Using VDB & 15% off coupon
 

The subject says it all...BUT:

I'm looking to reserve ORD-LHR in September. I've a few of those Entertainment Book 15% off coupons, and I'd like to use them on this ticket. I also have $200 in VDB vouchers, which I'd like to burn up as well.

Question is...I'd like the 15% off, and then use the VDBs as part of the payment, the other part obviously going on my MP Visa. Since VDBs are credits, and not exactly "offers," is this legal? Or will I get the "you can only use one or the other speech?"

United959-
Although I'm not positive, if memory serves the Entertainment coupons are not combinable with anything else.
Also, because ORD is a hub, the Entertainment coupon is only good for 5%, not the full 15%. So, us Chicago folks get the shaft with that coupon. People have gotten around this rule by flying out of MKE and ditching the last leg, but it may not be worth the drive/train ride.
Sorry I don't have better news http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif


------------------
"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack

I'm not sure about the Entertainment book 15% coupons, but the PMO/Friends and the Tennis 15% specify that for Int'l, the discount is to be treated as a Type B voucher, i.e. like a form of payment. In that regard, your ticket should show the full price value, but with an Add/Collect amount reflecting the discounted price.

In theory, you should be able to combine multiple Type B vouchers. I've gotten the lecture before, but persist. Actually, I just got it a couple weeks ago, using a 15% PMO/Tennis coupon, and a couple of nickel and dime vouchers I'd gotten on reticketing. The agent tried to say that I couldn't combine them, but in pointing out the Type B verbiage to them, and whatever they did when they huddled in the back room, all was well in the end.

I've done the voucher coupon deal with 15% off type coupons many a times for various friends/family. No problems there. However - your itin calls for a LHR leg which I believe the new Ent 15% off coupons (not the Tennis ones) aren't good on intl's.

Good luck.

The 'PMO/Friends' 15% off work to LHR. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Entertainment 15% off certificate is only for within the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands or Canada, not LHR. For ORD, it is only 5% off.

Thanks for the "coaching." I've got a few other discounts as well...but I just wanted to find out the general consensus about using a discount and travel credit together. I'm expecting some good defense, but at least I'll be prepared. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

unagi is correct. But you may need a speech in a calm, even-toned voice to make it happen. I've found that I have to establish the distinction between payment items and discount items. Yes, discount items can never be combined on the same ticket. And often payment items cannot be combined with each other. But there is nothing preventing a payment and a discount item from being combined. Once I've established this idea, I urge them to approach a supervisor or the rate desk or whatever. If you fail to make this distinction, the hapless agent goes to the service director in the back office and says "This 1K wants me to combine things that say non-combinable. How do I make him go away?" Be patient and smiling to keep them on your side. Don't expect telephone agents to help you at all.

Unfortunately, the Service Directors don't know this either. She told me, "Sir, I have worked for United for 5 years and we never have done that." I told her she was mistaken. She became pissed and told me to leave. I told her to call the Manager of Lobby operations over. She said to her that this "1K wants to do this and it is not allowed." The Manager said, "Sorry, you ARE mistaken. He is right, you can combine a Type A and a Type B certificate. One is a discount; the other a form of payment." Did I even get a "Oh, sir, I'm sorry" from the agent? When monkeys fly out of my you-know-what, I guess.

ARC Handbook: Carrier Issued Certificates and Vouchers (PDF File) - Discusses the difference between Type A and Type B certificates/vouchers.

Basically, one is a payment and the other is a discount, so you should be able to use both. A certificate is a coupon, but a voucher is payment (like a check, CC, or cash). As with everything, the trick is to find an agent who knows the rules. As the above poster states, stand your ground, and insist they read the rules if needed.

Ask the agent to see S*PMO/DollarUA or S*UAL/TRAVEL CREDIT.

"DOLLARUA" and the various other promotion profiles almost always have a big list of things with which they are not combineable -- generally other discount coupons, status (e.g., youth or government) fares, and so on. Right before that laundry list in EVERY UA promotional profile I've ever seen is "EXCEPTION: MAY BE COMBINED WITH TRAVEL CREDIT/TRAVEL VOUCHER." For the Entertainment coupon, point the agent to the ENT03 profile (or whatever it is this year), and if they read hard enough they'll find that exception. As always, it's right above the list of things it CAN'T be combined with.

This is one of those situations where the agents often become very defensive and refuse to do the research. However, as you're 100% right, being patient and polite will tend to get you there sooner. By the way, travel agencies *can* do this too if you have a good relationship with one. If you don't, this type of transaction tends to attract a fee.

Silly question around these travel credits and 15% off coupons (USTA ones in my case).

Can I do this online? Or do I do it over the phone and mail things in? if i do mail things in, do people do registered mail?

Or if I am going to be at the airport later, can I just make reservation now/ticket now and turn in stuff at the airport in a week?

ORD is my airport.

TIA

I do this frequently by mail. I have never sent it registered mail (boy that's the kiss of death!). It takes about 7-10 days for the transaction to be completed.

Funny thing happened once with the mail option. I had two separate tickets for the exact same ORD-LAS itineraries a week apart. Sent them in two separate envelopes in order to avoid confusion. Both transactions involved a 15 percent off and VDB vouchers.

When I got my receipts, one had been done correctly, with the 15 percent off, and the other did not include the 15 percent off. About a day later, I received the voucher back with a note stating that they couldn't be combined!! A call to United fixed that (had to send voucher back), but it was interesting to see that one agent ticketing did it right and another did not.

PMO/Friends 2003 15% off can be used on-line, at least according to the terms on the back, sec. 9. You have to mail the certificate. I can't say I'll be using this option though. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

PMO/US Tennis cannot be used on-line.

My bad...I have a Tennis coupon...15% off. This is what it says under "Processing Information:"

UA Representatives See: S*PMO/UA Tennis
FastTech: Profile Code: PMO
Name: US Tennis
Agencies See: S*PMA/US Tennis

Travel within the 50 United States:
Treat as type "A" Certificate
Use Account code: TA15R

International Travel: Treat as type "B" voucher
Use ticket designator: TA15R

So...being that I'm on an INT'L Itinerary, will the treating as type B with my type B VDB's pose a problem?? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif