Understanding/Using UA Electronic Travel Certificate(ETC) & Future Flight Credit(FFC)
Jul 2, 22, 6:47 am - Wikipost
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Jul 2, 22, 6:50 am
#346
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Originally Posted by Passportinonehand
Based on the wording they use, I would think I can book any flight on a United codeshare partner, but this seems highly improbable. There's a certain itinerary I would like to book which is BRU-DPS and contains the following flights: BRU-MUC (Lufthansa), MUC-SIN (Singapore Airlines), SIN-DPS (Singapore Airlines) - all flights on United codeshare partners, but as this isn't an itinerary that's bookable on the United website, I believe it's impossible to book with a United Travel Certificate, correct? Or is there a workaround?
Jul 2, 22, 8:57 am
#347
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 11,979
Originally Posted by sokolov
Is there a way to cancel a refundable fare (booked with fresh money from a credit card) into a form of credit that can be used for other passengers but is not a refund to the credit card? The Wiki at the top of this thread tells me that the Wiki's content is outdated.
I want to book two refundable economy class fares (different dates) from Canada to the US for myself, paying through the United website in Canadian Dollars with my credit card. I will likely have to cancel one of these itineraries, maybe both.
I want to book two refundable economy class fares (different dates) from Canada to the US for myself, paying through the United website in Canadian Dollars with my credit card. I will likely have to cancel one of these itineraries, maybe both.
- Do I understand correctly that, if I do not want a refund to my credit card, such a cancellation will result in an FFC, and that I still can not use the FFC for any other passenger?
- Or have recent changes by UA made it possible to use FFC for other passengers?
- Is there a way to put the refund into a Travelbank rather than an FFC, so that I can use the funds for a different passenger?
- Assuming I can put the refund into a Travelbank, will the refund be converted to USD or will it it stay in CAD?
- Is there a better solution?
- Is the situation different if the fare is non-refundable Economy (but not Basic Economy)?
The answer is no. It used to be possible by converting FFC to ETC but UA has stopped doing that.
Jul 2, 22, 10:15 am
#348
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 15,992
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
The ETC can only be used on UA.com but it can be used for any flight (s) found on UA.com including partner flights (native or codeshares).
Sometimes you can use Google Flights find additional combinations and transfer to UA.com to book.
Sometimes you can use Google Flights find additional combinations and transfer to UA.com to book.
For an itinerary like BRU-DPS, where UA didn’t offer any relevant flights, united.com used to offer a variety of partner flights (mostly *A). They appear to have stopped doing that.
OP: When UA says “United codeshare partners,” they do not mean “an airline where UA has a codeshare agreement.” Rather, they mean “a United codeshare flight.” In this case, based on these new ETC terms, I agree that you could buy that flight iff you could get it on the United website.
The only workaround I can think of is to buy an itinerary that United does return, apply the ETC, and then call to change to the flights you actually want — but (a) there’s no guarantee that an agent will cooperate, and (b) I think cfischer is correct; SQ, in particular, is extremely reluctant to allow its long-haul flights to be sold on another airline’s ticket except at full-fare prices. So, I suspect the fare would be much more expensive than it would be to buy through SQ directly.
Would you be looking to travel in Y or J? One-way or round-trip?
Jul 2, 22, 10:32 am
#349
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Originally Posted by jsloan
I’m (pleasantly) surprised that you can use ETCs for partner flights. I’m pretty sure that’s new since my last ETC in 2019.
For an itinerary like BRU-DPS, where UA didn’t offer any relevant flights, united.com used to offer a variety of partner flights (mostly *A). They appear to have stopped doing that.
OP: When UA says “United codeshare partners,” they do not mean “an airline where UA has a codeshare agreement.” Rather, they mean “a United codeshare flight.” In this case, based on these new ETC terms, I agree that you could buy that flight iff you could get it on the United website.
The only workaround I can think of is to buy an itinerary that United does return, apply the ETC, and then call to change to the flights you actually want — but (a) there’s no guarantee that an agent will cooperate, and (b) I think cfischer is correct; SQ, in particular, is extremely reluctant to allow its long-haul flights to be sold on another airline’s ticket except at full-fare prices. So, I suspect the fare would be much more expensive than it would be to buy through SQ directly.
Would you be looking to travel in Y or J? One-way or round-trip?
For an itinerary like BRU-DPS, where UA didn’t offer any relevant flights, united.com used to offer a variety of partner flights (mostly *A). They appear to have stopped doing that.
OP: When UA says “United codeshare partners,” they do not mean “an airline where UA has a codeshare agreement.” Rather, they mean “a United codeshare flight.” In this case, based on these new ETC terms, I agree that you could buy that flight iff you could get it on the United website.
The only workaround I can think of is to buy an itinerary that United does return, apply the ETC, and then call to change to the flights you actually want — but (a) there’s no guarantee that an agent will cooperate, and (b) I think cfischer is correct; SQ, in particular, is extremely reluctant to allow its long-haul flights to be sold on another airline’s ticket except at full-fare prices. So, I suspect the fare would be much more expensive than it would be to buy through SQ directly.
Would you be looking to travel in Y or J? One-way or round-trip?
I had followed this OP in the EU 261 thread. I believe they took the ETC rather than €600 or 50,000 miles. So I’m sure that if this itinerary doesn’t work they will find another use for this ETC (bear in mind he has another potential ETC coming for his girlfriend) Hopefully this will work out well for them!
Jul 2, 22, 11:27 am
#351
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 15,992
Originally Posted by Denguin
Looking to get some help with a prospective booking. I never fly UA, so I'm unsure of how to navigate their systems.
Here's the situation:
1) I'm looking to book a RT flight from Canada to the USA, so I will not qualify for any free changes/cancellations back to future flight credit.
2) I MUST make the purchase in CAD, unfortunately.
3) The flight I'm wishing to book is advertised as $480 USD... but if I select I want to pay in CAD, it jumps to $1000 (~775 USD). Upon taking a closer look, it looks like Economy (G) is not being advertised to Canadians, as the minute I switch currency, it shows Economy (K).
My questions:
1) Is there a particular reason why the price increases so much when paying in a foreign currency? I can understand giving an unfavourable exchange, but $300 more is clearly not due to FX currency factors.
2) Any ideas for workarounds?
3) One potential idea I've thought of - does future flight credit retain the original currency of purchase, or does it convert to USD? If the latter, I figure I can book a domestic US itinerary in CAD, cancel to future flight credit, and then snag the USD price with the credit. Would this work?
Thanks - appreciate any advice!
Here's the situation:
1) I'm looking to book a RT flight from Canada to the USA, so I will not qualify for any free changes/cancellations back to future flight credit.
2) I MUST make the purchase in CAD, unfortunately.
3) The flight I'm wishing to book is advertised as $480 USD... but if I select I want to pay in CAD, it jumps to $1000 (~775 USD). Upon taking a closer look, it looks like Economy (G) is not being advertised to Canadians, as the minute I switch currency, it shows Economy (K).
My questions:
1) Is there a particular reason why the price increases so much when paying in a foreign currency? I can understand giving an unfavourable exchange, but $300 more is clearly not due to FX currency factors.
2) Any ideas for workarounds?
3) One potential idea I've thought of - does future flight credit retain the original currency of purchase, or does it convert to USD? If the latter, I figure I can book a domestic US itinerary in CAD, cancel to future flight credit, and then snag the USD price with the credit. Would this work?
Thanks - appreciate any advice!
2) Use a US-based travel agent, but then note that you need to work with that agent to make any future changes, and I don’t know if they’ll let you pay in CAD.
3) You said you had to make the purchase in CAD. If you try this, even if it does work, your receipt will be in USD.
You’ve actually hit the nail on the head — you’re paying more because the G bucket is zeroed out for a Canadian point of sale. When you change currency on the United website, you’re actually changing the point of sale. (Well, as a matter of fact, UA will set it based upon the billing address of your credit card, but since you said you need to bill in CAD, you’re probably going to be forced to use a Canadian card). AFAIK, UA is unique in doing this; most airlines will base the point of sale on either (a) the origin country or (b) the specific website you’ve selected.
You can only avoid this by purchasing through a US point of sale, but, as I stated, I’m not sure how many US sellers will accept CAD.
Jul 2, 22, 11:51 am
#352
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Posts: 59,450
Have completely reworked the wiki due the significant rule/ process changes for ETCs / FFCs.
Additions are welcome.
Will be closing a number of outdated threads and consolidating ETC and FFC discussion into this thread. As they are now more alike than different. The main differences are transferability and expiration which are cover in the wiki. And they are not usable as credits at the same time.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Additions are welcome.
Will be closing a number of outdated threads and consolidating ETC and FFC discussion into this thread. As they are now more alike than different. The main differences are transferability and expiration which are cover in the wiki. And they are not usable as credits at the same time.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 2, 22 at 1:17 pm
Jul 2, 22, 2:25 pm
#353
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 50
Originally Posted by jsloan
1) Sort of. It’s increasing because the point of sale changed, not because of the currency difference.
2) Use a US-based travel agent, but then note that you need to work with that agent to make any future changes, and I don’t know if they’ll let you pay in CAD.
3) You said you had to make the purchase in CAD. If you try this, even if it does work, your receipt will be in USD.
You’ve actually hit the nail on the head — you’re paying more because the G bucket is zeroed out for a Canadian point of sale. When you change currency on the United website, you’re actually changing the point of sale. (Well, as a matter of fact, UA will set it based upon the billing address of your credit card, but since you said you need to bill in CAD, you’re probably going to be forced to use a Canadian card). AFAIK, UA is unique in doing this; most airlines will base the point of sale on either (a) the origin country or (b) the specific website you’ve selected.
You can only avoid this by purchasing through a US point of sale, but, as I stated, I’m not sure how many US sellers will accept CAD.
2) Use a US-based travel agent, but then note that you need to work with that agent to make any future changes, and I don’t know if they’ll let you pay in CAD.
3) You said you had to make the purchase in CAD. If you try this, even if it does work, your receipt will be in USD.
You’ve actually hit the nail on the head — you’re paying more because the G bucket is zeroed out for a Canadian point of sale. When you change currency on the United website, you’re actually changing the point of sale. (Well, as a matter of fact, UA will set it based upon the billing address of your credit card, but since you said you need to bill in CAD, you’re probably going to be forced to use a Canadian card). AFAIK, UA is unique in doing this; most airlines will base the point of sale on either (a) the origin country or (b) the specific website you’ve selected.
You can only avoid this by purchasing through a US point of sale, but, as I stated, I’m not sure how many US sellers will accept CAD.
The only reason I need to make the purchase in CAD is due to a promo, where I get $250 credit if I purchase $500+ with UA... only caveat is that the transaction has to be in CAD. So, a third party agency won't help me in this instance, I guess I was hoping to find a workaround by booking a domestic USA flight in CAD, refunding to FFC (hoping it was issued in USD), then re-booking my desired route at their published USD rates. I suppose this won't work if they are going to use my billing address as a Canadian one though, so I've resigned myself to picking a different date/routing with a G fare bucket available.
A bummer that UA does this, but I guess they're in the business of making money. Shrug.
