UA Electronic Travel Certificates (ETC): Q&A, OK for partners, 2 year life (Dec 2022)
 

Hi-

I got a voucher for volunteering to take a later flight. If I use this voucher to purchase a flight next year, will that count towards premier qualifying? I'm mostly concerned about PQM's but curious about PQD's as well. Are vouchers essentially the same as out of pocket payment?

On a sub-topic, is there a difference if a voucher is used for all or part of a ticket: Say I have a $400 voucher.
a) I buy a $390 ticket and write off the $10 remaining or...
b) I buy a $700 ticket and pay $300 out of my own pocket.

The ETCs are just the same as any other payment method -- full credit for RDMs, PQDs, PQMs, lifetime miles, ....

Way in the distance past when VDBs were "free tickets", those were not mileage earning -- but those have been gone for many years.

Thanks, WineCountry!

Yes, the ETC covered both pax completely. (Leaving some credit left over. As in: the ETC before the purchase was greater than the total of the two fares.)

I didn't expect it to work based on what I've read here on FT. I was surprised when nothing was due.

An ETC can be used on a ticket for anyone, not just the person to whom it was given. You're thinking of the remainder value of a cancelled ticket. That remains on the reservation until you have a use for it; at which point any remainder will be given to you on an ETC which can be used on anyone.

For example, say you cancel a $1700 ticket for person X; you could buy a $50 SFO-LAS one-way for person X and you'd be given a $1650 ETC that you can use on anyone.

Electronic Travel Certificate
 

Hi All,

Is there a way to add the $500 ETC I received as a voluntary bump to my travel bank (or MilagePlus account in another way?)

I'll be traveling with an open itinerary starting next month (which was the motivation behind volunteering for the $500) but don't want to have to bring this cardstock certificate around with me. Just seems to easy to forget about or even lose.

Thanks,
Blake

Not to my knowledge. I've taken a photo of mine and stored it accordingly digitally until I needed to use it.

Just take a photo of it on your phone?

or record the key numbers in a file?
No

Recently went in and changed a reservation that had been completely paid for with an ETC... the new ticket was significantly less than the original. The UA website said I'd be given the fare difference (minus the change fee, of course) on an ETC. 24hrs pass and I hadn't received anything. I called into customer service and was told that a new pin would be mailed to me in 7-10 business days. The agent refused to give me the new ETC pin over the phone for security/ fraud reasons. I'd like to use the ETC on a new booking asap before the prices jump. Is this standard practice.. an ETC via snail mail?

Yes, standard practice as far as I can tell. On a recent refund I received the new ETC later. It was sent by email (although they did say "by mail" on the phone), and it took about a week.

Also wanted to use it asap, but could not - so had to use it on the next reservation.

I wish there were, particularly since the mess with getting mine and UA emailing them to someone besides me :( Now I periodically check them to make sure they haven't been drained. If they were in my account I wouldn't have to worry about it.

I've had the same experience: an ETC from a cancelled+rebooked PNR: I'd already booked one (cheap-ish) flight for myself with that ETC, and then successfully booked a 2-passenger domestic flight, using only the ETC for payment (the ETC still has some value left after that booking).

UA certificate
 

Hi,
I got 2 $200 (my wife and I) certificate because flight canceled. Can I use both certificates on one ticket or I have to use them on separate tickets?

Thanks,

Only one per passenger on the ticket (e.g., you can't combine two certs for the same person on the same itin). You can use them if you book two one-ways for the same person.

thanks, very useful information. I am looking for 2 one way now.

any destination suggestions for one way $200 tickets? from Toronto area ( I can drive to buffalo for flight).

Thanks,