What is a free flight voucher?


What is a free flight voucher? If you change or cancel your flight – or get bumped – airlines will often give you at least some of that money back in the form of a voucher or travel credits to put toward a future trip. And these days, major U.S. airlines are offering travelers unprecedented flexibility to do so.


How does flight voucher work?

Flight vouchers are essentially certificates or electronic documents issued by airlines to passengers as a form of compensation, credit, or refund for various reasons. These vouchers can be used towards future flights, services, or purchases with the issuing airline.


How long do flight vouchers last?

When Do Airline Travel Vouchers Expire? Depends on the airline. Still, vouchers commonly expire one or two years from when they were issued. Make sure to check with your airline to see when your voucher is set to expire, which will help you make a plan for what to do.


Can I give my flight voucher to someone else?

Normally, a future flight credit is non-transferrable and therefore must be used by the same traveler it was issued to.


Is a voucher better than a refund?

However, airlines may offer their customers a voucher instead of a refund in such cases. In some situations, a travel voucher may seem more attractive to air travellers than a refund (repayment), as they can use the voucher on future trips with the same airline or other partner airlines to save on ticket costs.


Can I get my money back if I cancel my flight?

Canceling a nonrefundable fare will result in an eCredit for the full amount paid (minus any cancellation fees, depending on fare type and route). However, if you cancel a refundable ticket, you'll get the amount paid refunded back to your original form of payment.


Can I ask airline for cash instead of voucher?

So the airline has offered you a voucher, which is perfectly legal, but you'd rather just have the cash. You'll need to proactively ask your airline for a cash refund in writing. The same goes for if you've booked through an online travel agency like Expedia. They are also covered under DoT rules.