another year, you just can't change the name on the ticket
You can also get a ticket to a place you may go to book it a year from the voucher, at that time you can always change the distination for 75 for another year, you just can't change the name on the ticket
Jun 10, 2000 | 1:41 am
#13
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC USA
Posts: 290
AA accepts vouchers that are more than a year old. DO NOT turn them in for a new one because every time you do that you lose $75. Just hold on to it until you are ready to use it for yourself or someone else. We treat them the same as cash. Likewise if you lose it, it is not replaceable. If the voucher is more than a year old there is a one time fee of $75 when you use it as opposed to renewing it every year at $75. a pop.
Jun 15, 2000 | 12:50 pm
#15
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 1999
Location: San Francisco UA1K; AA Gold
Posts: 937
Whether you pay the tax or not seems to depend on how the airline has structured the voucher - I found last fall that with United I did have to pay the tax, but with American I didn't.
ToddReit, American Airlines vouchers can be used on any OneWorld airline, so that may give you an option for using your voucher.
ToddReit, American Airlines vouchers can be used on any OneWorld airline, so that may give you an option for using your voucher.