Dec 14, 2014, 5:22 pm
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
Apr 3, 2019, 9:18 am
#106
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
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.
Apr 3, 2019, 11:55 am
#107
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
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. ....
Apr 3, 2019, 1:33 pm
#108
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cape Cod MA
Programs: GS, 3 MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 752
What might be unclear about this policy (if in fact it is true as per WineCountry's comment) is whether the one year clock applies only to the rebooked flight value or if it applies to the entire credit once it is fully or partially used. The agent was one of the best GS that I have worked with and she explained that the new policy was implemented last week and that she and her colleagues were at first unsure about how the new rules would be applied but have received clarification over that past week. It will be important to learn if others receive similar warnings.
Apr 3, 2019, 2:59 pm
#109
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
What might be unclear about this policy (if in fact it is true as per WineCountry's comment) is whether the one year clock applies only to the rebooked flight value or if it applies to the entire credit once it is fully or partially used. The agent was one of the best GS that I have worked with and she explained that the new policy was implemented last week and that she and her colleagues were at first unsure about how the new rules would be applied but have received clarification over that past week. It will be important to learn if others receive similar warnings.
If entire credit is used, then it is from new ticket issuance date.
If entire credit is not used, then it is from each new ticket's issuance date.
Knowing UA's highly regarded IT department and outdated computer programming, it is possible to track each ticket's original form of payment and subsequent usage. But difficult to implement usage restriction/s and flag it internally.
Apr 25, 2019, 5:34 am
#110
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 1,153
What refund/credit do I get if I cancel or change this ticket?
I'm struggling to see a clear answer to my questions:
1. If I completely cancel & dont rebook any alternative flight
2. If I want to change the flight/itinerary
Single ticket booked 4/24 with UA (2 UA flights and 1 ANA). Cost $4000
10/3 EWR-PVG. Fare Class P. Fare basis code PLX8WGM7
10/20 SIN-EWR. Fare Class P. Fare basis code PFE92EM1
As best I can tell, its $450 to change anything + fare difference.
Does that mean if I cancel I get $4000-$450 = $3550 refunded - as a travel credit or cash?
Thanks
I'm struggling to see a clear answer to my questions:
1. If I completely cancel & dont rebook any alternative flight
2. If I want to change the flight/itinerary
Single ticket booked 4/24 with UA (2 UA flights and 1 ANA). Cost $4000
10/3 EWR-PVG. Fare Class P. Fare basis code PLX8WGM7
10/20 SIN-EWR. Fare Class P. Fare basis code PFE92EM1
As best I can tell, its $450 to change anything + fare difference.
Does that mean if I cancel I get $4000-$450 = $3550 refunded - as a travel credit or cash?
Thanks
Apr 25, 2019, 7:22 am
#111
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
What refund/credit do I get if I cancel or change this ticket?
I'm struggling to see a clear answer to my questions:
1. If I completely cancel & dont rebook any alternative flight
2. If I want to change the flight/itinerary
Single ticket booked 4/24 with UA (2 UA flights and 1 ANA). Cost $4000
10/3 EWR-PVG. Fare Class P. Fare basis code PLX8WGM7
10/20 SIN-EWR. Fare Class P. Fare basis code PFE92EM1
I'm struggling to see a clear answer to my questions:
1. If I completely cancel & dont rebook any alternative flight
2. If I want to change the flight/itinerary
Single ticket booked 4/24 with UA (2 UA flights and 1 ANA). Cost $4000
10/3 EWR-PVG. Fare Class P. Fare basis code PLX8WGM7
10/20 SIN-EWR. Fare Class P. Fare basis code PFE92EM1
2) It depends on what you want to change it to. Making any change to the reservation will incur a change fee of $450 in new money. This then allows you to apply the full $4,000 toward the new itinerary. Any leftover amount will be credited to your in the form of a UA ETC. In most cases, the cost of the new ticket will be whatever it would cost to buy it brand new, but if you were to keep the outbound as EWR-PVG within certain parameters (seasonality, inventory) you would be allowed to keep the original fare basis, and in some cases you would be allowed to use a different P fare with the same tariff between the same cities, that was valid on 24-Apr-19 for travel on your new date, using current inventory.
Apr 25, 2019, 7:30 am
#112
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 1,153
1) No fee and no refund. Canceling an itinerary does not cost anything, unless you refund it (which you can't in this case, because it is non-refundable). You then have $4,000 in value stored in that coupon, which will be valid for travel on/before 23-Apr-20. You can pay the change fee to change the canceled reservation to travel on/before that date at a later time, or if you have still done nothing by the end of ticket validity on 23-Apr-20, then the entire value is forfeit to UA.
2) It depends on what you want to change it to. Making any change to the reservation will incur a change fee of $450 in new money. This then allows you to apply the full $4,000 toward the new itinerary. Any leftover amount will be credited to your in the form of a UA ETC. In most cases, the cost of the new ticket will be whatever it would cost to buy it brand new, but if you were to keep the outbound as EWR-PVG within certain parameters (seasonality, inventory) you would be allowed to keep the original fare basis, and in some cases you would be allowed to use a different P fare with the same tariff between the same cities, that was valid on 24-Apr-19 for travel on your new date, using current inventory.
2) It depends on what you want to change it to. Making any change to the reservation will incur a change fee of $450 in new money. This then allows you to apply the full $4,000 toward the new itinerary. Any leftover amount will be credited to your in the form of a UA ETC. In most cases, the cost of the new ticket will be whatever it would cost to buy it brand new, but if you were to keep the outbound as EWR-PVG within certain parameters (seasonality, inventory) you would be allowed to keep the original fare basis, and in some cases you would be allowed to use a different P fare with the same tariff between the same cities, that was valid on 24-Apr-19 for travel on your new date, using current inventory.
why is it so difficult to extrapolate this from the wall of almost unreadable text that is the fare rules?
Apr 25, 2019, 8:05 am
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,415
In this particular case, it's a good news / bad news scenario. The good news is that these fares don't have any restrictions on what you can do with the residual credit. (There are some fares that require that the new ticket be more expensive or you lose the residual value entirely). The bad news is that findark is correct; while the EWR-PVG fare is refundable, the EWR-SIN fare is not, and the most restrictive policy applies to the whole ticket.
Apr 27, 2019, 2:36 pm
#114
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAD/ARN
Programs: UA Plat/*G, Marriott LT Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 164
Hello- was hoping for some insight into a reservation I'm considering purchasing, I skimmed this thread and the fare rules but still don't totally understand it. Routing in question is an open-jaw TATL, outbound Z fare and return T fare. This would be a reservation just for myself, no one else on the reservation. Fare rules listed are ZHA87ENC and TH287NCV. Surprisingly I've never had to change/cancel a restricted ticket so this is all new to me.
For various reasons there's a not-impossible chance the dates/destinations could change or that the trip could be called off entirely at the last minute. Fare has a 28-day advance purchase requirement, so I would have to purchase this week.
For various reasons there's a not-impossible chance the dates/destinations could change or that the trip could be called off entirely at the last minute. Fare has a 28-day advance purchase requirement, so I would have to purchase this week.
- Two reissue fees are listed on the fare rules - $450 for the Z fare and $350 for the T fare. If I had to cancel the trip entirely prior to departing, would I be on the hook for both or would it be the higher of the two?
- So my understanding is if I did cancel, I'd get a residual value for the total fare (about $3500) minus the reissue fee that I can use for a future reservation. Is there any way to use that residual value for a future two-person reservation? Comments upthread imply that it's only good for the original traveler. My wife and I are considering a separate overseas trip later this year - thats the only time I see myself using all of the residual value within the next year.
Apr 27, 2019, 2:46 pm
#115
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
The first rule of split fare types is the most restrictive fare rules in any of the fare rules applies to the entire ticket,
the higher, $450 -- but just one cancellation fee, not both
Two comments
.
So my understanding is if I did cancel, I'd get a residual value for the total fare (about $3500) minus the reissue fee that I can use for a future reservation. Is there any way to use that residual value for a future two-person reservation? Comments upthread imply that it's only good for the original traveler. My wife and I are considering a separate overseas trip later this year - thats the only time I see myself using all of the residual value within the next year. ...
So my understanding is if I did cancel, I'd get a residual value for the total fare (about $3500) minus the reissue fee that I can use for a future reservation. Is there any way to use that residual value for a future two-person reservation? Comments upthread imply that it's only good for the original traveler. My wife and I are considering a separate overseas trip later this year - thats the only time I see myself using all of the residual value within the next year. ...
- First, the cancellation fee requires new money, it can not be funded by the credit -- and it is not due until the rebooking
- Second, The cancelled credit can only initially be used for the named travel. However, if there is leftover credit, that is convert to a ETC (Electronic Travel Credit) which can be used for anyone (no additional fees). However, this would require a separate PNR for your wife. This can not be timely done online but a phone agent can do this in one call -- could lead to a phone call fee but since it can not be done online, ask for a booking fee waiver.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 27, 2019 at 2:52 pm Reason: ask for a booking fee waiver
Apr 27, 2019, 8:07 pm
#116
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAD/ARN
Programs: UA Plat/*G, Marriott LT Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 164
The first rule of split fare types is the most restrictive fare rules in any of the fare rules applies to the entire ticket,
the higher, $450 -- but just one cancellation fee, not both
Two comments
the higher, $450 -- but just one cancellation fee, not both
Two comments
- First, the cancellation fee requires new money, it can not be funded by the credit -- and it is not due until the rebooking
- Second, The cancelled credit can only initially be used for the named travel. However, if there is leftover credit, that is convert to a ETC (Electronic Travel Credit) which can be used for anyone (no additional fees). However, this would require a separate PNR for your wife. This can not be timely done online but a phone agent can do this in one call -- could lead to a phone call fee but since it can not be done online, ask for a booking fee waiver.
Jul 2, 2019, 4:32 pm
#117
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 8
Cancellation/Change Policy
I’m a little confused by United’s cancellation/change policy inner workings. Hoping the hive mind can enlighten me. I’m booked in L on the way out and U on the way back. U is supposed to be flexible/changeable/cancelable/etc. without a fee right? How does this work if I need to change both legs? What fees will I have to pay? Will money be refunded or given as credit? I don’t know yet my new travel dates.
thanks in advance.
thanks in advance.
Jul 2, 2019, 4:36 pm
#118
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
I’m a little confused by United’s cancellation/change policy inner workings. Hoping the hive mind can enlighten me. I’m booked in L on the way out and U on the way back. U is supposed to be flexible/changeable/cancelable/etc. without a fee right? How does this work if I need to change both legs? What fees will I have to pay? Will money be refunded or given as credit? I don’t know yet my new travel dates. ....
So in this case you will need to "change" the ticket to the new dates and there will be a change fee (based on the ticket fare rules -- the most restrictive) which will have to be paid with new money, a credit of the original ticket costs and a re-ticket at the new fares. If there is any credit remaining, it will be issued as an ETC -- as credit toward a future flight.
Generally it is bad idea to do this online and better to have an agent do this -- the online tool can get rather weird pricing at times.
A quick way to find out the change fee is to start the process of doing this online, once you have serached for replacement flights, it will tell you the change fee.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 2, 2019 at 4:42 pm Reason: how to find the change fee
Jul 2, 2019, 4:36 pm
#119
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,468
The cancel and change rules depend on the specifics of your fare. The ticket will be governed by the most restrictive fare rules, which are sure to be the L. Without specifics, we can only guess what those rules are, but the L is almost certainly nonrefundable with a hefty change fee.
Jul 2, 2019, 4:38 pm
#120
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 489
I don't have an answer for you but just thought I'd share I recently had a OW ticket first leg in D Second in J (long haul)
and had to fight with UA to get a refund to my CC when canceling the ticket.
J is fully refundable and D goes towards future flights with a free, since first leg was D the system wouldn't offer a refund.
and had to fight with UA to get a refund to my CC when canceling the ticket.
J is fully refundable and D goes towards future flights with a free, since first leg was D the system wouldn't offer a refund.