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)
#406
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,777
#407
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1.65M , Platinum, 1K Emeritus, UC Lifetime , HHonors Gold, Presidential Plus card holder
Posts: 692
Simply using the certificates to pay for flights outside of UA metal is not allowed.
Using a work around is above my pay grade.
Using a work around is above my pay grade.
#408
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
I don't think I understand your point. My wife got an ETC for things that went wrong on a booked Polaris trip. She got an apology e-mail and an ETC e-mail. So easy that she used the ETC two weeks after receiving it.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 10, 2019 at 10:53 am Reason: editted quote after splitting posts
#409
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: 1K
Posts: 220
Easy use of carts would be when you go to pay and select other forms of payment and you see any certs and the associated value and expirations. Hard is that they want you to do through email that could get lost,deleted, put in spam, you name it, then have copy and paste into the payment area.
#410
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,083
Easy use of carts would be when you go to pay and select other forms of payment and you see any certs and the associated value and expirations. Hard is that they want you to do through email that could get lost,deleted, put in spam, you name it, then have copy and paste into the payment area.
#411
Join Date: Jun 2019
Programs: United
Posts: 1
Combining TCVAs from different family members
Hi all,
After a recent flight with my family on which the entertainment system failed, we were all offered a choice between TCVAs and miles. I am trying to decide which option to go with for my kids (six year old twins). I almost never buy them tickets (I get them reward tickets), so using a TCVA for one of them would mean paying more out of pocket than I otherwise would (since I'd need to pay the difference between the voucher amount and the fare). But it might make sense if I could combine their TCVAs with mine for a flight I would otherwise pay for.
I know it is now possible to combine TCVAs. I also know that you can use TCVAs to book travel for another passenger. But I can't tell if it is possible to combine TCVAs from two or more different passengers. Could I use my own TCVA and one from one of my daughters to buy a ticket?
Thanks,
Jim
After a recent flight with my family on which the entertainment system failed, we were all offered a choice between TCVAs and miles. I am trying to decide which option to go with for my kids (six year old twins). I almost never buy them tickets (I get them reward tickets), so using a TCVA for one of them would mean paying more out of pocket than I otherwise would (since I'd need to pay the difference between the voucher amount and the fare). But it might make sense if I could combine their TCVAs with mine for a flight I would otherwise pay for.
I know it is now possible to combine TCVAs. I also know that you can use TCVAs to book travel for another passenger. But I can't tell if it is possible to combine TCVAs from two or more different passengers. Could I use my own TCVA and one from one of my daughters to buy a ticket?
Thanks,
Jim
#412
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,882
Hi all,
After a recent flight with my family on which the entertainment system failed, we were all offered a choice between TCVAs and miles. I am trying to decide which option to go with for my kids (six year old twins). I almost never buy them tickets (I get them reward tickets), so using a TCVA for one of them would mean paying more out of pocket than I otherwise would (since I'd need to pay the difference between the voucher amount and the fare). But it might make sense if I could combine their TCVAs with mine for a flight I would otherwise pay for.
I know it is now possible to combine TCVAs. I also know that you can use TCVAs to book travel for another passenger. But I can't tell if it is possible to combine TCVAs from two or more different passengers. Could I use my own TCVA and one from one of my daughters to buy a ticket?
Thanks,
Jim
After a recent flight with my family on which the entertainment system failed, we were all offered a choice between TCVAs and miles. I am trying to decide which option to go with for my kids (six year old twins). I almost never buy them tickets (I get them reward tickets), so using a TCVA for one of them would mean paying more out of pocket than I otherwise would (since I'd need to pay the difference between the voucher amount and the fare). But it might make sense if I could combine their TCVAs with mine for a flight I would otherwise pay for.
I know it is now possible to combine TCVAs. I also know that you can use TCVAs to book travel for another passenger. But I can't tell if it is possible to combine TCVAs from two or more different passengers. Could I use my own TCVA and one from one of my daughters to buy a ticket?
Thanks,
Jim
If you call, they can be combined into one, and be used on a single-person PNR. As long as you have the voucher info, I don’t believe it matters if the vouchers are all ‘yours’ or given to different family members.
#413
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 31,978
Have you tried that and succeeded? I have tried and failed before. Combining ETCs with different names not straightforward.
#414
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
ETCs now revert to CAD on usage in Canada - no currency conversion
I just applied a $100 ETC for the first time in a while. Although the certificate showed up as worth US$100, when applied to my booking which was in CA$, the amount deducted was only CA$100! Previously, the amount was converted from USD into CAD at the same rates United uses for its ticketing currency conversions.
If this is a new software enhancement, it represents a significant devaluation of ETCs for Canadian customers.
If this is a new software enhancement, it represents a significant devaluation of ETCs for Canadian customers.
#415
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: Hilton Diamond Hyatt Globalist Marriott Gold AA EXP
Posts: 1,004
Got a $1000 United travel voucher
What can I use it for? I usually travel for business and have to buy coach tickets on company CC. Can I use the voucher to upgrade to E+ or F? Or does it only buy me new tickets.
#416
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,777
Only useable for airfare, so no for E+ and only for upfaring upgrades, not useable for other upgrade fees.
#417
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,423
Use it to upfare to first or business class. Will increase fare basis, and thus both PQD and RDM.
#418
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Premier Gold, AA Platinum (but I also just pay for upgrades if I want them)
Posts: 636
Only works to purchase new tickets. I tried using an electronic cert recently to upgrade and was told no
#419
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA
Programs: OZ Diamond
Posts: 6,133
LAX
#420
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,777
you are correct