Comments on: Sucked into the flight voucher vortex: one survivor’s story http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jeff http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/comment-page-1/#comment-18976 Jeff Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:05:52 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/#comment-18976 Jason, Thanks for the process for United. It worked like a charm. Your instructions saved me a lot of time. Now if only United could provide those instructions to their customers. What a concept! Jason,

Thanks for the process for United. It worked like a charm. Your instructions saved me a lot of time. Now if only United could provide those instructions to their customers. What a concept!

]]> By: darrin http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/comment-page-1/#comment-14543 darrin Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:46:20 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/#comment-14543 I've been doing some research on this, some of the airlines are pretty tight about their vouchers and have other policies that depreciate the value of the voucher. One of the main policies that wind up costing the consumer is that you cannot use the flight voucher for booking over the internet. As a result they charge you $10-15 to book with a live agent. Northwest airlines is said to have the best voucher program, they're more like gift certificates. I’ve been doing some research on this, some of the airlines are pretty tight about their vouchers and have other policies that depreciate the value of the voucher. One of the main policies that wind up costing the consumer is that you cannot use the flight voucher for booking over the internet. As a result they charge you $10-15 to book with a live agent.

Northwest airlines is said to have the best voucher program, they’re more like gift certificates.

]]> By: Lanora Mueller http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/comment-page-1/#comment-6100 Lanora Mueller Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:11:52 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/#comment-6100 Correction: American Airlines charges $15 for airport or phone ticket purchases. Correction: American Airlines charges $15 for airport or phone ticket purchases.

]]> By: Lanora Mueller http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/comment-page-1/#comment-6079 Lanora Mueller Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:31:52 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/#comment-6079 Like Becky Granger, I was chagrined when I realized I'd have to pay a ticketing fee to cash in a flight voucher I'd received for giving up my seat on a sold-out flight. Unlike Becky, however, I was able to limit my inconvenience to the $10 charge incurred when I used the voucher at American Airline's counter. Yes, it still chafes my butt raw to have to pay to redeem something given as free. But there's no need to make a special trip to the airport just to play airfare roulette at the airline's ticket counter. Of course, if you have the time and patience, you can always make a reservation by phone and mail in the voucher. Or you can book online, if you then call the airline and tell an agent you'll be mailing a voucher. Otherwise, here's the best strategy, one that shouldn't cause too much distress to most frequent fliers. You'll have to think ahead, of course, but it shouldn't be too difficult to redeem your voucher during your next trip. Just go online as usual to book the ticket you plan to pay for using your voucher. For most discounted fares, American Airlines holds your reservation until midnight of the next day, but in some cases, your ticket is held without payment until 30 minutes before flight time. In my case, I was in Orange County on the second leg of a round-trip that had originated there, and I had decided to use my voucher on a one-way return to O'Hare, my home airport. I booked the ticket online to guarantee its price. Arriving at John Wayne Airport at the normal preflight check-in time, I simply waited a few minutes at the AA ticket counter, and, along with my ID, presented the voucher to the agent. After processing the ticket sale (there was a small balance that went on my credit card), the agent issued the ticket, printed my boarding pass, and checked in my bags. The whole ordeal took perhaps 10 minutes more than usual. Of course, YMMV. I have elite status on American, so I can use the First Class ticketing position at most airports. (Note that some airports may be limiting that privilege to First Class and Executive Platinum passengers, so as a lowly Platinum, I might have had a longer wait had I tried to use the voucher at O'Hare.) Alternately, if you're a member of an airline-sponsored lounge such as the Admirals Club, agents in most lounges can help you with future flight ticketing. When I spoke with an AA customer service representative by phone, she assured me there are plans to make these vouchers redeemable online. In the meantime, if you're offered a bump or a fare adjustment, you might want to ask for $10 more (or $20, apparently, if you fly United) to cover the cost of redeeming the paper credit. Like Becky Granger, I was chagrined when I realized I’d have to pay a ticketing fee to cash in a flight voucher I’d received for giving up my seat on a sold-out flight.

Unlike Becky, however, I was able to limit my inconvenience to the $10 charge incurred when I used the voucher at American Airline’s counter.

Yes, it still chafes my butt raw to have to pay to redeem something given as free.

But there’s no need to make a special trip to the airport just to play airfare roulette at the airline’s ticket counter. Of course, if you have the time and patience, you can always make a reservation by phone and mail in the voucher. Or you can book online, if you then call the airline and tell an agent you’ll be mailing a voucher.

Otherwise, here’s the best strategy, one that shouldn’t cause too much distress to most frequent fliers. You’ll have to think ahead, of course, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to redeem your voucher during your next trip.

Just go online as usual to book the ticket you plan to pay for using your voucher. For most discounted fares, American Airlines holds your reservation until midnight of the next day, but in some cases, your ticket is held without payment until 30 minutes before flight time.

In my case, I was in Orange County on the second leg of a round-trip that had originated there, and I had decided to use my voucher on a one-way return to O’Hare, my home airport.

I booked the ticket online to guarantee its price. Arriving at John Wayne Airport at the normal preflight check-in time, I simply waited a few minutes at the AA ticket counter, and, along with my ID, presented the voucher to the agent.

After processing the ticket sale (there was a small balance that went on my credit card), the agent issued the ticket, printed my boarding pass, and checked in my bags. The whole ordeal took perhaps 10 minutes more than usual.

Of course, YMMV.

I have elite status on American, so I can use the First Class ticketing position at most airports. (Note that some airports may be limiting that privilege to First Class and Executive Platinum passengers, so as a lowly Platinum, I might have had a longer wait had I tried to use the voucher at O’Hare.)

Alternately, if you’re a member of an airline-sponsored lounge such as the Admirals Club, agents in most lounges can help you with future flight ticketing.

When I spoke with an AA customer service representative by phone, she assured me there are plans to make these vouchers redeemable online. In the meantime, if you’re offered a bump or a fare adjustment, you might want to ask for $10 more (or $20, apparently, if you fly United) to cover the cost of redeeming the paper credit.

]]> By: Karen http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/comment-page-1/#comment-6078 Karen Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:04:19 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/#comment-6078 I recently took a direct -- but not nonstop -- flight from Las Vegas to Orlando (stopped in Atlanta). After all of the Atlanta passengers disembarked there, we were informed that the plane was not continuing to Orlando and we had to get off. To make a long story short, we were rescheduled for the following day and ended up spending the night at the Atlanta airport (there was another flight to Orlando that they were supposed to put us on, but our plane was late and the other flight left without us). Some passengers got hotel rooms, but most of us didn't (they were "all gone") and we were basically told "tough luck." No explanation was given for the canceled flight, and it wasn't weather or anything obvious. When I complained, I was given a $40 voucher for a future Delta flight (the "value of the room I should have received"). The voucher is basically worthless because it has to be used at the airport. You can't apply the credit to flights placed online. You can book the flight with a phone rep (not the cheapest method, either) and then go to the airport before the 24-hour hold is released, but it's never convenient to do that (drive many miles through heavy traffic to the airport, stand in line for an hour, pay parking, etc.) I doubt that the voucher will ever be used and I will avoid Delta in the future because of this. I recently took a direct — but not nonstop — flight from Las Vegas to Orlando (stopped in Atlanta). After all of the Atlanta passengers disembarked there, we were informed that the plane was not continuing to Orlando and we had to get off. To make a long story short, we were rescheduled for the following day and ended up spending the night at the Atlanta airport (there was another flight to Orlando that they were supposed to put us on, but our plane was late and the other flight left without us). Some passengers got hotel rooms, but most of us didn’t (they were “all gone”) and we were basically told “tough luck.” No explanation was given for the canceled flight, and it wasn’t weather or anything obvious. When I complained, I was given a $40 voucher for a future Delta flight (the “value of the room I should have received”). The voucher is basically worthless because it has to be used at the airport. You can’t apply the credit to flights placed online. You can book the flight with a phone rep (not the cheapest method, either) and then go to the airport before the 24-hour hold is released, but it’s never convenient to do that (drive many miles through heavy traffic to the airport, stand in line for an hour, pay parking, etc.) I doubt that the voucher will ever be used and I will avoid Delta in the future because of this.

]]> By: Cliff Woodrick http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/comment-page-1/#comment-6074 Cliff Woodrick Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:08:47 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/#comment-6074 Hi - When Jet Blue was late taking off because of a almost flat tire found on the preflight check, we were issued a $50.00 voucher that stayed with my Jet Blue account. The next flight cost to my surprised had a $50.00 deduction. I forgot about this but was told that Jet Blue does this automatically for it's registered customers. Have a wonderful day - Cliff Hi – When Jet Blue was late taking off because of a almost flat tire found on the preflight check, we were issued a $50.00 voucher that stayed with my Jet Blue account. The next flight cost to my surprised had a $50.00 deduction. I forgot about this but was told that Jet Blue does this automatically for it’s registered customers.

Have a wonderful day – Cliff

]]> By: Art Isenberg http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/comment-page-1/#comment-6073 Art Isenberg Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:56:05 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/#comment-6073 Another reason for flying Southwest. If you find the flight you booked cheaper after you've booked it, you can rebook it, on line, without an agent, and the credit being returned to you goes to your SW account and can be used for future purchase within one year from the original booking date. No hassle. Another reason for flying Southwest. If you find the flight you booked cheaper after you’ve booked it, you can rebook it, on line, without an agent, and the credit being returned to you goes to your SW account and can be used for future purchase within one year from the original booking date. No hassle.

]]> By: Jason http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/comment-page-1/#comment-6067 Jason Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:17:11 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/sucked-into-the-flight-voucher-vortex-one-survivors-story/#comment-6067 United's vouchers are terrible, I couldn't agree more. However, they can be used in the following way: Step 1. Make an online reservation, holding the itinerary without paying. Step 2. Call them and tell them the confirmation number and that you would like to pay for it with a voucher. Step 3. Tell them you do not live near an airport and you wish to mail the voucher. Step 4. Confirm that they will hold your reservation for 10 days (not the usual 48 hours), make a copy of the voucher, and mail it in to the address they give you. This information is NOT contained in the voucher, and I have every sympathy for Becky, as I have been through almost as much before I discovered this method. Good Luck!, Jason Denver, CO United’s vouchers are terrible, I couldn’t agree more. However, they can be used in the following way:

Step 1. Make an online reservation, holding the itinerary without paying.
Step 2. Call them and tell them the confirmation number and that you would like to pay for it with a voucher.
Step 3. Tell them you do not live near an airport and you wish to mail the voucher.
Step 4. Confirm that they will hold your reservation for 10 days (not the usual 48 hours), make a copy of the voucher, and mail it in to the address they give you.

This information is NOT contained in the voucher, and I have every sympathy for Becky, as I have been through almost as much before I discovered this method.

Good Luck!,

Jason
Denver, CO

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