UA Electronic Travel Certificates (ETC): Q&A, OK for partners, 2 year life (Dec 2022)
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#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Tit
Posts: 261
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.
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.

#2
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.85MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 59,907
Way in the distance past when VDBs were "free tickets", those were not mileage earning -- but those have been gone for many years.

#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Tit
Posts: 261
Thanks, WineCountry!

#4
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: UA Silver, DL, AA
Posts: 164
I didn't expect it to work based on what I've read here on FT. I was surprised when nothing was due.

#5


Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,308
So another alternative, is instead of one PNR, two people. Book the travel for two people on two PNRs. Book the first ticket and then use the remainder of the ETC for the second ticket / PNR.
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.

#6
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Could be anywhere...
Programs: United Platinum
Posts: 228
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
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

#7
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,695
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?
Just take a photo of it on your phone?

#8
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.85MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 59,907

#9
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 42
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?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 8, 17 at 12:05 pm Reason: moved to this thread

#10
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,319
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.
Also wanted to use it asap, but could not - so had to use it on the next reservation.

#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,142
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.


#12
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,110
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).

#13
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3
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,
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,

#14
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United GS, *wood LT Plat
Posts: 713
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.

#15
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3
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,
any destination suggestions for one way $200 tickets? from Toronto area ( I can drive to buffalo for flight).
Thanks,
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 16, 17 at 2:23 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
