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These are the airlines giving customers more time to use travel vouchers
Kyle Olsen
Points and Miles Expert
Kyle Olsen is the former points and miles reporter at TPG. He specializes in maximizing points and miles, elite status and credit cards so readers travel more comfortably and at a lower cost.
April 30, 2022
•
3 min read
These are the airlines giving customers more time to use travel vouchers
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Although the darkest days of the coronavirus pandemic are hopefully behind us, some airlines have continued to extend unused travel vouchers through 2023. But this doesn't span the entire industry, with some opting to keep 2022 expiration dates on some unused airline certificates.
So of eight major U.S. airlines, which airlines give customers the most flexibility in using their travel vouchers? Let's take a look.
| Current voucher expiration policy | Current expiration policy is more lenient than the standard expiration policy | |
|---|---|---|
Alaska Airlines | Certificates are valid for 12 months from the issue date of your original ticket or 30 days from the date of exchange or cancellation, whichever is greater. | |
American Airlines | Vouchers are valid for one year from the date issued. | |
Delta Air Lines | All tickets expiring in 2022 will now expire on Dec. 31, 2023. | ✓ |
Frontier Airlines | Vouchers are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance, and extensions are not offered. | |
JetBlue | Travel Bank credits issued for flight purchases with an original expiration date between Feb. 1, 2020, through Sept. 29, 2022, may be extended to Sep. 30, 2022.
You can apply for an extension here. | ✓ |
Southwest Airlines | All travel using a travel fund must be booked and completed within 12 months of the original date of purchase. | |
Spirit Airlines | Reservation Credit is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. | |
United Airlines | Credits set to expire on Dec. 31, 2022, will now expire on Dec. 31, 2023. | ✓ |
Bottom line
Delta and United are making the most customer-friendly changes to voucher validity. These two airlines are giving customers through 2023 to use travel vouchers, regardless of when they purchased their ticket.
Although many of us have already been able to redeem our vouchers, it would be nice to see other airlines follow Delta and United's lead to give customers peace of mind.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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