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Airline Vouchers? 7 Questions You Need to Ask First

A nationally recognized reporter, writer, and consumer advocate, Ed Perkins focuses on how travelers can find the best deals and avoid scams.

He is the author of "Online Travel" (2000) and "Business Travel: When It's Your Money" (2004), the first step-by-step guide specifically written for small business and self-employed professional travelers. He was also the co-author of the annual "Best Travel Deals" series from Consumers Union.

Perkins' advice for business travelers is featured on MyBusinessTravel.com , a website devoted to helping small business and self-employed professional travelers find the best value for their travel dollars.

Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998. He has also written for Business Traveller magazine (London).

Perkins' travel expertise has led to frequent television appearances, including ABC's "Good Morning America" and "This Week with David Brinkley," "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather," CNN, and numerous local TV and radio stations.

Before editing Consumer Reports Travel Letter, Perkins spent 25 years in travel research and consulting with assignments ranging from national tourism development strategies to the design of computer-based tourism models.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Perkins lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife.

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Unless you’re really lucky, sometime during your travels you will find yourself in a situation where an airline owes you something. Maybe it’s because of a delay, lost baggage, a rescheduled flight, whatever. When that day comes, the airline will almost surely try to settle by issuing you airline vouchers for future travel rather than cutting you a check. At worst, the airline loses the cost of the seat rather than the posted fare; at best, you’ll somehow not get around to using the airline voucher, and the carrier will face no cost at all.

Airline Vouchers—What to Know

To decrease their risk, airlines incorporate gotchas into vouchers to increase the chances that you won’t be able to use them. So before you accept any airline vouchers, you need to ask seven questions.

How Long Are Airline Vouchers Valid?

A tight validity limit is one of the oldest voucher gotchas in the book. An airline offers a generous voucher, but you have to use it within six months. Clearly, many travelers are uninterested in or unable to schedule another flight within that short a time. This ploy is more prevalent with cruise lines than with airlines, but you still have to be careful.

Who Can Use It?

Is the value of the travel voucher limited to you, or can you use it to buy a ticket for someone else? Many airline vouchers may be used only by the person who initially received it for his or her own travel. Depending on your flexibility, that might or might not be a deal-breaker.

Does It Cover the Whole Price?

Airline vouchers seldom include the full cost of a future trip; often, you must pay the government taxes and fees separately. But I’ve heard reports of a much worse limitation: an airline voucher covering only the “base” fare and not the very stiff “carrier-imposed fee,” essentially a renamed fuel surcharge, which on some airlines can be more than the base fare.

Do You Get Just One Bite?

Some vouchers are valid for only a single transaction, even when the value of that transaction is less than the face value of the voucher. For example, if you use a $500 airline voucher to buy a $400 ticket, you might not be able to use the remaining $100 for second ticket. Instead, you lose that value outright.

Are There Any Fare Limitations?

I haven’t seen much of this one, but an airline could place some fare buckets off-limits to voucher-based tickets—not applicable to “flash sale” prices, for example, or for business class.

How Much Are Vouchers Worth to You?

Given the limitations on how you can use it, a voucher is effectively worth a lot less to you than its face cash value. Many experts estimate that a voucher is worth somewhere between a third and a half of its face value. If you ask for cash but an airline offers a voucher, take the voucher only if the face value is at least double the cash offer. When cash isn’t an option, if the voucher value seems to be inadequate, bargain for more or consider your alternatives.

Can You Get Cash Instead?

When a flight is oversold, an airline almost always resorts to offering travel vouchers to passengers who agree to get off and take a later flight. Usually, that works, and someone takes the offer. But if nobody bites, and the airline has to select someone to get off, government regulations specify cash payments, not vouchers, for “involuntary” bumping. You can get up to $675 in the U.S., depending on the circumstance, but only in the case of overbooking. European rules call for higher payments as well as payments for delays. Take the voucher only if its worth to you is a lot more than the cash.

More from SmarterTravel:

• Overbooked Flight? How (Not) to Get Bumped
• This Website Can Get You Money for Flight Delays or Cancellations
• 24 Things I Learned from a 24-Hour Flight Delay

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How to use outstanding airline vouchers before they expire

Thousands of travelers are sitting on airline vouchers for trips that were canceled last year.

Now, if you're like the more than 1 million daily travelers taking to skies, it's time to use them. After all, many are beginning to expire.

Here's a look at how to redeem credits or vouchers you might be sitting on with the nation's four biggest airlines.

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Using vouchers on American Airlines

American Airlines has three different types of vouchers , so the first thing to do is identify what type of credit you have.

Odds are that if you canceled or postponed a trip, you're left with "Flight Credit." These credits are given for flights that were voluntarily canceled.

When it's time to rebook using a flight credit, you'll need to locate the original reservation information, either the ticket number or the six-digit PNR (passenger name record).

You can then search for new flights online after pulling up your canceled reservation. Be sure to click the "add flight credit" button when you get to the purchase screen.

Note that flight credits can only be used by the originally ticketed traveler. All flight credits from travel voluntarily canceled due to the pandemic can be used for travel through March 31, 2022 for flights only — bags and other extras cannot be covered.

American also offers "Travel Vouchers" and "Trip Credit."

Like flight credits, travel vouchers can only be used for flights, but they can be applied to anyone's reservation. They generally expire one year from the issuance, but vouchers expiring between Jan. 1, 2021 and May 31, 2021 are automatically extended to March 31, 2022.

Trip credits are usually given as compensation or when you're changing to a less expensive flight and there's a residual value. Like travel vouchers, trip credits can be used for anyone, though you cannot book using a trip credit online.

Related: How airline no-change-fee policies stack up against Southwest

Using vouchers on Delta Air Lines

Delta offers a simpler solution than American.

The Atlanta-based carrier gives "eCredit" anytime you voluntarily cancel or change to a less expensive reservation.

If you're a SkyMiles member, you can login to delta.com/redeem and pull up all your existing vouchers. If you aren't a member, you'll need to locate the 13-digit ticket number to access your voucher.

Once on Delta's dedicated redemption site, you'll validate that your voucher is still valid and then proceed to apply it to a new reservation.:

Using vouchers on Southwest Airlines

Every Southwest ticket can be voluntarily changed or canceled without a change fee.

When you cancel a Southwest flight, or switch to a cheaper itinerary, the value of your ticket is stored in a Travel Fund , which you can access using the six-digit PNR.

Travel Funds typically expire one year from the date the reservation was originally purchased, though a few select vouchers were extended to Sept. 7, 2022 during the height of the pandemic.

These vouchers can only be used for the originally ticketed passenger and can be combined with up to two other forms of payment, including additional travel funds.

Rebooking a Southwest flight is easy. Just purchase a new ticket as normal and then click "add travel funds" as a method of payment.

Using vouchers on United Airlines

United issues two types of credits — future flight credit and travel certificates .

The former is what you'll receive when voluntarily canceling a reservation. These vouchers can be accessed using the 13-digit ticket number or the six-character PNR.

You'll want to click "my trips" on United's website to pull up your future flight credit. Once you found it, you can then click "Book with credit" to apply your existing reservation to a new ticket.

Note that United will not credit you the difference if you ultimately switch to a less expensive flight . You can only use these credits for the originally ticketed traveler, but they apply to partner-operated flights purchased through United.

Future flight credit issued between May 1, 2019 and March 31, 2021 is only valid for travel commencing on or before March 31, 2022.

United's electronic travel certificates are similar to gift cards. They can be applied to any flight as a method of payment. There are no restrictions based on the fare rules, and they can be applied to any reservation.

Electronic travel certificates expire 24 months from the date of issuance.

Related: United just made it more difficult to claim a travel voucher

Bottom line

With many vouchers beginning to expire, it's time to consider using them for upcoming travel. Armed with the tips outlined above, you'll be able to quickly rebook your trip.

If you get stuck with an expiring voucher with no immediate use, some flyers, including TPG reader Rachel Willoughby, have had success purchasing cheap airfare with expiring credits and then receiving the fare difference on a new voucher with extended expirations.

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Airline, Hotel and Rental Car Cancellation Refunds and Vouchers: How They Work

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Getting travel refunds at a glance

Air travel cancellations, hotel cancellations, car rental cancellations, vacation rental cancellations, canceling a flight, hotel or rental car: now what.

If your airline cancels or makes major changes to your flight — no matter the reason — you are eligible for a full refund under Department of Transportation regulations . So why do so many passengers end up with a voucher instead?

Airlines often try to skirt regulations by giving passengers the option to accept a modified itinerary, even if the changes are major. But for casual travelers who've found themselves entrenched in the confusing world of refunds and who are expecting to receive cash for cancellations, many travelers might be surprised to receive vouchers instead.

Whether it's airlines, hotels or rental cars, here's what you need to know about travel refunds and when you're entitled to one, as well as how to receive and use vouchers if you otherwise can't get a cash refund:

Although specific refund and voucher policies vary from situation to situation and airline to airline, some consistencies (and federal regulations) allow for a few broad generalizations. Here's the quick glance at what you're entitled to, based on type of travel:

Air travel canceled by the customer more than 24 hours after booking will usually be compensated in the form of flight vouchers, which must be used within a certain period of time. Customers who book a more expensive "refundable" fare may be able to get a cash refund.

Air travel canceled by the airline is eligible for a full cash refund, though the airlines will often try to avoid this.

Hotel cancellations are often fully refundable if made more than 24 hours before check-in (except for prepaid/nonrefundable rates), but this varies by booking.

Car rental cancellations are almost always fully refundable, except for prepaid reservations.

Vacation rental (Airbnb, Vrbo) cancellations vary by property.

Now we'll break that down a bit deeper:

Air travel cancellation policies vary based on two factors: when the cancellation is made and who is doing the canceling.

Cancellations made within 24 hours

All flights starting in the U.S. that are canceled within 24 hours of booking are eligible for a full cash refund under Department of Transportation regulations . It doesn’t matter if you book directly through the airline or through a third party booking service: You are eligible for a refund to your original form of payment if your flight originates in the U.S. and you cancel it within 24 hours.

However, some airlines make the process of receiving these refunds cumbersome or confusing, sometimes suggesting you accept alternatives to the cash refund. If you are having trouble finding a way to get your cash back online, call the airline or travel booking service directly.

Cancellations made after 24 hours made by the traveler

If you want to cancel a flight more than 24 hours after booking, it is subject to the cancellation policy of that particular airline and fare:

Refundable fares are generally eligible for a full cash refund.

Some tickets, including many basic economy fares, simply cannot be canceled.

Some tickets can be canceled for a voucher refund, minus a cancellation fee.

Others can be canceled for free, but are available to travelers in the future as flight vouchers.

Now that most U.S. airlines have removed cancellation fees , the most common situation is the last one. You will be able to get a full refund for your nonrefundable flight, but not a cash refund. Instead, you’ll get a voucher or credit for future flights booked within a certain time frame. This isn't ideal, but it’s better than nothing. Just remember to use your voucher before it expires.

Cancellation made by the airline

If the airline cancels or makes major changes to your flight, for any reason, you are eligible for a full refund under Department of Transportation regulations . The definition of "major changes" isn't totally clear, but in general, any schedule change of more than 24 hours should be eligible for a full refund.

However, airlines will often try to skirt this regulation by giving passengers the option to accept a modified itinerary, even if the changes are major. Here’s an email from Singapore Airlines, with our highlight in red:

Because “accept” looks like a default option and the alternative is less prominent, a passenger may not be fully aware of their rights. Don’t fall for it: Always request a refund if the proposed changes aren't ideal.

Also note that sometimes airlines owe you money for delays or cancellations (or at least other forms of compensation, such as meal and hotel vouchers).

And if your flight was canceled at the last-minute by the airline, you'll have to move fast to minimize disruption for the rest of your travels. Make these moves fast if your flight was canceled . And while this won't help you now, bookmark this for next time: NerdWallet's guide to how to book a flight that's less likely to get canceled .

Hotel cancellation policies are generally more straightforward than airline policies, though there are no federally enforced cancellation rules. Hotel bookings generally fall into two categories:

Fully refundable rates, which can generally be canceled within 24 hours of check-in for a full refund.

Prepaid, nonrefundable rates.

Most hotel brands offer flexible rates as the default, which are generally more expensive but either are refundable or don't require upfront payment, period. Often though, travelers prefer prepaid rates purely because they tend to be cheaper. Before booking, consider how likely it is that your travel plans might change. Saving a couple bucks on the prepaid rate might not be worth it in the end if you had to cancel and now can't get your money back.

You should be able to see the terms of the cancellation policy for your booking during checkout. Read and understand them before committing.

One more reason why hotels tend to be more generous than airlines. Unlike airfare, the value of canceled flexible hotel bookings usually isn't offered in the form of credits or vouchers, but as a direct refund of the deposit amount to your credit card .

This one’s easy: Unless you specifically book a prepaid rate for a car rental reservation, you should be able to change, cancel or modify it without incurring a fee. The rules for cancellations on prepaid rates vary among companies and reservations, but they are often more flexible than nonrefundable airfare — and even more flexible than hotel bookings.

Vacation rental brands like Airbnb and Vrbo take a slightly different approach: They offer a range of cancellation policies, from extremely flexible to nonrefundable, and let the hosts (property owners) choose from these policies.

So when booking, look for the specific policy on each property. Here’s an example of Airbnb’s flexible policy:

Refunds from cancellations should come directly to your card — no credits or vouchers are involved.

» Learn more: Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance explained

Canceling travel is never a fun experience, but it can be made all the more challenging when confronted with a host of different rules and conditions for each type of booking. Thankfully, most hotel cancellation policies are fairly straightforward: You can either cancel your booking or you can’t, and you’ll get a cash refund if you do.

However, airline cancellations are a world unto themselves and require a bit more patience and understanding. In general, you won’t get a cash refund unless you cancel within 24 hours of booking, cancel a refundable fare or have the booking canceled by the airline.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2022 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee:   Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards:  Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card  

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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• Payment options

Travel credit

Understanding travel credit options.

We offer different types of travel credit: Trip Credit, Flight Credit, and Travel Vouchers. Each type of travel credit has its own terms and conditions, so be sure to read them carefully before redeeming your credit. Keep in mind, travel credits can only be used to book flights, and can’t be used to pay for extras like seats or bags.

Extended Trip Credit

For Trip Credit issued on or after April 2, 2024, AAdvantage ® members have 12 months to use their Trip Credit when canceling their trip on aa.com or the American app and their AAdvantage ® number is included in their reservation. Non-AAdvantage ® members have 6 months.

Types of travel credit

*Can’t be used for extras like seats or bags.

**For Trip Credit issued on or after April 2, 2024, AAdvantage® members have 12 months to use their Trip Credit when canceling their trip on aa.com or the American app and their AAdvantage® number is included in their reservation. Non-AAdvantage® members have 6 months.

***When booked on aa.com, Flight Credit can only be applied to flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (U.S. currency only)

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Book a trip with your Trip Credit

Find your trip to use your Flight Credit

• Contact Reservations

If you received a travel credit, you can use it to book your next trip. Here's how to find and redeem your Trip Credit and Flight Credit.

Trip Credit

If you're an AAdvantage ® member, most Trip Credits will appear in your AAdvantage ® account.

Log in to your account

Step 1: Find your Trip Credit email

• Look for an email from American Airlines with the subject line ‘Your Trip Credit.’
• Your Trip Credit number is a 13-digit number that begins with ‘00115.’

Keep in mind there are separate ticket numbers for add-ons like seats, upgrades, and bags.

Step 2: Book and add your Trip Credit

• Go to aa.com and book your new flight.
• On the payment screen, select ‘Trip Credit.’
• Follow the prompts to pay using your Trip Credit.
• You may use a credit card to pay any remaining balance.

Flight Credit

If you're an AAdvantage ® member and had your account number listed in your reservation before cancellation, you can log in to your account and view available Flight Credit in your AAdvantage ® account.

Step 1: Find your canceled trip or confirmation email

• You'll need your 6-character confirmation code and 13-digit ticket number.
• American tickets have a 13-digit number that begins with '001'.

Step 2: View your canceled trip

• Go to aa.com and choose ‘Manage trips / Check-in’
• Choose ‘View canceled trips’ and enter your trip details.
• You’ll find your Flight Credit details on the ‘Your trip’ page.

Step 3: Rebook and add Flight Credit

• Go to aa.com and find your new flight.
• On the payment screen, choose ‘Add Flight Credit.’
• Enter the ticket number from your canceled trip and apply the credit.

Book a trip with your Flight Credit

General rules

• Trip Credit is non-refundable, non-transferable, non-returnable, may not be redeemed for cash, check or credit (except where required by law) and has no implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability or fitness.
• Trip Credit is void if bought, sold or bartered, advertised for sale or used for commercial or promotional purposes.
• We won’t replace Trip Credit if lost or stolen. This may include inadvertent deletion, forwarding or access of the email containing your Trip Credit number. Please guard the Trip Credit number as you would cash.
• Except where prohibited by law, we reserve the right to refuse, void, cancel, reject or hold for review any Trip Credit mistakenly issued in an incorrect denomination or issued or obtained, directly or indirectly, in connection with fraudulent actions, fraudulent claims, compensation abuse or in connection with any violation of these terms and conditions.

Expiration and validity

• Valid until 11:59 p.m. (CT) on the date listed on the Trip Credit, and we won't reissue it past the expiration date.
• We won't accept invalid or expired Trip Credit.
• We won’t accept Trip Credit with an invalid number or if we are unable to locate it within the American Airlines systems.
• To receive Trip Credit, your original ticket must be canceled before the departure of the first flight (or the ticket loses any remaining value and cannot be used for future travel).

Redemption and usage

• You may redeem Trip Credit on aa.com or by contacting Reservations. Trip Credit is not redeemable through any other channels, including airport ticket counters or travel agencies.
• When contacting Reservations, tell the agent you have Trip Credit and you want to use it to book your travel.
• Trip Credit is redeemable toward air travel on flights operated by American, American Eagle ® or flights marketed by American (designated with an AA*). You can’t use Trip Credit for payment of air travel on any other airline on aa.com.
• Contact Reservations to use Trip Credit for qualifying one world ® or other airline partner itineraries.
• Trip Credit is redeemable toward the base air fare and directly associated taxes, fees and charges collected as part of the fare calculation.
• You may not use Trip Credit for products and / or services sold separate from the fare price or for taxes, fees or charges in connection with AAdvantage ® award travel, American Airlines Vacations℠ or any other non-flight products and / or services sold by American.
• You may only use non-taxable Trip Credit for single-passenger reservations on aa.com.
• Contact Reservations to use Trip Credit for more than 9 passengers.
• The recipient of Trip Credit can use it to pay for travel for themselves or others.
• You may redeem up to 8 Trip Credits in a single transaction on aa.com or through Reservations.
• If the ticket price is greater than the value of the Trip Credit, you may pay the difference only with a credit card accepted by American.
• If the ticket price is less than the value of the Trip Credit, we’ll issue any remaining value on a new Trip Credit, delivered via email to the passenger ticketed on the Trip Credit redemption. You may choose to have the new Trip Credit email sent to your email address and then use the remaining value on a new reservation for yourself or someone else.
• You may not combine Trip Credit with the value of an existing ticket to pay for a new ticket.
• Flight Credit is non-refundable, non-transferable, non-returnable, may not be redeemed for cash, check or credit (except where required by law) and has no implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability or fitness.
• Flight Credit is void if bought, sold or bartered, advertised for sale or used for commercial or promotional purposes.
• We won’t replace Flight Credit if lost or stolen. This may include inadvertent deletion, forwarding or access of the email containing your Flight Credit number. Please guard the Flight Credit number as you would cash.
• Except where prohibited by law, we reserve the right to refuse, void, cancel, reject or hold for review any Flight Credit mistakenly issued in an incorrect denomination or issued or obtained, directly or indirectly, in connection with fraudulent actions, fraudulent claims, compensation abuse or in connection with any violation of these terms and conditions.
• Flight Credit is valid for 1 year from the date the ticket was issued. We will not extend or reissue once it expires.
• If you don't show for your flight, your ticket will no longer be valid or eligible for any credit.
• We won't accept invalid or expired Flight Credit.
• You may redeem Flight Credit on aa.com, in person at the airport or by contacting Reservations.
• When contacting Reservations, tell the agent you have Flight Credit and you want to use it to book your travel.
• The recipient of Flight Credit can use it to pay for travel for themselves only.
• Flight Credit is redeemable toward air travel on flights marketed and operated by American, by American Eagle ® carriers or on flights marketed and sold by American but operated by one of American’s codeshare or one world ® partners (i.e. flights designated with an AA*).
• Flight Credit is redeemable toward initial booking, the base air fare and directly associated taxes, fees and charges collected as part of the fare calculation.
• You may only redeem 1 Flight Credit for single-passenger trips on aa.com or through Reservations. In order to redeem up to 2 Flight Credits in a single transaction, you must contact Reservations.
• If the ticket price is greater than the value of the Flight Credit, you may pay the difference only with a credit card accepted by American.
• If the ticket price is less than the value of the Flight Credit, you can only use the value of Flight Credit needed for the current booking while remaining value will be issued as travel credit for future reservations.
• You may not use Flight Credit for products and / or services sold separately from the fare price or for taxes, fees or charges in connection with AAdvantage ® award travel, American Airlines Vacations℠ products or services or any other non-flight products and / or services sold by American.

Electronic travel voucher terms and conditions

• eVouchers are provided for U.S. customers only.
• eVouchers are non-refundable, non-transferable, non-returnable, may not be redeemed for cash, check or credit (except where required by law) and have no implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability or fitness.
• eVouchers are void if bought, sold or bartered, advertised for sale, or used for commercial or promotional purposes.
• We won’t replace eVouchers if lost or stolen. This may include inadvertent deletion, forwarding or access of the email containing your eVoucher number. Please guard the eVoucher number and PIN as you would cash.
• Except where prohibited by law, we reserve the right to refuse, void, cancel, reject or hold for review any eVouchers mistakenly issued in an incorrect denomination, or issued or obtained, directly or indirectly, in connection with fraudulent actions, fraudulent claims, compensation abuse or in connection with any violation of these terms and conditions.
• eVouchers are valid for 1 year from the date of issue, and we won’t reissue them past the expiration date.
• We’re not responsible for honoring invalid or expired eVouchers.
• We won’t accept an eVoucher with an invalid number or if we are unable to locate it within the American Airlines systems.
• You may redeem eVouchers only on aa.com or by contacting Reservations. eVouchers are not redeemable through any other channels, including airport ticket counters or travel agencies.
• eVouchers are redeemable toward air travel on flights operated by American, American Eagle ® , one world ® partners or on flights marketed by American (designated with an AA*). You can’t use eVouchers for payment of air travel on any other airline.
• Flights sold or originating outside the U.S., Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands or operated by other carriers are not eligible.
• eVouchers are redeemable toward the base air fare and directly associated taxes, fees and charges collected as part of the fare calculation.
• You may not use eVouchers for products and / or services sold separate from the fare price or for taxes, fees or charges in connection with AAdvantage ® award travel, American Airlines Vacations℠ or any other non-flight products and / or services sold by American.
• The eVoucher recipient can use it to pay for travel for themselves or others.
• You may redeem up to 8 eVouchers in a single transaction.
• If the ticket price is greater than the value of the eVoucher(s), you may only pay the difference with a credit, debit or charge card with a billing address in the U.S., Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands.
• If the ticket price is less than the value of the eVoucher(s), the unused amount will remain on the eVoucher until it reaches zero, at which time the eVoucher will be deactivated.
• You may not combine eVouchers with the value of an existing ticket to pay for a new ticket.

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Certificates, eCredits, & Gift Cards

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 Certificates & eCredits

Whether they're printed on paper or sent to you electronically, Delta Certificates and eCredits give you a number of ways to save big on your upcoming trips.

• What types of Certificates and eCredits are there? , Go to footer note
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What types of Certificates and eCredits are there?

Delta eCerts  can be redeemed for a variety of money-saving offers on eligible flights, including:

• A specific dollar amount off the cost of an eligible fare
• A specific percentage off the cost of an eligible fare
• A specific percentage off the number of miles required to purchase an Award ticket
• A travel certificate that covers the cost of a ticket and requires the customer to only pay applicable taxes and fees
• A complimentary upgrade to the First or Business Class cabin
• Companion Certificates are good for one eligible round-trip flight - upon renewing your eligible Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card and can be combined with available eCredits.  Learn more about SkyMiles Companion Certificates .

eCredits are a specific monetary value that can be applied as payment toward the cost of a Delta ticket and any government-imposed taxes and fees. Examples of an eCredit include:

• Unused or partially used tickets
• Remaining value of an unused post-purchase seat upgrade or Preferred Seat
• Delta Travel Voucher received when a ticket exchange results in residual (remaining) value
• Delta Dollars received for denied boarding compensation from an oversold flight
• Transportation Credit Voucher received as compensation for a service issue
• Miscellaneous Charge Order generally received when an ticket exchange results in residual value and the original form of payment for the ticket was other than a credit card
• eGift Certificates

Currently, eCredits may only be applied toward future Delta ticket purchases, but this is the first step in the direction of offering you more flexibility with eCredits in the future. When you redeem Certificates or eCredits at delta.com there is no transaction fee. You can also redeem them at any Delta ticketing location, but additional fees may apply. Most Certificates and eCredits cannot be redeemed at travel agencies, other airlines or other travel websites, please refer to the terms and conditions for details. 

Can I see a list of the Certificates and eCredits I already have?

Certificates and eCredits associated with your SkyMiles number can be viewed by logging in to  My Profile  on delta.com and navigating to Certificates, eCredits and Vouchers. Only Certificates or eCredits that were associated to your SkyMiles number when it was issued will be displayed.

If you wish to view Certificates or eCredits not associated with your SkyMiles number visit  delta.com/redeem  and enter your Certificate or eCredit number. You can view up to six individual numbers at one time. 

How many Certificates or eCredits/Gifts can I redeem toward my ticket?

Maximum allowances eCredits:

The maximum number of combinable eCredits allowed with the initial purchase is 5 per ticket.

The maximum number of combinable eCredits allowed with a ticket change is 2 per ticket. 

How do I redeem a Certificate?

Redeeming a Certificate: (American Express Companion certificate/Complimentary travel certificates/dollars off eCert/percent off eCert)

• Certificates must be selected or entered prior to shopping for your flights.
• Click the Redeem a Certificate link below.
• Enter your Certificate number along with any other required information.
• When using a Certificate, your eligible flight options will be identified as "Certificate applied".

Redeem a Certificate

Can I combine the eCredits and Certificates I already have?

You can combine an eCredit with a SkyMiles Companion Certificate, available through the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve or Platinum American Express Card. If you wish to combine your Companion Certificate and eCredits, you must first select your Companion Certificate and then add your eCredits at check out. 

If my eCredit covers the cost of my ticket, why do I need to provide credit card information?

Credit card information is required for all flight purchases. 

What happens when I use a Certificate and eCredit and need to cancel my flight?

If the primary ticket or the Companion ticket is canceled, both tickets will be canceled and the Companion ticket will not be reissued. 

If you are using an eCredit to pay for a ticket and government-imposed taxes and fees,  an eCredit will be reissued if the ticket is canceled (after any deduction of any applicable cancellation fees or charges). 

Whether they're purchased online or at a store, Delta Gift Cards can help you save big on upcoming trips.

For original bookings, the maximum number of Delta Gift Cards allowed on the initial purchase from www.delta.com is 5. If you need to redeem more than 5 Gift Cards please contact our Reservations team. The maximum allowed is 5 per ticket when booking over the phone.

When making ticket changes, the maximum number of Delta Gift Cards allowed on www.delta.com is 5 per booking. If you need to redeem more than 5 Delta Gift Cards please contact our Reservations team. The maximum allowed is 5 per ticket when booking over the phone.

Please refer to the  Terms and Conditions , Go to footer note  of the Delta Gift for additional details. 

How do I redeem a Delta Gift Card?

Redeeming a Delta Gift Card

• Delta Gift Cards can be selected/entered prior to shopping or on the payment page.
• Click the Redeem a Delta Gift Card  link below to get started.
• Enter your Delta Gift Cards number along with any other required information.
• Delta Gift Cards will be applied as a form of payment at time of purchase.

Redeem a Delta Gift Card

Purchase a Gift Card

Terms & Conditions

Companion Certificates

To learn more about SkyMiles Companion Certificate,  click here.

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Yes, you can still redeem your travel vouchers. Here's how to do it.

The travel credit you got after the pandemic is probably about to expire. Actually, it may have already run out. 

A recent American Express survey says one in three travelers plan to burn their travel credits or points to pay for all or part of a trip. Why? They have a lot of travel credits to use. After the pandemic started, airlines, cruise lines and hotels doled out points and vouchers in such generous quantities that it put the CARES Act to shame.

"The airlines are sitting on more than $10 billion in unused travel credits, most of which expire in two years or less," says Lauren LaBar, a manager at Upaway , a travel concierge app.

But you don't have to lose your travel credit. Here are a few expert tips that will help you keep your credits and travel in the future. And there are ways of ensuring this never becomes a problem again.

Read your voucher now

If you've received a voucher, flight credit or travel certificate, find it and read it now. Cruise lines are particularly strict about their vouchers, called future cruise credits.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

“You have to know the value of your credit," says Annie Scrivanich , senior vice president at Cruise Specialists . "Also, know the terms and conditions like the expiration date and book-by date."

She warns that cruise lines aren't flexible in changing the terms, so she recommends rebooking sooner rather than later.

Track your credit

Many travel companies won't tell you if your credit is about to expire. Of course not. They want to keep your money. Don't let that happen to you, says Jeremy Ellis, head of customer care operations at Priceline .

"Keep track of your credit – and its expiration date – by flagging it in your email as soon as it hits your inbox and setting a reminder on your calendar to rebook before the deadline," he advises. 

The date by which you must use your ticket should be on the cancellation confirmation of the original ticket. Also, note that there's sometimes a difference between when you have to book by and when you have to travel by.

Go back to the place you booked

If you bought your tickets or hotel room through a third party, like an online travel agency, you'll want to check with them. An agency can help, but they also add a layer of complexity – and sometimes, more restrictions. You'll want to check with the place you booked to see about your options for redeeming the voucher or credit. 

If you're lucky, you bought your trip through a reputable travel advisor who can help you make the most of your credit (and possibly even extend it). If not, then you might have to deal with an automated system that is programmed to tell you "no" at every turn. 

Either way, you have to start here, say experts.

How to make sense of credits

It can be confusing. Consider what happened to Tom Harriman, an attorney based in Clarksville, Maryland. He had $750 in American Airlines flight credits that were about to expire. But he couldn't redeem the scrip online because of a technical glitch.

Harriman phoned American and asked for help. A representative came up with a creative solution: She used part of his flight credits to book two new tickets, and she modified the remaining balance into travel credits, which he could use for a future trip up to a year after the date of the re-issue. It turns out American has travel credits and flight credits, each with its own rules.

"This is all crazy," he added.

It is. Airline credits are particularly confusing. For example, Delta Air Lines offered eCredits, which operate a lot like American's vouchers. United has electronic travel certificates. Each one comes with a set of restrictions that you'll need to review.

Don't assume your airline will warn you before they expire. I've received lots of complaints on my nonprofit consumer advocacy site where passengers discovered only too late that time had run out on their vouchers. 

Call to redeem your credits

If you want to redeem your travel vouchers, get a real person on the phone. That's the advice of veteran financial advisor Michael Foguth .

"The best thing to do is call and communicate with a live person in the company’s customer service department," he says. "A live representative can typically give you tips and ideas on how to utilize all of your available credits. If your rewards are expired or close to it, the representative can often extend the expiration dates."

Note that some companies may charge you to talk to a human, so ask before you do anything.

With dangerous COVID variants still out there, and travel plans still in flux, it's more important than ever to track your travel vouchers. The ones you have could expire soon. And if you don't act now, they probably will.

Don't let vouchers become a problem again

Travel companies love to hand out expiring vouchers. They know only a small percentage of customers will redeem them, meaning that they get to keep your hard-earned money. Here's how to ensure that doesn't become a problem for you.

If they cancel, you deserve a full refund. In virtually every sector of the travel industry that's the rule. For airlines, it's a federal rule . In other cases, state law protects you from purchases made but not delivered.

You get what you negotiate. Experts say there's still lots of room for negotiation if you have to cancel or postpone your next trip. So if a company offers you a credit, be sure to request a refund. Phone reps often have some flexibility in granting a refund as a one-time exception. Always ask for your money back first.

There ought to be a law. Ideally, travel credit – like the money used to purchase it – should never expire. Consumer advocates such as Travelers United are pushing to ensure future airline vouchers don't expire. There's talk that the airlines might be on board with the idea.

25 Best Gift Cards for Every Type of Traveler

By Meaghan Kenny

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list is no easy feat. Maybe you're shopping for the friend who has everything already or someone you don't know that well—you're stumped on what to buy, but still want their gift to be thoughtful and practical. Or, maybe you've accidentally waited too long to finish up your holiday shopping and need a gift with zero shipping time required. In any case, a gift card is a great idea for travelers. We put together a list of the very best gift cards for travelers, with options for book worms, outdoor enthusiasts, and beauty gurus included. From suitcases to skincare to entire vacation rentals , you can put your gift to good use and rest easy knowing your giftee got exactly what they wanted: something they picked out themselves. Plus, some have physical card options, if sending an email isn't the glamorous gift-giving experience you imagined.

All products featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Meredith Carey.

Find the best gift cards by category:

For the frequent flier, for the sporty traveler, for the outdoor enthusiast, for the fashion-forward friend, for the beauty guru, for the book worm, for anyone on your list, airline gift cards.

Tons of airlines offer gift cards so you can offset someone's flight to their dream destination. You can buy a digital or physical Southwest Airlines gift card from the airline directly or a physical card from Amazon , from $50 to $200. American Airlines offers virtual and physical gift cards from $50 to $1,500. Delta's gift cards range from $50 to $1,000 and can be sent via e-mail or through UPS. Low-cost airline Norwegian offers digital gift cards up to a whopping $11,000, while Ireland's Aer Lingus offers gifted flight vouchers up to $500.

For the person who has everything, there's only one thing to buy: experiences. Think tours, cooking classes, and even entire vacation rentals—all of which you can do with an Airbnb gift card. Of course, the traveler in your life can spend their gift card on some stellar home stays, like this luxe space in Florence with a private terrace, a Colorado cabin with mountain views, or a cozy Copenhagen apartment with an impressive vinyl collection. Giftees can also use Airbnb gift cards to book IRL experiences like azulejo-painting workshops in Portugal, city tours through Paris on a motorbike , or many more of our favorites .

Whether you're shopping for the budding traveler or the frequent flier, the chance to upgrade your luggage will always be appreciated. When it comes to luggage, we often turn to a favorite among our readers , Away. It's known for its lightweight, durable designs, especially styles like The Bigger Carry-On , The Carry-On Flex , and The Medium Flex . Gift a customizable digital card with up to $1,000.

Is sleek, neutral-toned luggage more your giftee's style? They can easily upgrade their collection with new travel essentials from Béis . Choose from the brand's bestsellers like The Weekender , The Carry-On Roller , and The Check-In Roller . In addition to its classic travel bags, Béis also makes thoughtfully designed baby travel bags , kids luggage, and work bags ideal for commuters. Choose an e-gift card amount from $25 to $500.

We're big fans of all things Calpak here at Condé Nast Traveler, so it's no surprise that the brand is on our list of the best gift cards. Whether someone you know could use some new luggage for upcoming travel plans, a duffel bag for weekend getaways, or packing cubes to help stay organized, there's something for every traveler who receives a Calpak gift card. Send a digital gift card for an amount ranging from $25 to $500.

Paravel makes some of our favorite packable duffels , beachy totes , and chic rolling suitcases . But it's more than just quality that draws us to the brand: Paravel's commitment to sustainability—from the recycled water bottles, fabrics, and aluminum used to make some of its best-selling bags to the brand's carbon-neutral outlook on its factories and shipping models—keeps us coming back for more. Pick up a digital gift card stocked with anywhere from $25 to $1,000 to let your giftee upgrade their luggage with the exact pieces they need.

From compression leggings and sports bras to cute matching sets , there's plenty of sporty must-haves to score at Alo Yoga. Whether your giftee is a yogi, hiker, or runner, they'll be more than excited to start shopping for their favorite new workout set. The brand also makes great-quality yoga mats, equipment, and gym bags. Alo Yoga offers e-gift cards for $50 to $1,000.

Girlfriend Collective

Our editors love the supportive leggings , exercise dresses , bike shorts , and sports bras from size-inclusive and sustainable brand Girlfriend Collective. The brand also designs packable jackets that are great for travelers and ultra-warm puffers for winter adventures. Send your giftee a virual gift card from the brand for $25 to $200.

If someone you know is a fan of Lululemon's mega-popular leggings , they'll appreciate a gift card to shop for even more cult-favorite items the athleisure brand. Active travelers can snag any of its bags like the Fast and Free running belt,   the City Adventurer duffel bag for the gym, and of course the Everywhere Belt Bag (when it's not sold out, that is). Choose a digital gift card or have one sent by mail.

The fitness junkie you know will definitely make good use of a Nike gift card. Buying activewear or knowing exactly what running shoes someone likes can be tricky, so a gift card to this iconic brand is a safe bet. It's always a good time to invest in a new pair of sneakers , sweatpants for long-haul flights, or accessories for the gym . Shoppers can choose a custom amount up to $500.

Parks Project

Know someone who absolutely loves the National Park Service? A gift card to Parks Project opens doors to not only rep some of their favorite parks on impeccably designed T-shirts , woodsy candles , and essential camping gear —but to protect the parks, too. The Parks Project supports wildlife restoration, visitor programs, youth initiatives, and clean-ups to keep the parks accessible and maintained for years to come. Load anywhere from $25 to $300 on the gift card.

For insulated, packable jackets , fleece sweaters and zip-ups , fanny packs , and more outdoor gear , we turn to Patagonia. Your giftee will have plenty of options to shop with a Patagonia gift cards, whether they're looking for everyday winter essentials or more specific hiking or camping gear. Our editors love the brand's Black Hole duffels for the adventures that require lots of gear and packing must-haves (these travel bags hold a ton). Choose a custom amount up to $1,000.

Give the outdoorsy traveler in your life the freedom to upgrade their gear however they please, whether they need a new crossover tent, sleeping bag, or hiking boots. Choose between a digital or physical gift card, which comes in dozens of creative designs. Unlike most other options on this list, you can denote a custom amount to put on the card between $10 and $1,000—plus, you can designate exactly when you want the digital card to arrive in the recipient's email inbox.

Anthropologie

There's endless goodies to shop from Anthropologie, from party dresses and cozy loungewear to personalized mugs and unique home decor . The brand makes some of the cutest outfits for special occasions, with options for weddings, vacation, and cocktail parties. Choose from a variety of festive gift cards for amounts up to $2,000.

If your giftee is all about building his or her capsule wardrobe , a gift card to Everlane will be greatly appreciated. The sustainable clothing brand makes some of our editors' favorite travel essentials, from everyday tees and trousers to comfortable loafers and flats. Send a physical or a digital gift card for up to $500.

It's nearly impossible to buy someone other than yourself a pair of jeans. Instead of guessing what you think will fit, treat them to a gift card to Madewell so they can find their new perfect pair. In addition to great denim, Madewell is also known for its soft sweaters, well-made jackets, and versatile bags, like The Sydney crossbody and The Medium Transport tote . Shoppers can purchase e-gift cards or classic gift cards for amounts up to $500.

Choose an amount up to $250 and let your recipient splurge on new makeup must-haves, skincare, and hair care products. This way, the giftee can pick out the exact products they already love or have been wanting to test out, like the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream , the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm , Rare Beauty Soft Pinch liquid blushes , and the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless setting powder . They can also put this gift card toward the beloved Dyson Airwrap ; this hair care tool is popular for a reason— trust me .

Everyone deserves some time to pamper themselves and practice good self-care . Spa Finder offers spa gift cards for up to $500 in the form of a digital card, via mail, or as a print-from-home gift. Consider this a nudge for any busy traveler to take time out of their hectic schedule for a massage or facial—it'll leave them feeling refreshed and relaxed.

The friend who's always perfecting their skincare routine will love a gift card to Ulta. They can shop travel-size minis of their favorites or try out new products from top beauty brands like Clinique, Tarte, Urban Decay, Dior, and Fenty Beauty. Ulta offers digital and physical gifts in a variety of fun designs for up to $250.

For your friend who keeps saying they want to get back into reading but can't find the time, a gift card to Audible is the perfect way to help them make a dent in their reading list . Audible allows subscribers to listen to audiobooks, podcasts, and other original content on the go. Choose from one month, three months, six months, or one year of credits. Each month is equivalent to one credit, which is good for any book title in Audible's entire premium catalog. You can also gift a specific book title if you already know what vacation read they've been meaning to get to.

Bookshop.org

Some of the best gifts inspire future trips, or let us travel back in time to destinations we visited years ago. New books, cookbooks, and coffee table books often make great gifts—but knowing what book to buy, and what your giftee already has in their personal library can be a challenge. Let them choose for themselves with a Bookshop gift card. Bookshop allows readers to support local bookstores online and gives 100 percent of the profits to local shops if you shop directly ( check out this map to find your nearest indie) or donates 10 percent to a pool split between thousands of stores if you shop the general site. The gift cards come in denominations from $10 to a very generous $1,000. Plus, you can designate a specific send date so the recipient gets their digital gift right on time.

When in doubt, everyone on your shopping list can make use of an Amazon gift card. Travelers will have their choice of just about anything they want—from tech must-haves like Apple AirPods Pro and Kindle Paperwhite to outdoor gear like this portable hammock or the LifeStraw personal water filter. Amazon offers gift cards in various gift boxes and can include a customized message, making them feel a bit more personalized. Select an amount ranging from $25 to $2,000.

Whether someone you know just moved or is refreshing their current apartment, a Brooklinen gift card will certainly be appreciated. Brooklinen's sheet sets and comforters are just as luxurious as the ones at your favorite hotel . The brand's towels and plush robes are also bestsellers, and for good reason: There's nothing quite like putting on a cozy robe and crawling into bed with a fresh set of crisp sheets.

If you're really stuck on what to get someone, a Nordstrom gift card is a great option. There's something for every traveler to buy at Nordstrom—whether it be a new pair of outdoor boots for winter, a home decor gift, or a Hatch Restore 2 alarm clock . Choose a digital gift card for an amount up to $500 for anyone on your shopping list.

Uncommon Goods

If you want to give someone a gift card that still feels unique or just a touch more personalized, a gift card to Uncommon Goods is the way to go. The brand is an expert at curating gifts, ranging from personalized presents in a variety of categories like kitchen and bar, home goods, jewelry, clothing, wellness, and travel gear. Gifts from Uncommon Goods are little bit quirky and show some personality—like these rocks glasses inspired by your favorite city , this pickelball paddle tote bag , and these beer sleeping bags .

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Airlines are ordered to give full refunds instead of vouchers and to stop hiding fees

Travelers and their luggage in a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in August 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

Travelers and their luggage in a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in August 2023.

WASHINGTON — In an effort to crack down on airlines that charge passengers steep fees to check bags and change flights, the U.S. Department of Transportation has announced new regulations aimed at expanding consumer protections .

One of the final rules announced Wednesday requires airlines to show the full price of travel before passengers pay for their tickets. The other will force airlines to provide prompt cash refunds when flights are canceled or significantly changed.

"Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them - without having to ask," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement announcing the new rules.

Taking on junk fees is popular. But can it win Biden more voters?

Surprise junk fees have become a large and growing source of revenue for airlines in recent years, according to the DOT.

"Today's announcements will require airlines to both provide passengers better information about costs before ticket purchase, and promptly provide cash refunds to passengers when they are owed — not only saving passengers time and money, but also preventing headaches," Buttigieg said.

The airline industry is unlikely to welcome the new rules. At a hearing on the proposed fee rule in March 2023, an industry lobbying group representing American, Delta and United said it would be too difficult for airlines to disclose their charges more clearly.

"The amount of unwanted and unneeded information forced upon passengers" by the new policy would only cause "confusion and frustration," warned Doug Mullen, the deputy general counsel at Airlines for America . "Very few, if any, need or want this information, and especially when they are initially trying to understand schedule and fare options."

But the DOT insists its new rule will give consumers the information they need to better understand the true costs of air travel.

Transportation Department cracks down on airline 'junk fees'

"I believe this is to the benefit of the sector as a whole," Buttigieg said in an interview with NPR's Morning Edition , because passengers will have "more confidence in the aviation sector."

The new rules require airlines to disclose all baggage, change, and cancellation fees, and to share that information with third-party booking sites and travel agents.

The regulation also prohibits bait-and-switch tactics, the DOT says, that disguise the true cost of flights by advertising a low base fare that does not include all mandatory fees.

"This is really about making sure that we create a better experience for passengers, and a stronger aviation sector in the United States," Buttigieg said in the NPR interview.

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Final Rule Requiring Automatic Refunds of Airline Tickets and Ancillary Service Fees

Rule makes it easy to get money back for cancelled or significantly changed flights, significantly delayed checked bags, and additional services not provided  

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule that requires airlines to promptly provide passengers with automatic cash refunds when owed. The new rule makes it easy for passengers to obtain refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change their flights, significantly delay their checked bags, or fail to provide the extra services they purchased.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them - without headaches or haggling,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg . “Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers.”  

The final rule creates certainty for consumers by defining the specific circumstances in which airlines must provide refunds. Prior to this rule, airlines were permitted to set their own standards for what kind of flight changes warranted a refund. As a result, refund policies differed from airline to airline, which made it difficult for passengers to know or assert their refund rights. DOT also received complaints of some airlines revising and applying less consumer-friendly refund policies during spikes in flight cancellations and changes. 

Under the rule, passengers are entitled to a refund for:

• Canceled or significantly changed flights: Passengers will be entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered. For the first time, the rule defines “significant change.” Significant changes to a flight include departure or arrival times that are more than 3 hours domestically and 6 hours internationally; departures or arrivals from a different airport; increases in the number of connections; instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service; or connections at different airports or flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disability.  
• Significantly delayed baggage return: Passengers who file a mishandled baggage report will be entitled to a refund of their checked bag fee if it is not delivered within 12 hours of their domestic flight arriving at the gate, or 15-30 hours of their international flight arriving at the gate, depending on the length of the flight.  
• Extra services not provided: Passengers will be entitled to a refund for the fee they paid for an extra service — such as Wi-Fi, seat selection, or inflight entertainment — if an airline fails to provide this service.

DOT’s final rule also makes it simple and straightforward for passengers to receive the money they are owed. Without this rule, consumers have to navigate a patchwork of cumbersome processes to request and receive a refund — searching through airline websites to figure out how make the request, filling out extra “digital paperwork,” or at times waiting for hours on the phone. In addition, passengers would receive a travel credit or voucher by default from some airlines instead of getting their money back, so they could not use their refund to rebook on another airline when their flight was changed or cancelled without navigating a cumbersome request process.  

The final rule improves the passenger experience by requiring refunds to be:

• Automatic: Airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops.   
• Prompt: Airlines and ticket agents must issue refunds within seven business days of refunds becoming due for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods.  
• Cash or original form of payment: Airlines and ticket agents must provide refunds in cash or whatever original payment method the individual used to make the purchase, such as credit card or airline miles. Airlines may not substitute vouchers, travel credits, or other forms of compensation unless the passenger affirmatively chooses to accept alternative compensation.    
• Full amount: Airlines and ticket agents must provide full refunds of the ticket purchase price, minus the value of any portion of transportation already used. The refunds must include all government-imposed taxes and fees and airline-imposed fees, regardless of whether the taxes or fees are refundable to airlines.

The final rule also requires airlines to provide prompt notifications to consumers affected by a cancelled or significantly changed flight of their right to a refund of the ticket and extra service fees, as well as any related policies.

In addition, in instances where consumers are restricted by a government or advised by a medical professional not to travel to, from, or within the United States due to a serious communicable disease, the final rule requires that airlines must provide travel credits or vouchers. Consumers may be required to provide documentary evidence to support their request. Travel vouchers or credits provided by airlines must be transferrable and valid for at least five years from the date of issuance.

The Department received a significant number of complaints against airlines and ticket agents for refusing to provide a refund or for delaying processing of refunds during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, refund complaints peaked at 87 percent of all air travel service complaints received by DOT. Refund problems continue to make up a substantial share of the complaints that DOT receives.

DOT’s Historic Record of Consumer Protection Under the Biden-Harris Administration

Under the Biden-Harris Administration and Secretary Buttigieg, DOT has advanced the largest expansion of airline passenger rights, issued the biggest fines against airlines for failing consumers, and returned more money to passengers in refunds and reimbursements than ever before in the Department’s history.

• Thanks to pressure from Secretary Buttigieg and DOT’s flightrights.gov dashboard, all 10 major U.S. airlines guarantee free rebooking and meals, and nine guarantee hotel accommodations when an airline issue causes a significant delay or cancellation. These are new commitments the airlines added to their customer service plans that DOT can legally ensure they adhere to and are displayed on flightrights.gov .  
• Since President Biden took office, DOT has helped return more than $3 billion in refunds and reimbursements owed to airline passengers – including over $600 million to passengers affected by the Southwest Airlines holiday meltdown in 2022.   
• Under Secretary Buttigieg, DOT has issued over $164 million in penalties against airlines for consumer protection violations. Between 1996 and 2020, DOT collectively issued less than $71 million in penalties against airlines for consumer protection violations.  
• DOT recently launched a new partnership with a bipartisan group of state attorneys general to fast-track the review of consumer complaints, hold airlines accountable, and protect the rights of the traveling public.  
• In 2023, the flight cancellation rate in the U.S. was a record low at under 1.2% — the lowest rate of flight cancellations in over 10 years despite a record amount of air travel.  
• DOT is undertaking its first ever industry-wide review of airline privacy practices and its first review of airline loyalty programs.

In addition to finalizing the rules to require automatic refunds and protect against surprise fees, DOT is also pursuing rulemakings that would:

• Propose to ban family seating junk fees and guarantee that parents can sit with their children for no extra charge when they fly. Before President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg pressed airlines last year, no airline committed to guaranteeing fee-free family seating. Now, four airlines guarantee fee-free family seating, and the Department is working on its family seating junk fee ban proposal.  
• Propose to make passenger compensation and amenities mandatory so that travelers are taken care of when airlines cause flight delays or cancellations.   
• Expand the rights for passengers who use wheelchairs and ensure that they can travel safely and with dignity . The comment period on this proposed rule closes on May 13, 2024.

The final rule on refunds can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/latest-news and at regulations.gov , docket number DOT-OST-2022-0089. There are different implementation periods in this final rule ranging from six months for airlines to provide automatic refunds when owed to 12 months for airlines to provide transferable travel vouchers or credits when consumers are unable to travel for reasons related to a serious communicable disease. 

Information about airline passenger rights, as well as DOT’s rules, guidance and orders, can be found at   https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer .

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The government just passed a rule requiring airlines to provide cash refunds for delayed flights. here’s what to know.

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Under a new Federal rule, airlines are now required to pay customers cash refunds for delayed or ... [+] canceled flights.

A new set of rules announced on Wednesday by the Department of Transportation are focused on righting some wrongs in the airline industry and providing extra consumer protection.

Previously, federal policies allowed airlines to compensate customers for delayed or cancelled flights with vouchers or credits. They also allowed carriers to set their own rules regarding when passengers should be compensated - i.e., it was the airlines that decided when a flight had been delayed too long, and whether/when/how much to compensate passengers for the inconvenience.

But now, the new federal rules will government when and how passengers are compensated for delays and cancellations. Here’s what you need to know:

The new rules specify when passengers must be compensated for delays.

Previously, airlines could make their own internal rules about when passengers should receive compensation for a flight delay. But the new Department of Transportation rules actually sets an industry-wide standard: Delays requiring compensation are defined as delays of more than three hours for domestic flights and more than six hours for international flights. Flights that are diverted to a different airport are also eligible for a refund.

Airlines must now compensate passengers with cash refunds.

If your flight delay matches the rules set out above, airlines are required to provide you with a cash refund instead of a travel voucher or travel credit. While frequent fliers may have never had an issue with receiving a credit or voucher, folks who fly sparingly often found the system unfair, and the travel credits less useful. The new rules guarantee that everyone is paid back in cash and within a timely manner: Seven days for a credit card refund and 20 days for other forms of payment.

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In his remarks Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg gave an example a traveler who, after experiencing a delayed flight, is forced to buy an additional ticket on another airline in order to make it to their destination in time for an event.

In these cases, airlines often refused refunds if they didn’t cancel the flight. But now, the new rules will require airlines to be on the hook for those types of reimbursements.

“That’s just one example of the kinds of scenarios that we hear from passengers time and time again. We’re putting a stop to it now,” said Buttigieg.

Baggage and other fees must be refunded in certain circumstances.

If your bag is delayed and arrives more than 12 hours after you land, airlines are required to refund the passenger any baggage fees that were paid, according to the new rules. They also say that airlines must provide refunds for any services that don’t come to fruition, like malfuctioning Wi-Fi.

You can read the complete rundown of the rules on the Department of Transportation’s website.

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What fliers need to know about new refund rules for airlines

Starting in about six months, u.s. airlines will have to offer customers cash refunds before vouchers.

New federal rules for airlines will go into effect later this year, giving travelers a better picture of the full cost of flights before they book — and getting them an easier refund if things go awry.

After a process that lasted more than a year, the Biden administration announced the rules on passenger protections Wednesday.

“This is a big day for America’s flying public,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a news conference at Reagan National Airport.

While the trade group Airlines for America said its members “abide by — and frequently exceed — DOT regulations regarding consumer protections,” consumer advocates praised the administration’s move.

“These rules are not only critical but also common sense,” said William McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, who spoke at Wednesday’s event.

Most new rules go into effect in the fall

At the event Wednesday, Buttigieg said that “the bulk of these protections” will go into effect in about six months. Others will start in a year.

That means refund rules that get customers automatic cash refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change flights won’t be in place during the busy summer travel season. But they should be set in time for the Thanksgiving and winter holiday season rush.

Buttigieg said that the department expects airlines to take some time to develop the processes to return cash to travelers, but added that he doesn’t want them to drag their feet.

“They don’t have to wait the number of months that it’ll technically take for this to go into effect,” Buttigieg said Wednesday. “They could and should be doing this right now.”

You should get refunds without having to ask

Instead of first offering a voucher or credit, airlines “must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops,” the Transportation Department says. The refunds need to be issued within seven business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days when bought through other methods.

However a traveler originally paid is the way the refund needs to be issued, the rule says, whether that’s by credit card or airline miles . Other types of compensation are allowed only if a passenger chooses one of those alternatives.

“No more defaulting to vouchers or credits when consumers may not even realize that they were entitled to cash,” Buttigieg said.

You can still choose to be rebooked

If travelers’ flights have been canceled or significantly changed, they can still continue with their trip. Passengers are only eligible for a refund if they have declined to accept alternative transportation.

Airlines will have to pay for delayed bags and broken WiFi

There are many ways for a trip to go awry, and the new rules cover more than just a late or canceled flight.

If a checked bag isn’t delivered within 12 hours of a domestic flight arriving at the gate, or within 15 to 30 hours of an international flight arriving, depending on how long that flight is, passengers will be entitled to a refund of their checked-bag fee. They will need to file a mishandled baggage report.

Refunds will also be given if passengers pay for a service such as WiFi, seat selection or in-flight entertainment and the airline fails to provide.

‘Significant’ changes will be the same for all airlines

Automatic cash refunds are due to passengers if their flight experiences a “significant change.” But what does that mean? Previously, the definition could vary from airline to airline.

The new rules provide some consistency. A change is considered significant if a departure or arrival is different by more than three hours for domestic flights or six hours for international trips.

Other changes considered significant: the departure or arrival is from a different airport; there are more connections; passengers are downgraded to a lower class; or service or flights are on planes that are less accessible for a person with a disability.

No more hidden fees for bags and seat selection

The rule on extra fees — what the Biden administration refers to as “surprise junk fees in air travel” — will require airlines and online travel booking sites to disclose up front the fees for a checked bag, carry-on bag, reservation change and reservation cancellation. Those fees must be clearly noted and not shown through a hyperlink, the rule says.

Consumers must also be informed that they don’t have to pay for a seat assignment to travel and that a seat will be provided without an additional price.

“Healthy competition requires that, as a consumer, you comparison shop, which means knowing the real price of a trip before and not after you buy,” Buttigieg said. “Airlines will now be required to show you these costs up front, so you have all the information you need to decide what travel option is best for you.”

Travelers can either search without providing their personal information to see standard fees or, after entering their information, see more tailored fees that might apply given their military status, frequent-flier membership or credit card use.

“The final rule puts an end to the bait-and-switch tactics some airlines use to disguise the true cost of discounted flights,” the Transportation Department said in a news release. “Prior to the rule, some airlines were offering deceptive discounts that consumers may have believed applied to the full fare that was being advertised but only applied to a small portion of the ticket price.”

You will still have to report complaints

Buttigieg said the main way for the department to find out about a violation of the rules is when people submit complaints through the site flightrights.gov . But he said he hopes that by making refunds automatic, there will be less need for complaints — and more flexibility for employees to perform audits or spot-checks of airline compliance.

Europe-style compensation is still not in the rules

Some travelers heading to or from Europe who experience delays under certain circumstances are entitled to compensation worth more than $600. That kind of system does not exist for domestic flights in the United States, but Buttigieg said it is on the agenda.

“On compensation, we continue to develop that — and to be clear, with this rule on the books, that does not stop or slow the progress that we’re driving in terms of a compensation rule,” he said.

More on air travel

Leave flying to the pros: Think you could land a plane in an emergency? Experts say you’re wrong . Here’s what you should actually do if something goes awry during a flight .

Pet peeves: Why do “gate lice” line up early for a flight ? Psychologists explained for us. Another move that annoys airline workers: abusing the flight attendant call button . For more on how to behave on a flight, check out our 52 definitive rules of flying .

Plane mess: Stories about extremely disgusting airplanes have been grossing out travelers. The question of plane cleanups became the subject of a recent debate after a flight attendant allegedly told a pregnant passenger to pick up the popcorn spilled by her toddler.

Frequent flying: Airline status isn’t what it used to be, but at least there are some good movies and TV shows to watch in the air. And somewhere out there, experts are trying to make airline food taste good.

Airlines must cough up cancellation cash and can no longer hide fees under new federal rule

A federal rule announced Wednesday will require airlines to quickly give cash refunds — without lengthy arguments — to passengers whose flights have been canceled or seriously delayed, the Biden administration said.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them — without headaches or haggling,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

The rule from the Transportation Department says passengers who decline other reimbursement like travel credits are to get cash refunds.

It applies when a flight is canceled or has a “significant change,” the administration said.A “significant change” includes when departure or arrival times are three or more hours different from the scheduled times for domestic flights or six hours for international flights, and when the airport is changed or connections are added, it said.

Passengers are also to get refunds when their baggage is 12 hours late in delivery for domestic flights.

The new rule comes after promises to hold airlines accountable after major disruptions that made travel hell for passengers, including the 2022 Southwest Airlines meltdown , which resulted in almost 17,000 significantly delayed or canceled flights and a missing baggage nightmare.

The Transportation Department said that the new rule means refunds are automatic and that "airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops."

Also announced Wednesday was a rule requiring airlines to more clearly disclose so-called junk fees upfront, such as surprise baggage or other fees, the department said.

It said that rule is expected to save fliers around $500 million a year.

The surprise fees are used so tickets look cheaper than they really are, and then fliers get the unwelcome surprise of fees on checked bags, carry-on bags or reservation changes — or even discounts that are advertised but apply to only part of the ticket price, officials said.

Airlines will also have to tell fliers clearly that their seats are guaranteed and that they don't have to pay extra to ensure they have seats for flights, according to the Transportation Department.

Airlines for America, an industry trade group, said that its member airlines “offer transparency and vast choice to consumers from first search to touchdown” and that they do offer cash refunds.

The 11 largest U.S. airlines returned $10.9 billion in cash refunds last year, an increase over $7.5 billion in 2019 but slightly down from $11.2 billion in 2022, the group said.

“U.S. airlines are providing more options and better services while ticket prices, including ancillary revenues, are at historic lows,” Airlines for America said.

Left out of the federal changes announced Wednesday are those involving "family seating fees," but the Transportation Department said in a statement that "DOT is planning to propose a separate rule that bans airlines from charging these junk fees."

Travelers have complained to the Transportation Department that children weren’t seated next to accompanying adults, including in some cases young children, department officials said last year.

Fees on bags specifically have made up an increasing amount of airline revenues, the Transportation Department said Wednesday in announcing the new rules.

A Transportation Department analysis found that airline revenue from baggage fees increased 30% from 2018 to 2022, while operating revenue — which is from the flights themselves — increased by only half that amount, the department said.

Jay Blackman is an NBC News producer covering such areas as transportation, space, medical and consumer issues.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

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I'm planning to return in February for a few weeks, and am not sure whether I will need this at the border or if my AirBnB reservation is sufficient.

No...the visa should state the dates it is valid for, and the "invites" are only needed to secure the initial visa...

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Southwest Airlines will no longer fly out of Bush Airport and 3 other airports after financial lows

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Soon, you won't be able to take a Southwest Airlines flight out of Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport. After expanding to Bush Airport just three years ago, the airline says it's pulling out, leaving Hobby Airport as the only option for Southwest customers.

Southwest Airlines announced it will stop flying to IAH on Aug. 4, 2024, as part of a plan to cope with weak financial results and delays in getting new planes from Boeing.

The announcement comes after the airline reported a $231 million loss in its first quarter.

"We're also taking steps to restore an industry-leading financial performance that enables us to best serve the millions of customers who fly with us each week," the airline said in a statement.

CEO Robert Jordan said the airline was reacting quickly "to address our financial underperformance," including by slowing hiring and asking employees to take time off.

The Dallas-based carrier said it expects to end this year with 2,000 fewer employees than it had at the start of the year.

But money isn't the only bump on the tarmac for the airline.

"Southwest is really struggling with their delivery of aircraft, so that's really a significant struggle for them," Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports, said.

Unable to meet demand, Southwest will also stop flying to three other airports: Cozumel, Mexico; Syracuse, New York; and Bellingham, Washington; and implement capacity reductions in Atlanta, Georgia; and Chicago, Illinois.

The closures will help the airline focus on more profitable locations and deploy a fleet of planes that will be smaller than it had planned. Southwest said it's expecting only 20 new 737 Max 8 jets from Boeing this year, down from the 46 it expected just a few weeks ago. It will offset some of the shortage by retiring fewer planes.

Boeing is struggling with slower production since a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines Max 9 in January, and that is frustrating its airline customers.

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Southwest said that its loss, after excluding special items, was 36 cents per share. That was slightly worse than the loss of 34 cents per share that Wall Street expected.

Revenue rose to $6.33 billion, below analysts' forecast of $6.42 billion.

American Airlines also reported first-quarter losses on Thursday. While demand for travel remains strong, including among business flyers, airlines are dealing with higher labor costs and delays in aircraft deliveries are limiting their ability to add more flights.

American said it lost $312 million as labor costs rose 18%, or nearly $600 million. The airline said it expects to return to profitability in the second quarter - a busier time for travel - and post earnings between $1.15 and $1.45 per share. Analysts expect $1.15 per share, according to a FactSet survey.

The first-quarter loss amounted to 34 cents per share, excluding special items, which was worse than the loss of 27 cents per share forecast by analysts.

Revenue was $12.57 billion.

CEO Robert Isom said American is less impacted by Boeing's problems because the airline had already received hundreds of new planes in recent years. American has ordered Boeing Max 10s, a larger model that has not yet been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, but those planes are not due to start showing up until 2028.

"If they don't get it together, we have also made sure that we're protected," Isom told CNBC. He stopped short of saying American would switch Boeing orders to rival Airbus, saying only, "We'll take care of it."

In premarket trading, Southwest shares were down 9%, while American shares were up 3%.

But the airline isn't leaving Houston altogether.

"Because they have a really strong presence here at Hobby when they had to figure out a way to make their aircraft work with their network, it was one of those things where they decided, hey, we've got to pull out of (Bush) and concentrate on Hobby," Szczesniak said.

This is the airline's second split from IAH. They stopped operations in 2005 and returned just a few years ago in 2021.

Southwest will fully pull out on Aug. 4. Customers with flights after that will be contacted by Southwest to fly out of Hobby or to get a refund.

For more news updates, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook , X and Instagram .

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

READ RELATED: New federal rules on airline refunds require cash instead of vouchers

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