Last edit by: WineCountryUA
FFC == "Future Flight Credit"
When re-booking 3-March 2020 purchased tickets, if the new ticket is cheaper you will receive an ETC (good for 24 months); starting April 2021, this is now a new form of FFC
However for tickets purchased 3 March or later, the fare rules now state there is no "residual value" meaning no ETC for the fare drop and if you have to rebook again the credit is just the value of the new ticket.
For pre-1 April 2020 purchased, FFCs will be good for 24 months from the original purchase date
And there are no change fees
Change Fees Are Gone For Good
For purchases starting 1-April, the lifetime of FFCs are returning to the traditional 12 months from purchase
In some cases of voluntary cancellations, FFCs may be convertible to ETCs (seems pre 1 August 2020 purchase is a factor) but this can only be requested on the phone and may take days/weeks. This may be a way to avoid the problem of "no residual credit" YMMV
Update 4 April 2020
The below needs to be updated based on the changes above
This wiki discusses the for steps in using the "future flight credit" from a canceled non-refundable ticket. Note this is for the cancellation of an entire ticket -- the process is different for a partial flown ticket
- Note some tickets are non-changeable and have no residual value if not flown:
United's Basic Economy - Discussion, Q&A, ...
New UA/*A TATL -LGT Economy fare - first bag charged, no changes allowed
- Notify UA of the cancellation before the scheduled departure. An absolute must, if not done the entire value will be lost. But see note below about Travel Waivers
- Wait until you are ready to reschedule. When ready you will need to pay a change fee in new money - the fee varies and will depend on the fare rules of the original fare. Note in many cases there is no longer a change fee (BE and flights origining outside the USA may still have a fee)
- If an ETC is issued, all of the funds in it must be used withinone twos year of issuance.
To get maximum ETC (or new type FFC), an option is to pay the change fee (if any) and book the cheapest possible OW fare and throw that ticket away -- how to find that cheap fare, see Cheapest possible flight (How do I redeem this flight credit?)
If the reason for the change / cancellation is due to medical issues or death of a close relative, see Consolidated "Refunds/Cancellations Due to Illness/Death" Thread [Merged] for the process to get a refund of the change / redeposit fee.
Other cases for "free" changes are:
1) if the flight is covered on the day of departure by a waiver (WX related or other reasons). Note there may be a limited time frame for the change fee waiver.
2) or by an airline's change in schedule
What if it is 1 year from the original ticket purchase date and I am not ready to buy another United ticket using my canceled ticket's funds? Buy a throwaway ticket on the cheapest fare you can find. United will issue an Electronic Travel Certificate for any unused funds. That ETC is valid for one year from issuance (see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1369495-ua-electronic-travel-certificates-etc-general-q-new-combinability-policy-34.html). If you do this on the expiry date of your original ticket, you effectively extend the availability of the funds for an additional year at the cost of a throwaway ticket.
What if I purchase a refundable ticket with the credit from the non-refundable ticket, can I then cancel and get a refund? No, the funds from a non-refundable purchase remain non-refundable even if used to purchase a refundable fare.
Cannot find the canceled reservation online?
Go to Manage Reservations and look in both "Current" and "Cancelled" tabs
Find the appropriate reservation and look for "Use Future Flight Credit"
After rebooking a canceled ticket, is there a new 24-hour window for fee changes?
No, the 24-hour flexible change only applies to the original /new booking and does not extend to rebooking of canceled / changed tickets.
United’s 24-hour cancellation / flexible booking policy
What if one leg is a refundable fare and another leg is non-refundable?
For a single ticket, the most restrictive fare rule applies to the entire ticket. So a refundable segment paired with a non-refundable segment makes the entire ticket non-refundable. Same with the change fee, the segment with the highest change fee applies to the entire ticket.
Archive thread: How to get residual/"future flight credit" from non-refundable flight {Archive}
Other related threads
Changing/Canceling/Replacing a ticket costing less than the change fee?
When re-booking 3-March 2020 purchased tickets, if the new ticket is cheaper you will receive an ETC (good for 24 months); starting April 2021, this is now a new form of FFC
If the new flight is priced higher, the customer may change for no change fee but must pay the fare difference. If the new flight is priced lower, the customer may change without paying a change fee but no residual value will be given.
- New tickets must be reissued within 24 months from original ticket date
- Rebooked travel must commence within 24 months from the original ticket issue date
Change Fees Are Gone For Good
For purchases starting 1-April, the lifetime of FFCs are returning to the traditional 12 months from purchase
In some cases of voluntary cancellations, FFCs may be convertible to ETCs (seems pre 1 August 2020 purchase is a factor) but this can only be requested on the phone and may take days/weeks. This may be a way to avoid the problem of "no residual credit" YMMV
Update 4 April 2020
We’re extending electronic certificates
To 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.
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.
To 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.
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 wiki discusses the for steps in using the "future flight credit" from a canceled non-refundable ticket. Note this is for the cancellation of an entire ticket -- the process is different for a partial flown ticket
- Note some tickets are non-changeable and have no residual value if not flown:
United's Basic Economy - Discussion, Q&A, ...
New UA/*A TATL -LGT Economy fare - first bag charged, no changes allowed
- Notify UA of the cancellation before the scheduled departure. An absolute must, if not done the entire value will be lost. But see note below about Travel Waivers
- Wait until you are ready to reschedule. When ready you will need to pay a change fee in new money - the fee varies and will depend on the fare rules of the original fare. Note in many cases there is no longer a change fee (BE and flights origining outside the USA may still have a fee)
- The new ticket must be purchased within 1 years of the original ticket's purchase date (pre-April 2020 purchases receive 2 year FFC)
- The new ticket will be good for 1 year from the exchange/re-scheduled date and travel must commence prior to the expiration of the original ticket
(an exception is if the new travel is just a date change, in this case, a new ticket may not be issued and initial purchase date will still prevail) - The new ticket must be for the same named traveler
- The portion of a ticket purchased with nonrefundable ticket credit will be nonrefundable regardless of the new ticket's fare rules
- The change fee requires payments of new funds and cannot be funded from the original ticket's value
- Any fare residual will issued as an ETC valid for
onetwo year.
- If an ETC is issued, all of the funds in it must be used within
- The ETC can be used by anyone.
- The
onetwo-year limitation only limits purchasing, not travel - travel may be outside the12-year limit. - There are no additional fees to use the ETC
- The credit voucher can only be used for UA/UX operated flights (workaround - UA Electronic Travel Certificate & Codeshares/partner flights)
To get maximum ETC (or new type FFC), an option is to pay the change fee (if any) and book the cheapest possible OW fare and throw that ticket away -- how to find that cheap fare, see Cheapest possible flight (How do I redeem this flight credit?)
If the reason for the change / cancellation is due to medical issues or death of a close relative, see Consolidated "Refunds/Cancellations Due to Illness/Death" Thread [Merged] for the process to get a refund of the change / redeposit fee.
Other cases for "free" changes are:
1) if the flight is covered on the day of departure by a waiver (WX related or other reasons). Note there may be a limited time frame for the change fee waiver.
2) or by an airline's change in schedule
What if it is 1 year from the original ticket purchase date and I am not ready to buy another United ticket using my canceled ticket's funds? Buy a throwaway ticket on the cheapest fare you can find. United will issue an Electronic Travel Certificate for any unused funds. That ETC is valid for one year from issuance (see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1369495-ua-electronic-travel-certificates-etc-general-q-new-combinability-policy-34.html). If you do this on the expiry date of your original ticket, you effectively extend the availability of the funds for an additional year at the cost of a throwaway ticket.
What if I purchase a refundable ticket with the credit from the non-refundable ticket, can I then cancel and get a refund? No, the funds from a non-refundable purchase remain non-refundable even if used to purchase a refundable fare.
Cannot find the canceled reservation online?
Go to Manage Reservations and look in both "Current" and "Cancelled" tabs
Find the appropriate reservation and look for "Use Future Flight Credit"
After rebooking a canceled ticket, is there a new 24-hour window for fee changes?
No, the 24-hour flexible change only applies to the original /new booking and does not extend to rebooking of canceled / changed tickets.
United’s 24-hour cancellation / flexible booking policy
What if one leg is a refundable fare and another leg is non-refundable?
For a single ticket, the most restrictive fare rule applies to the entire ticket. So a refundable segment paired with a non-refundable segment makes the entire ticket non-refundable. Same with the change fee, the segment with the highest change fee applies to the entire ticket.
Archive thread: How to get residual/"future flight credit" from non-refundable flight {Archive}
Other related threads
Changing/Canceling/Replacing a ticket costing less than the change fee?
How to get residual/"future flight credit" from non-refundable flight
#91
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SLC
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Silver, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 768
I haven't read the entire thread, so pardon me if this is already addressed. I have a flight tomorrow that I need to cancel. I am still watching for some event (weather, delay, etc.) that will give me an opportunity to get cancel and get the full value back. My question is should I check in, or not? Would I lose the ability to change the reservation if I've already checked in?
#92
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
I haven't read the entire thread, so pardon me if this is already addressed. I have a flight tomorrow that I need to cancel. I am still watching for some event (weather, delay, etc.) that will give me an opportunity to get cancel and get the full value back. My question is should I check in, or not? Would I lose the ability to change the reservation if I've already checked in?
You also must cancel or board by the boarding deadline (usually 15 minutes for domestic flights).
Give yourself some buffer in case there are technical issues or hold times. I'd cancel or check in by 1 hour and cancel or board by 30-45 minutes (for domestic; double for int'l).
There is no disadvantage to checking in that I am aware of.
#93
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 128
Hi,
Recently changed to a company in which I buy my own tickets and expense. At my previous employer travel was booked via Concur and a company credit card so I never had to manage cancelled tickets and residual value.
I have a flight tomorrow BOS to EWR on a non-refundable ticket that I am going to cancel. Domestic, coach, and fare value is about $130.00. I already SDC'd this from today to tomorrow and I doubt weather will get so bad I'll have the option for a cancellation fee waiver.
Questions:
1. If I cancel this will UA bill my credit card an additional $70.00 to reach the $200 change fee?
2. I am still expensing this, so will I be able to get a receipt for the cancellation?
Anticipating a future issue like this, as a hypothetical if the fare was, say, $500:
3. Then UA would keep $200 and I would have $300 remaining for a new ticket, correct?
3a. If there is $300 left over from the hypothetical ticket how do I apply that $300 to a future ticket purchase?
Apologies if this has been answered a dozen times and thank you for the insight.
Mike
Recently changed to a company in which I buy my own tickets and expense. At my previous employer travel was booked via Concur and a company credit card so I never had to manage cancelled tickets and residual value.
I have a flight tomorrow BOS to EWR on a non-refundable ticket that I am going to cancel. Domestic, coach, and fare value is about $130.00. I already SDC'd this from today to tomorrow and I doubt weather will get so bad I'll have the option for a cancellation fee waiver.
Questions:
1. If I cancel this will UA bill my credit card an additional $70.00 to reach the $200 change fee?
2. I am still expensing this, so will I be able to get a receipt for the cancellation?
Anticipating a future issue like this, as a hypothetical if the fare was, say, $500:
3. Then UA would keep $200 and I would have $300 remaining for a new ticket, correct?
3a. If there is $300 left over from the hypothetical ticket how do I apply that $300 to a future ticket purchase?
Apologies if this has been answered a dozen times and thank you for the insight.
Mike
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,423
Anticipating a future issue like this, as a hypothetical if the fare was, say, $500:
3. Then UA would keep $200 and I would have $300 remaining for a new ticket, correct?
3a. If there is $300 left over from the hypothetical ticket how do I apply that $300 to a future ticket purchase?
3. Then UA would keep $200 and I would have $300 remaining for a new ticket, correct?
3a. If there is $300 left over from the hypothetical ticket how do I apply that $300 to a future ticket purchase?
#95
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: 66,858
Changing/Canceling/Replacing a ticket costing less than the change fee?
You should get an email of the cancellation and you have the original receipt. But the credit isn't lost for a year.
Worst case you could do the change and you will get a receipt for that.
Short version -- call and ask to do a change of original PNR.
#96
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 7
I have a 2000 ticket I had to cancel, and will seek out the "cheap flight+get ETC" method to expand my options.
My question is, per the instructions in the original post, the ETC "must be used within one year of issuance". Does that mean it makes sense to wait until the last possible moment to book the cheap flight and get the ETC?
My question is, per the instructions in the original post, the ETC "must be used within one year of issuance". Does that mean it makes sense to wait until the last possible moment to book the cheap flight and get the ETC?
#97
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: 66,858
If the goal is to free up the funds for more immediate use, then no.
#98
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New York
Programs: EK Platinum, AA EXP, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,148
So if I have a cancelled ticket that was originally issued on July 16th, 2018, and I today use that credit, pay the change fee and book a new ticket, does:
1. travel need to occur before July 16th, 2019?
2. If I cancel this new ticket again, would it be valid one year from today, or would it expire in July since that will be one year from original issue date?
1. travel need to occur before July 16th, 2019?
2. If I cancel this new ticket again, would it be valid one year from today, or would it expire in July since that will be one year from original issue date?
#99
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: 66,858
So if I have a cancelled ticket that was originally issued on July 16th, 2018, and I today use that credit, pay the change fee and book a new ticket, does:
1. travel need to occur before July 16th, 2019?
2. If I cancel this new ticket again, would it be valid one year from today, or would it expire in July since that will be one year from original issue date?
1. travel need to occur before July 16th, 2019?
2. If I cancel this new ticket again, would it be valid one year from today, or would it expire in July since that will be one year from original issue date?
So yes you can extend this multiple times but you will have to pay a change fee each time.
This approach is limited to the original ticketed passenger. is limited to
An alternative solution is to change to an ultra-inexpensive flight and get an ETC which can be used by others.
#100
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K \\ ConciergeKey
Posts: 531
Cancelled Ticket - eTicket Value?
Hey FT!
Had booked SFO - LAX and SFO - SNA RT on the same day for the mrs. and I on accident. Caught it 30 hours after the mistake.
I had a family member who is GS call in to try to help me cancel and get the refund to my card, but they weren't able to.
However, the reservation was cancelled and I can't find it in my United account. Where did my funds for this go? Doesn't it turn into credit for the next flight I book?
Had booked SFO - LAX and SFO - SNA RT on the same day for the mrs. and I on accident. Caught it 30 hours after the mistake.
I had a family member who is GS call in to try to help me cancel and get the refund to my card, but they weren't able to.
However, the reservation was cancelled and I can't find it in my United account. Where did my funds for this go? Doesn't it turn into credit for the next flight I book?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 1, 2019 at 2:42 pm Reason: merged with consolidated thread
#101
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: 66,858
Do you have the booking confirmation emails? With the PNR?
All you need is the PNR.
As for what to do, does the canceled reservation have a value greater than the change fee?
That determines the alternatives.
#102
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K \\ ConciergeKey
Posts: 531
Does it appear under Cancellations in Manage Reservations
Do you have the booking confirmation emails? With the PNR?
All you need is the PNR.
As for what to do, does the canceled reservation have a value greater than the change fee?
That determines the alternatives.
Do you have the booking confirmation emails? With the PNR?
All you need is the PNR.
As for what to do, does the canceled reservation have a value greater than the change fee?
That determines the alternatives.
Looks like it found itself in there when I checked this AM! Thank you! Checked last night and it wasn't there and then again this morning and it's there.
Appreciate the help!
It's a $537.00 ticket for 2PAX. So with a $400.00 change fee...it's like a $137.00 value from what I see.
#103
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Except that you will pay the two change fees in new money. Thus, each of you have a credit in the full amount of your ticket and each of you will pay $200 in new money to use that credit.
#104
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: 66,858
While you may be able to rebook online, I tend to use an agent. The online tool sometimes gets odd pricing. You should be able to get the same prices as a new ticket for the new trip.
#105
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cape Cod MA
Programs: GS, 3 MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 752
Change in rebooking/flight utilization of non-refundable ticket
Just got off the phone with an excellent agent and learned the rebooking AND the actual flight must occur within 365 days from the time the flight is canceled by the passenger. This went into effect last week and it brings UAL into compliance with ITA rules - This new policy did not originate with United. So the bottom line is credits for canceled flights can not be prolonged by more than a year from the original flight cancellation date.