We’ve had cases where customers have lost their flight credit because they advertised their vouchers on Facebook. American Airlines, for example, stipulates that its credits are void if bought, sold or bartered, advertised for sale or used for commercial or promotional purposes. You might not be able to sell themĪirlines have strict rules when it comes to flight credit. In other words, airlines can change the expiration dates on its flight credit - just check the terms. The fine print is written is written so vaguely that an airline could apply it to any flight credit for any reason. The terms can change without noticeĪirlines often reserve the right to reserve “refuse, void, cancel or reject” your flight credit. Once you agree to a credit, you can’t convert it to cash or any other form of credit with the airline. If an airline offers you flight credit, ask which kind you’re getting. Each comes with its own terms and conditions. For example, United Airlines offers flight credits, electronic travel certificates, and something called TravelBank cash (a kind of gift card). Who is right? What do you need to know about flight credits? There are several flavors of flight creditsĪirlines often have more than one type of flight credit.
Smithers has written proof that her credit runs out in October - a screenshot she’d taken after receiving the airline ticket credit. In other words, there’s nothing it can do to extend the vouchers. In this case, the airline is not extending expired tickets.Įxpedia says that it’s just an intermediary and that it is bound by American Airlines’ policies and its application of those policies. Only the airline can make exceptions and we do ask for those. Smithers that the credits are expired, which means the reservations can no longer be rebooked or refunded. When she tried to rebook her vacation, Expedia said she was out of luck.Įxpedia justified the expiration in an email it sent to the BBB about her case: She says Expedia didn’t tell her about the new expiration date.
Expedia converted the flight credits to new vouchers with a new expiration date of March 9. Last spring, Smithers used part of the credit to book a new reservation on Expedia. New flight credits - and a new expiration date But that’s not where the complexity ends. Then she had to cancel because of a COVID outbreak. (Good thing fellow advocate Dwayne Coward, who is trained in the dark art of airline credits, could decipher it.)Įxpedia’s records show that she’d booked a room at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa and her flight with American Airlines. Each company could impose its own terms on her credit. There are actually three layers to that flight credit: American Airlines and its vacation division, American Airlines Vacations, and Expedia. It turns out she didn’t have ordinary airline scrip but credits for a vacation package booked through American Airlines on Expedia. It’s not just the expiration dates but the sheer complexity of the flight credits that can overwhelm the average customer.Ĭonsider Smithers’ case. Warning: Flight credits can get complicatedĪirlines are exceptionally good at keeping your money, and nowhere is that more true than with flight credits. They accept vouchers for their flights and then forget about them. But many passengers don’t know or don’t care. Smithers was aware that her flight credit had an expiration date. So effectively, when they give you a flight credit, they know there’s a 9 in 10 chance they will keep your money - legally. I’ve spoken with airline insiders who say less than 10 percent of their customers redeem their flight credits. They don’t want the liability of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of unspent flight credits on their balance sheets.īut the real reason is less complicated. Why do flight credits expire? Airlines argue that credits are unused tickets they must account for in their systems.
Congress wants to require airlines to offer flight credits that last “indefinitely.”) (This was almost certainly a pre-emptive move. The exception among major domestic airlines is Southwest, which last week removed the expiration dates on its flight credits. Let’s be clear about this: Almost all airline flight credits expire.
“I just want the value of my credit as was promised”.If my flight vouchers expire before I can use them, can I dispute my ticket purchase on my credit card?.What do you need to know about flight credits?.New flight credits - and a new expiration date.Warning: Flight credits can get complicated.