Cannot use travel credit due to health and age
Jun 18, 2020, 2:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2020
Programs: United
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Cannot use travel credit due to health and age
My parents had to cancel a trip to Hawaii For a wedding because of COVID. They had first class tickets because of their age but now their health has deteriorated and they are no longer able to travel. Is there any way to either transfer the credit to another person or to get a refund?
Jun 18, 2020, 2:13 pm
#2
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My parents had to cancel a trip to Hawaii For a wedding because of COVID. They had first class tickets because of their age but now their health has deteriorated and they are no longer able to travel. Is there any way to either transfer the credit to another person or to get a refund?
If so, then UA is properly retaining the credit. The best way to handle it is to contact Customer Care and see if they can issue a electronic travel certificate, or simply ETC, for the value of the ticket. If UA obliges, then the ETC can be used by others.
In not, then you can ask UA for a full refund back to the original payment method.
Jun 18, 2020, 2:14 pm
#3
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If you are medically unable to travel for the entirety of the ticket validity, and can produce a doctor's note to that effect, United will refund the ticket. However, note that ticket validity is now 24 months from issue, due to COVID-19.
If they can get an ETC instead of future flight credit, the value of the ETC can be used for travel by anyone.
If they can get an ETC instead of future flight credit, the value of the ETC can be used for travel by anyone.
Jun 18, 2020, 2:38 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2017
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If an itinerary is voluntary cancelled, any subsequent schedule change / UA cancels won't matter right? The way I read it, OP's parents voluntary cancelled.
Jun 18, 2020, 2:46 pm
#6
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Right, because at the time of the cancellation, it was a voluntary change. Any subsequent development would not matter as the reservation no longer existed.
Jun 18, 2020, 3:02 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2003
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One thing to note before calling; when I canceled my trips back in March, I ended up taking the travel credit; i just needed to retain the original confirmation. Just recently, when I went to use the travel credit, I was given the option to convert it to a ETC, which I did, and within seconds the ETC was in my email.
You might want to go into the orignal record locator and see...
Jun 18, 2020, 3:08 pm
#9
Moderator: United Airlines
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Yes, the original PNR should be under Cancelled Flights in My Trips and probably will show a convert to ETC option.
However, if you plan to try the refund option, try the refund first before converting to ETC
However, if you plan to try the refund option, try the refund first before converting to ETC
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 18, 2020 at 3:42 pm
Jun 18, 2020, 3:11 pm
#10
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if you can use the ETC, it is much simpler than dealing with a doctors note and getting a refund. The latter should be possible but these days it is quite challenging and lengthy.