Jan 8, 2015, 2:07 pm
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)
Jul 7, 2019, 10:52 pm
#436
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
Not directly, has to be all UA /UX operated -- all flights.
However, indirectly and with some effort, there is UA Electronic Travel Certificate & Codeshares/partner flights (see wiki)
However, indirectly and with some effort, there is UA Electronic Travel Certificate & Codeshares/partner flights (see wiki)
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 8, 2019 at 11:16 pm Reason: typo
Jul 10, 2019, 10:37 pm
#437
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
Used an ETC on an Ex-Europe ticket pricing in euros. Had a $500 cert that was applied as 500€ As listed on the deduction and processing email. Score is what I thought. Unfortunately, the ticket was in processing for a long time so I called. The agent said it needs special processing since it was short the fx difference and can not process without additional authorization to charge more.
Jul 21, 2019, 10:34 am
#438
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,660
Electronic Travel Certificates for anything but travel?
For a variety of reasons, I have accumulated a few of these vouchers - 100 here, 100 there.....
They say they are good for "the purchase of one electronic airline ticket, where eligible"
Other than purchasing tickets to fly, do they have any other value or use?
.... for example, United Club membership?
.... upgrades?
.... anything else that United might sell?
thanks
-m
They say they are good for "the purchase of one electronic airline ticket, where eligible"
Other than purchasing tickets to fly, do they have any other value or use?
.... for example, United Club membership?
.... upgrades?
.... anything else that United might sell?
thanks
-m
Jul 21, 2019, 11:00 am
#439
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,411
For a variety of reasons, I have accumulated a few of these vouchers - 100 here, 100 there.....
They say they are good for "the purchase of one electronic airline ticket, where eligible"
Other than purchasing tickets to fly, do they have any other value or use?
.... for example, United Club membership?
.... upgrades?
.... anything else that United might sell?
thanks
-m
They say they are good for "the purchase of one electronic airline ticket, where eligible"
Other than purchasing tickets to fly, do they have any other value or use?
.... for example, United Club membership?
.... upgrades?
.... anything else that United might sell?
thanks
-m
Jul 21, 2019, 11:42 am
#440
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
This usage also earns PQDs. If changing cabins, the change fee (if any) can be waived, Buy up to higher fare class w/o change fee? {GG BUYUP}
Jul 21, 2019, 11:54 am
#441
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,411
The one case that may not come immediately to mind is up-fares (which is different from upgrade fees, which do not qualify). Upfaring is changing your ticket to a higher fare class. Principally, for most folks, changing from an economy fare class to a First / Business / PremiumPlus.
Aug 13, 2019, 6:57 am
#443
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 1
Hi,
first time poster so please bear with me.
I am a hungarian citizen travelling occasionally (1-2 times a year) to the US.
On my latest travels I have received and accepted an ETC for a cancelled flight.
This time I would like to use this ETC to book a oneway US domestic itinerary, however on united.com it is not possible to select Hungary as the country of the billing address, also call centre could not help because of this same reason (billing address of credit/debit card being in Hungary).
Could you offer any advice how to proceed in this case? Thank you in advance!
first time poster so please bear with me.
I am a hungarian citizen travelling occasionally (1-2 times a year) to the US.
On my latest travels I have received and accepted an ETC for a cancelled flight.
This time I would like to use this ETC to book a oneway US domestic itinerary, however on united.com it is not possible to select Hungary as the country of the billing address, also call centre could not help because of this same reason (billing address of credit/debit card being in Hungary).
Could you offer any advice how to proceed in this case? Thank you in advance!
Aug 16, 2019, 6:17 pm
#444
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Used my two ETCs, had to call in to have them apply both to one booking.
Aug 19, 2019, 8:45 pm
#445
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 611
24 hour cancel - how soon is etc credited?
If I used an etc, then cancel the flight within 24 hours, how soon does the value get added back to the etc?
Aug 19, 2019, 9:26 pm
#446
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
Many times you will have to call. It is a bad idea to use ETC on a trip there is a high probability you will want to cancel -- not worth the grief. Use Farelock to get flexibility if needed
Aug 19, 2019, 10:58 pm
#447
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,890
another option is to keep the ticket value in the PNR vs. having a refund issued. There are potential downsides (for example, the rebooking has to be for the same person), but typically, online, it gives you the option of both.
Aug 19, 2019, 11:11 pm
#448
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
Another downside is the 24 hour cancel period does not reset on a "change." But does for the purchase after a "refund".
Aug 22, 2019, 6:04 pm
#449
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
I bought a ticket last week and applied two ETCs with a combined value of $425.
In addition to the usual emails with the ticketing info, I got an email with the subject United Airlines Electronic Travel Certificate.
The email says:
My original ETCs were set to expire in April 2020.
The attachment PDF shows a new ETC with a different PIN and a balance of $425 and an expiration in May 2020.
This has to be an error I would assume. Either there's zero balance or they gave me another ETC with a $425 value.
Has anyone gotten something like this? Use up 2 or more ETCs but then they send you a new ETC which is suppose to have a residual balance but in this case, there's the full balance that I already used.
In addition to the usual emails with the ticketing info, I got an email with the subject United Airlines Electronic Travel Certificate.
The email says:
You’ve combined multiple electronic travel certificates for your flight on xxx xx, 2020 , confirmation number: US. The attached electronic travel certificate contains your remaining balance. You can use this certificate to purchase another ticket on flights operated by United® and United Express® until the expiration date listed on the certificate.
The attachment PDF shows a new ETC with a different PIN and a balance of $425 and an expiration in May 2020.
This has to be an error I would assume. Either there's zero balance or they gave me another ETC with a $425 value.
Has anyone gotten something like this? Use up 2 or more ETCs but then they send you a new ETC which is suppose to have a residual balance but in this case, there's the full balance that I already used.
Aug 22, 2019, 7:48 pm
#450
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
Check the present balance here: http://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps...s/default.aspx