Well, summer travel is upon us and I have been searching for UA flights. Of course, everything is outrageous right now. Then I thought about buying a RT voucher from someone on Craig's List. I have (1) RT voucher right now, so I know what they look like, how they work, etc.

If I were to buy one from one Craig's List, what should the process be?

- meet at the airport
- person selling RT voucher books my flight
- puts my name on the ticket
- pay the guy cash for ticket.
- go back and add my MP number to ticket
- confirm.
- done.

(well, sort of like this)

But does anyone have best practices??? I know, I know.. it is discouraged to do this of buying and selling united vouchers, etc, blah blah.. it happens, someone has to take advantage

cheers

I would suggest against doing this, but I prefer waiting for the inevitable "Why did UA suspend my account and take all my miles?" thread you'll start in a week or two.

why would this happen? or does this happen? If the voucher was put in my name and booked trip, how would UA know?

The magic words which will cause you to fry in Frequent Flier hades after having all your miles confiscated.

so what you are saying is that if I had a RT voucher from getting bumped off a flight, or taking a bump, and I want to use it fly my cousin out to SF, and I go into the airport, and book the ticket in my cousins name with the voucher. My cousin goes and calls up UA with the NBR number, puts his MP number on the ticket so he can log in online, checkin, whatever, UA will pull his miles because I changed the ticket to his name?

I know someone who this has happened to. They took all his miles out of his account AND left him with a negative 150,000 mile penalty.

So if the ticket can not be used for mileage accural, then they probably couldnt link it you then. Meaning, if I took the ticket, and not attached the ticket to my MP number, then it should be fine.

No, its not a problem if its done legit. I do this sort of thing for my GF (different last name) all the time. She puts her MP number on the res and there's never been a problem. The problem arises if UA finds out that the voucher has been sold or bartered.

So basically what you are saying is that if it's a gift, then its fine. If it's sold or bartered, then your are in trouble.

Business partner "gifts" me his voucher. books my flight reservation in my name, done.

Thanks all!

All it takes is one mention of "Hey, I paid for this!" or an agent to overhear the seller say "ok, that'll be $xxx" and you're outta luck.