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)
#556
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
No different than ever before: as long as you’re not trying to refund anything, you can make changes without losing the credit. You can cancel a flight and leave the payment attached to the reservation, and then go back and book a new flight later — no problem.
#557
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
#559
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 22
ETCs can be used multiple times until their value is exhausted.
However, if your fare rules indicate that residual value after a change will be ignored, then you wouldn't get an ETC from changing that particular flight.
Those rules were infrequent (but present, occasionally) prior to March 3, and they are now common, in conjunction with the "change fees waived" promotion.
However, if your fare rules indicate that residual value after a change will be ignored, then you wouldn't get an ETC from changing that particular flight.
Those rules were infrequent (but present, occasionally) prior to March 3, and they are now common, in conjunction with the "change fees waived" promotion.
Thanks!
#560
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
I'm not aware of any way to do that on the United site.
If you have the original receipt, note the ticketing date and the fare classes (They're in the header for each flight segment: on a recent receipt for a flight purchased on United.com, I see:
ExpertFlyer (paid service -- free 5-day trial) has the ability to look up historical fares. Click fare information, click "Show Advanced Options," and fill in the information, including ticketing date. You won't have the fare basis code, but in many cases the class code (T, in my case) will narrow down the list enough for you to figure out which one was your fare. Note that if it's a round-trip, you may have different fares for the outbound and return; the most restrictive rules apply.
If you have the original receipt, note the ticketing date and the fare classes (They're in the header for each flight segment: on a recent receipt for a flight purchased on United.com, I see:
Flight 1 of 4 UA630 ... Class: United Economy (T)
#561
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,384
Where can you find the fare rules for canceled flights? I had 2 flights upcoming in March that I canceled. I have to book a flight soon though, and I am trying to figure out if I should use the credit or just use cash. If I lose the residual value, then I can just pay cash and avoid the currently 90min hold time....
Thanks!
Thanks!
If you enter your cancelled PNR, do you not see the fare rules link Available?
#563
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 403
I have several $1000+ canceled tickets with no change fee.
Tickets were purchased in December.
Waiver says travel must commence within 12 months of original ticket date.
Fare rules state Residual Value will be returned in EMD (ECT)
If I can't use the value of these tickets before December, is the best course of action to:
Book a throwaway o/w ticket and get the rest back in ECT for use in future?
Am I correct that ECT for remaining value will be effective for one year from date I purchase cheap throwaway o/w?
Thanks!
Tickets were purchased in December.
Waiver says travel must commence within 12 months of original ticket date.
Fare rules state Residual Value will be returned in EMD (ECT)
If I can't use the value of these tickets before December, is the best course of action to:
Book a throwaway o/w ticket and get the rest back in ECT for use in future?
Am I correct that ECT for remaining value will be effective for one year from date I purchase cheap throwaway o/w?
Thanks!
#564
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
If I can't use the value of these tickets before December, is the best course of action to:
Book a throwaway o/w ticket and get the rest back in ECT for use in future?
Am I correct that ECT for remaining value will be effective for one year from date I purchase cheap throwaway o/w?
Thanks!
Book a throwaway o/w ticket and get the rest back in ECT for use in future?
Am I correct that ECT for remaining value will be effective for one year from date I purchase cheap throwaway o/w?
Thanks!
#566
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 464
For anyone who made a change (not cancel) under the "All change fees waived for tickets issued on or before March 2, 2020" waiver to a lower fare and has a confirmation showing the issuance of an ETC for the residual....has anyone actually received an ETC yet?
I'm expecting one but so far I've not received anything.
Thanks.
I'm expecting one but so far I've not received anything.
Thanks.
#567
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
For anyone who made a change (not cancel) under the "All change fees waived for tickets issued on or before March 2, 2020" waiver to a lower fare and has a confirmation showing the issuance of an ETC for the residual....has anyone actually received an ETC yet?
I'm expecting one but so far I've not received anything.
Thanks.
I'm expecting one but so far I've not received anything.
Thanks.
#568
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 36
Combining ETCs
Is there a fee to combine multiple ETCs into a single ETC?
#569
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,346
No. But you also can't combine them into 1 ETC just to combine them. You can use multiple ETCs on a single reservation by calling United and having them book the ticket for you. The website doesn't allow for multiple ETCs to be applied to a booking.
-RM
-RM
#570
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 36
Thanks! Will I incur a booking fee in this situation since I have to call them to make the reservation?