Can United Travel Credits Be Transferred? Understanding United Airlines Flight Credits
One silver lining for consumers during the pandemic era was the increased flexibility offered by many airlines regarding ticket changes and cancellations. Major US carriers, including United, generally adopted policies allowing passengers to cancel tickets and receive a credit towards future travel, with some exceptions like basic economy fares.
Understanding how these credits work is crucial for travelers. United Airlines refers to these as “flight credits.” They function as a form of voucher issued when a ticket is canceled or changed, holding a specific monetary value that can be applied towards subsequent United purchases. This guide will delve into the specifics of United flight credits, including a common question: Can United Travel Credits Be Transferred? We’ll also cover their validity, usage, how to find them, and even a useful trick to extend their expiration date. It’s important to note that these are distinct from United’s travel certificates, which are typically issued as compensation for service disruptions.
Understanding United Flight Credit Vouchers
United’s future flight credits are essentially a payment method derived from the value of a previously canceled or changed ticket. They represent a specific dollar amount that you can use towards buying a new ticket on United, United Express, or eligible partner flights booked through United’s platforms, as well as some other United services.
Let’s break down the key details regarding these credits.
How Long Are United Flight Credits Valid?
Typically, United flight credits are valid for one year from the date the original ticket was issued. A critical point here is that travel must commence by the expiration date, not just be booked by then. For example, if you purchased a ticket on January 1, 2024, and later canceled it, the resulting flight credit would generally expire on January 1, 2025. Any new travel using that credit must begin on or before that date. While United offered more flexible extensions during the pandemic, the standard one-year rule from the original ticket issuance date is the current policy.
Can You Transfer United Travel Credits?
Addressing the primary question directly: No, United flight credits are non-transferable. This means they must be used by the individual passenger to whom they were originally assigned. If a single reservation included multiple passengers, each person would receive their own separate flight credit, and each credit could only be used by that specific passenger. You cannot give or sell your United flight credit to someone else.
Do United Flight Credits Maintain Residual Value?
A frequent concern is whether you lose value if you use a large credit on a cheaper ticket. The good news is that United flight credits do maintain their residual value. If you use a $500 credit to book a $250 ticket, the remaining $250 value will be issued as a new flight credit. This residual credit will generally retain the same expiration date as the original flight credit (unless extended using the trick explained below).
What Can United Flight Credits Be Used For?
United flight credits offer good flexibility. They can be applied towards the cost of flights on United, United Express, and partner airlines when booked via united.com or the United mobile app. Beyond flights, they can also be used for ancillary purchases like Economy Plus seating, standard seat assignments, and preferred seating at the time of initial booking. A key limitation is that you cannot use flight credits for upgrades or ancillary purchases on a ticket that has already been issued.
How to Find Your United Flight Credits
If you are a United MileagePlus member, the easiest way to locate your flight credits is by logging into your account on united.com. Once logged in, navigate to the “My United” page, then select “Wallet,” and finally “Travel credits.” This section should list any available credits linked to your profile.
Look up your United flight credits in your MileagePlus accountAlternatively, or if you are not a MileagePlus member or your credits aren’t appearing correctly, you can look them up directly on United’s website using the confirmation number and last name from your original canceled ticket.
How to Redeem United Flight Credits
Redeeming your flight credit is straightforward. When booking a new flight or eligible service on united.com or the app, proceed to the payment page. There, you will see an option to use “Travel credits” as your payment method. Select this option and apply your available credits.
Redeem United flight credits during the booking processYou are able to combine multiple flight credits to pay for a single purchase, but you cannot combine flight credits with travel certificates in a single transaction.
Can You Extend United Flight Credits?
Yes, there is a known method to effectively extend the expiration date of a United flight credit. This trick involves using your existing credit to book a new ticket that costs slightly more than the credit’s value, paying the small difference with cash or a card. Then, after the initial 24-hour free cancellation window, you cancel this new ticket. When you cancel, United will issue a new flight credit for the entire value of the new ticket (the original credit amount plus the small cash payment). This new flight credit will be valid for one year from the date the new ticket was issued, effectively giving you an additional year to use the funds.
For example, if you have a $300 credit expiring on December 31, 2024:
- Find and book a new flight that costs, say, $315.
- Apply your $300 credit and pay the remaining $15 with cash/card.
- After 24 hours, cancel this $315 ticket.
- You will receive a new $315 flight credit valid for one year from the date you booked the $315 ticket (e.g., valid until sometime in late 2025).
Conclusion
United Airlines has offered increased flexibility with its ticket policies, leading to the frequent issuance of flight credits. While these credits are a convenient way to recover value from canceled trips and can be used for various United purchases and retain residual value, a key limitation is that they are non-transferable and must be used by the original ticket holder. Understanding their one-year validity from the original ticket issuance date is also important. However, savvy travelers can utilize a simple booking-and-cancellation trick to extend the expiration of their United flight credits, providing more time to plan future travel.
