Apr 16, 2015, 3:22 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
General the answers is ETCs can only be used for UA flights.
Below is a suggestion
related thread
Questions/Answers/Rules on Electronic Travel Certificates (vouchers; ecerts)
Below is a suggestion
Questions/Answers/Rules on Electronic Travel Certificates (vouchers; ecerts)
UA Electronic Travel Certificate & Codeshares/partner flights
Feb 17, 2015, 5:50 pm
#46
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BWI/DCA/IAD
Programs: Delta GM, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 96
There may be a workaround, though it's multi- step:
Part 1
A) online, do an award booking for the route you want.
B) you will have the chance during the booking process to purchase for cash rather than miles. Do this.
C) when you get to the payment page, choose to pay with cash at the airport. This will create a PNR and enable you to hold the ticket
Part 2
book a second online ticket, one that is flexible, and pay with your voucher
Part 3
Call United and give them the second PNR, the one you don't want. Tell them you want to cancel it and use the value toward purchasing the first PNR.
I can't vouch this will work. It is a great workaround when the actual itinerary has at least one UA flight. But the op wants a trip with no UA flight.
Part 1
A) online, do an award booking for the route you want.
B) you will have the chance during the booking process to purchase for cash rather than miles. Do this.
C) when you get to the payment page, choose to pay with cash at the airport. This will create a PNR and enable you to hold the ticket
Part 2
book a second online ticket, one that is flexible, and pay with your voucher
Part 3
Call United and give them the second PNR, the one you don't want. Tell them you want to cancel it and use the value toward purchasing the first PNR.
I can't vouch this will work. It is a great workaround when the actual itinerary has at least one UA flight. But the op wants a trip with no UA flight.
Do you know if this works (part 2) by buying a nonrefundable ticket and canceling within 24 hours instead of paying the premium for a flexible ticket?
Feb 17, 2015, 7:15 pm
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,752
Not all flexible tickets are expensive. You can find fairly cheap flexible tickets from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Mar 18, 2015, 7:49 am
#48
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Scandinavia
Programs: Eurobonus EBD, BW Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, IHG Plat Amb, HH Diamond
Posts: 352
payment at the airport option was missing for me (tried suggestions above)
My additional headache is that I'm a foreigner and they require a credit card from the US and billing address in order to use voucher if price exceeds the voucher value
My additional headache is that I'm a foreigner and they require a credit card from the US and billing address in order to use voucher if price exceeds the voucher value
Mar 21, 2015, 12:46 am
#49
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Slightly to the left of center
Posts: 3,475
Thanks for sharing. So buy a changeable UA ticket. Change it later to any flight bookable on UA.com. Seems like something one can do entirely online too, yes?
Mar 21, 2015, 12:56 am
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,752
Mar 21, 2015, 6:40 am
#51
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 214
I don't think you need to book the first ticket or call in if you can do it all online with the change flight option
Mar 22, 2015, 9:55 pm
#52
Join Date: May 2004
Location: OAK
Programs: UA Gold MM / AS MVP Gold
Posts: 2,504
using ETC on codeshare
Is it possible to use an ETC on an itinerary with some flights operated by star alliance partners?
Mar 22, 2015, 10:01 pm
#53
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: UA-1K, Hertz-Gold, Marriott-Gold, PC-Platinum, SPG
Posts: 2,777
Mar 22, 2015, 10:38 pm
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,752
Just use the voucher to purchase a changeable UA only itinerary. Then use the new itinerary toward the purchase of the ticket you really want.
Mar 23, 2015, 1:08 am
#55
Join Date: May 2004
Location: OAK
Programs: UA Gold MM / AS MVP Gold
Posts: 2,504
Mar 27, 2015, 3:14 pm
#56
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1
Hello there,
Recently I've received an ETC from UA and I have some questions. So I have a return ticket (first eastbound leg already used) and I want to change my return date from June 29th to May 20th +/- 3days. I am guessing that this will cost me a lot, but I have to do this. Can you use this ETC and kind of make a trade with Customer Service towards lowering ticket cost?
The problem is that return trip is operated entirely by LH IAD-FRA-ZAG but it was purchased through UA page....
I dont fly often on domestic US flights and I always have some codeshare when i fly with UA so I am afraid I can not use it to purchase a flight...
Thanks
Recently I've received an ETC from UA and I have some questions. So I have a return ticket (first eastbound leg already used) and I want to change my return date from June 29th to May 20th +/- 3days. I am guessing that this will cost me a lot, but I have to do this. Can you use this ETC and kind of make a trade with Customer Service towards lowering ticket cost?
The problem is that return trip is operated entirely by LH IAD-FRA-ZAG but it was purchased through UA page....
I dont fly often on domestic US flights and I always have some codeshare when i fly with UA so I am afraid I can not use it to purchase a flight...
Thanks
Apr 16, 2015, 3:16 pm
#57
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Outside Chicago
Posts: 167
Electronic travel certificate question
I had to cancel an expensive ticket in March due to a medical emergency. I'm doing much better now and have booked a European cruise departing from Barcelona in May.
I am flying from Chicago and of the 4 flights on my itinerary, they are all United except for the Munich - Barcelona flight. The united flight going through Newark is about $900 more than the connecting flight on Lufthansa.
Is there any way to still use my $4000 e cert? The terms say it has to be all United flight, but I hate to pay so much extra just to use the e cert.
Anyone have any tricks to get around this?
I am flying from Chicago and of the 4 flights on my itinerary, they are all United except for the Munich - Barcelona flight. The united flight going through Newark is about $900 more than the connecting flight on Lufthansa.
Is there any way to still use my $4000 e cert? The terms say it has to be all United flight, but I hate to pay so much extra just to use the e cert.
Anyone have any tricks to get around this?
May 5, 2015, 8:07 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Diamond, NK Gold, Mariott LT Plat/Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 925
Pay with GC or ETC Gone?
After I select flights, travelers, and seats, I am no longer given the option to pay with a gift certificate or electronic travel certificate. These used to be options along with credit card, etc. I'm not seeing them anymore. Any thoughts?
May 5, 2015, 8:16 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,893
Does the trip include flights operated by any carrier other than United?
May 5, 2015, 8:18 pm
#60
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Diamond, NK Gold, Mariott LT Plat/Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 925
Yes, there is a Cape Air flight. Didn't know that that would make it not possible to use GCs or ETCs. Thanks, mherdeg.