...? I can't re-use a ticket I paid for on United?
Jun 2, 2011, 2:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SF
Programs: UA / 1K & AA ExP
Posts: 48
...? I can't re-use a ticket I paid for on United?
I bought tickets on United for my boyfriend and his son to fly on a trip, using my credit card.
They can't go.
United is telling me that I cannot re-purpose that credit for ME, claiming 'non-transferrability'. IOW - I can only use that ticket to purchase another ticket for either one of them.
That, to me, seems ridiculous. It was MY CREDIT CARD that bought the ticket. What do you mean I cannot use that credit to buy a ticket for ME?!!
Help / ideas?
They can't go.
United is telling me that I cannot re-purpose that credit for ME, claiming 'non-transferrability'. IOW - I can only use that ticket to purchase another ticket for either one of them.
That, to me, seems ridiculous. It was MY CREDIT CARD that bought the ticket. What do you mean I cannot use that credit to buy a ticket for ME?!!
Help / ideas?
Jun 2, 2011, 2:02 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 571
I bought tickets on United for my boyfriend and his son to fly on a trip, using my credit card.
They can't go.
United is telling me that I cannot re-purpose that credit for ME, claiming 'non-transferrability'. IOW - I can only use that ticket to purchase another ticket for either one of them.
That, to me, seems ridiculous. It was MY CREDIT CARD that bought the ticket. What do you mean I cannot use that credit to buy a ticket for ME?!!
Help / ideas?
They can't go.
United is telling me that I cannot re-purpose that credit for ME, claiming 'non-transferrability'. IOW - I can only use that ticket to purchase another ticket for either one of them.
That, to me, seems ridiculous. It was MY CREDIT CARD that bought the ticket. What do you mean I cannot use that credit to buy a ticket for ME?!!
Help / ideas?
Your credit card has nothing to do with it because they aren’t crediting the value back to your credit card.
Jun 2, 2011, 2:05 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA, Hertz Gold, AA Gold, DL Silver
Posts: 825
Unfortunately, that's SOP for almost all airlines (it's possible that Southwest lets you do this). The only way you would have gotten a refund is if you had booked a refundable ticket, which would have likely been at a much higher cost.
Jun 2, 2011, 2:10 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: New York, United States
Posts: 222
I know JetBlue will allow you to apply the credit to anyone else's flight booking. but yeah, it's SOP for most airlines
Jun 2, 2011, 2:16 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
OP, one way you can workaround this is to find the cheapest ticket that you can (find a route short and competitive, like SFO-LAX or ORD-STL), pay the change fee, and book a throw-away ticket in one of their names. I am not entirely sure of the UA system, but you should then get a residual voucher that can be used to book travel for other people.
Jun 2, 2011, 2:31 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SF
Programs: UA / 1K & AA ExP
Posts: 48
Thanks!
CKpeter...that's a GREAT idea. I'll give it a shot.
Any other ideas for getting some of that $ back to me????
Any other ideas for getting some of that $ back to me????
Jun 2, 2011, 6:23 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
Otherwise, since you bought a non-refundable fare, it is non-refundable.
Jun 2, 2011, 7:05 pm
#8
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,544
Please continue to follow this discussion in the UA Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
Jun 2, 2011, 7:23 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I bought tickets on United for my boyfriend and his son to fly on a trip, using my credit card.
They can't go.
United is telling me that I cannot re-purpose that credit for ME, claiming 'non-transferrability'. IOW - I can only use that ticket to purchase another ticket for either one of them.
That, to me, seems ridiculous. It was MY CREDIT CARD that bought the ticket. What do you mean I cannot use that credit to buy a ticket for ME?!!
Help / ideas?
They can't go.
United is telling me that I cannot re-purpose that credit for ME, claiming 'non-transferrability'. IOW - I can only use that ticket to purchase another ticket for either one of them.
That, to me, seems ridiculous. It was MY CREDIT CARD that bought the ticket. What do you mean I cannot use that credit to buy a ticket for ME?!!
Help / ideas?
The residual value route probably will not work and you should check in advance that it will before you engage in it. You risk losing the credit you have at least built up for your boyfriend and his son.
Jun 2, 2011, 8:15 pm
#10
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Doesn't matter who bought the tickets, they are only good for the name of the person on the ticket. You can't use them for you to fly someplace.
Jun 2, 2011, 9:12 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
You bought a non-refundable ticket and thus the residual amount must be used by the person the ticket was issued to. This has nothing to do with who paid. When you buy a non-refundable item that's what it means. Airlines tickets are issued in specific names and are not transferrable. Ergo, only they can make use of the refund credit. See this as a life lesson!
Also, did you know that when they checked in, you'd have to be at the airport with them to show the credit card you used to pay for these tickets?
Also, did you know that when they checked in, you'd have to be at the airport with them to show the credit card you used to pay for these tickets?
Jun 2, 2011, 11:18 pm
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
I think the airline does this to ensure that tickets aren't resold on the open market..
Same thing with reward tickets..
Airlines are cracking down on the black market.
Same thing with reward tickets..
Airlines are cracking down on the black market.
Jun 3, 2011, 6:11 am
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
You bought a non-refundable ticket and thus the residual amount must be used by the person the ticket was issued to. This has nothing to do with who paid. When you buy a non-refundable item that's what it means. Airlines tickets are issued in specific names and are not transferrable. Ergo, only they can make use of the refund credit. See this as a life lesson!
Also, did you know that when they checked in, you'd have to be at the airport with them to show the credit card you used to pay for these tickets?
Also, did you know that when they checked in, you'd have to be at the airport with them to show the credit card you used to pay for these tickets?
Jun 3, 2011, 6:18 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
Could OP buy full refundable tickets with the unused credit, and then get those refunded?
Jun 3, 2011, 6:21 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
Any residual value will be issued in the name of the original passenger and is non-transferable.