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As we all navigate life during the pandemic and do our part to flatten the curve by not partaking in non-essential travel, airlines are updating their policies, providing free flight changes and cancellations for travel directly affected by the pandemic. For canceled flights, airlines typically provide a credit or voucher. But what if the voucher expires while the pandemic still rages on?



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The rules regarding vouchers/credits

Airline vouchers are used in place of cash compensation. They are credited to your airline account, similar to a booking or ticket number. And like everything else, the terms and conditions governing them vary from one airline to another.

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Apart from the conditions set forth by vouchers/credits, they generally come with a time period during which you’re require to use them. If yours is due to end in the midst of this no-travel period, however, there’s no need to fret—airlines are making accommodations for that, too.

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Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines defines vouchers as “credit certificates,” which they offer when you need to rebook or cancel your flight. The validity of the certificate is one full year from your original flight day—not the the day they issue the credit.

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To gain further clarity we consulted with their customer service and spoke to an agent who explained: “If your expiration date (on your certification) is May 15, 2020 this doesn’t mean that your credit certificate is finished by then. The expiration date means you have until then [in this hypothetical—May 15th] to book your travel.”

American Airlines

The eVoucher section of the American Airlines website has yet to be updated to reflect COVID-19-related issues, and customer service was unreachable, but we will update this story with the correct information as soon as we receive it.

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Delta Airlines

Delta provides multiple forms of eCredits in the form of Delta Dollars (as compensation for oversold flight), Delta Travel Vouchers and a Transportation Credit Voucher (compensation for a service issue).

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Their customer service recommends that travelers contact Delta directly before the expiration of the voucher. Be prepared with your full name (at time of booking) and voucher number.

You can find their full eCredit policy here.

JetBlue

JetBlue offers their travelers “Travel Bank Credits.” They have updated their site with the following information for the current situation, reflecting an extension to current expiration dates:

Due to the evolving coronavirus situation, we have extended the deadline for using Travel Bank credits: If you have a Travel Bank credit from a previous flight purchase that is expiring between February 27 and May 31, it will now expire December 31, 2020. Travel Bank credits issued between February 27 and May 31 for flight purchases will now have an 18-month expiration period as opposed to the typical 12 months.”

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Spirit Airlines

Spirit isn’t currently offering any updated information on their website about changes to their Future Travel Vouchers. After contacting customer service, we were told travelers should simply give customer service their full name and voucher code and the agent will assist you with extending your travel voucher. A caveat: You must call before the voucher expires.

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Southwest

Southwest’s vouchers are referred to as “travel funds.” According to their customer service, travel funds due to expire between March 1 and May 31, 2020 will now expire on June 30, 2021. Travel funds generated between March 1 and May 31, 2020 will also receive an updated expiration date of June 30, 2021.

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Be sure to check to double-check your travel funds’ expiration on the Southwest site.

United Airlines

United has listed the specific pandemic-related provisions they have made to their existing policies on their website. Their site states, “To give you more flexibility when you travel, electronic certificates are now valid for 24 months from the date they were issued. This includes all currently valid electronic certificates and all new ones issued on or after April 1, 2020.

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This policy change will automatically appear, but it may not be reflected everywhere right away.”

The airline notes that the extended expiry dates may not be immediately reflected on all sections of the site. Additionally, extension of your voucher or credit is not always automatic, so you should always call the airline directly and ask for a written confirmation that your voucher is can be used for later travel dates.

Source: Lifehacker.com

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