Rebooking United Travel Credits

If you need to rebook a United Airlines flight, you may be entitled to a refund or a travel credit. The type of credit you receive depends on the reason for the cancellation. If you voluntarily cancel or change an eligible flight to a cheaper alternative, United will issue you a future flight credit. These credits can be used to book new travel and can also be used to purchase extras such as seat assignments. However, they are typically valid for a limited time and cannot be transferred to another person. On the other hand, if United cancels your flight, you can either accept a rebooking or choose to receive a refund.

Future flight credits vs travel certificates

United Airlines offers two types of travel credits: future flight credits and travel certificates (also known as Electronic Travel Certificates or ETCs). The type of credit you receive depends on the reason for its issuance.

Future Flight Credits

Future flight credits are issued when you voluntarily cancel or change an eligible flight to a cheaper alternative. These credits can be applied toward travel on United, United Express, and United partner-operated flights purchased on united.com or the United app. They can also be used to purchase extras such as Basic Economy seat assignments and Economy Plus seating.

Future flight credits are valid for 12 months from the date of issue and are not transferable. They can only be used by the person named on the original reservation, unless the credit was issued for a flight purchased before August 31, 2021, in which case they can be used by anyone.

Travel Certificates (ETCs)

Travel certificates are issued when you voluntarily give up your seat on a flight or as a gesture of goodwill, for example, if a flight is overbooked and you agree to take a later flight. They can be redeemed for travel on United, United Express, and United partner-operated flights booked via united.com or the United app. Travel certificates can also be used for certain extra fees such as seat assignments and preferred seat selection. They cannot be used in conjunction with MileagePlus awards or tour packages.

Travel certificates are valid for 24 months from the date of issue and are not transferable. They can be used by anyone as long as the travel is booked by the original certificate holder.

How to Redeem Your Travel Credits

You can redeem your travel credits online at united.com or via the United app. To do so, search for and select your flight as usual, then choose the travel credit option as your payment method. If you are a MileagePlus member, your travel credits should appear automatically. If not, you can look up your credits in checkout using the confirmation number, PIN, or your email address.

When to use travel credits

United Airlines issues two types of travel credits: future flight credits and travel certificates. Each type has different terms of use and expiration dates, so it's important to understand the differences before deciding when to use them.

Future flight credits are typically issued when you voluntarily cancel or change an eligible United Airlines flight to a cheaper alternative. These credits can be used towards travel on United, United Express, and partner-operated flights purchased on the United website or app. They can also be used to purchase certain extras, such as basic economy seat assignments and economy plus seating. Future flight credits are valid for 12 months from the date of issue and are not transferable, so they must be used by the person who the credit was issued to. However, credits issued for flights purchased on or before August 31, 2021, can be used by anyone.

On the other hand, travel certificates are typically issued when you voluntarily give up your seat on an overbooked flight or as a gesture of goodwill. These certificates can be redeemed for travel on United, United Express, and partner-operated flights booked through the United website or app. They can also be used for certain extra fees, such as basic economy seat assignments, economy plus seating, and preferred seat selection. Travel certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance, and while they are not transferable, they can be used by anyone as long as the travel is booked by the original certificate holder.

Both types of credits can be tracked and redeemed through your MileagePlus account on the United website or app. When booking a new flight, simply select the travel credit option as your payment method and choose the credit(s) you wish to apply. Multiple credits of the same type can be combined and applied to a single reservation.

It's important to note that travel credits have expiration dates, so be sure to use them before they expire. Future flight credits must be used for travel by the expiration date, while travel certificates must be booked by the expiration date but can be applied to travel occurring after that date.

How to check your travel credit balance

United Airlines issues two types of travel credits: future flight credits and travel certificates. Future flight credits are issued when you voluntarily cancel or change an eligible flight to a cheaper alternative. Travel certificates are issued when you voluntarily give up your seat on a flight or as a goodwill gesture from United Airlines.

To check your travel credit balance, you will need to identify which type of credit you have. Future flight credits are identified by the confirmation number of your original ticket, while travel certificates use a PIN number that is emailed to you when the travel certificate is issued.

If you are a MileagePlus member, you can easily track your travel credits by logging into your account and accessing the "My Account" or "My United" page. Your future flight credits and travel certificates will be listed in your wallet.

If you are not a MileagePlus member, you can still check your balance by heading to the United Airlines website and entering your confirmation number or PIN. If you don't have this information, you can enter the email address associated with your travel booking, and any travel credits linked to that email address will be displayed.

It is important to note that travel credits have expiration dates, so be sure to use them before they expire. Future flight credits expire 12 months after they are issued, while travel certificates expire 12 months after the date of issuance but can be applied to travel occurring after the expiry date as long as the ticket is booked beforehand.

How to redeem travel credits

United Airlines offers two types of travel credits: future flight credits and travel certificates. Here is how you can redeem them:

Future Flight Credits

Future flight credits are issued when you voluntarily cancel or change an eligible flight to a cheaper alternative. These credits can be used for travel on United, United Express, and United partner-operated flights. They can be applied when purchasing through the United website or the United app. They can also be used to purchase extras like Basic Economy seat assignments and Economy Plus seating.

Future flight credits are valid for 12 months from the date of issue and are not transferable. They can only be used by the person to whom the credit was issued. However, credits issued for flights purchased on or before August 31, 2021, can be used by anyone.

To redeem a future flight credit, simply search for and select your desired flight. At checkout, choose the travel credit as your payment option. If you are a MileagePlus member, your travel credits should appear automatically. If not, you can look up your credits using the confirmation number, PIN, or email address.

Travel Certificates (or Electronic Travel Certificates, ETCs)

Travel certificates are issued when you voluntarily give up your seat on a flight or as a gesture of goodwill, such as compensation for an overbooked flight. They can be redeemed for travel on United, United Express, and United partner-operated flights booked through the United website or app. Travel certificates can also be used for certain extra fees, such as seat assignments and preferred seat selection. They cannot be used in conjunction with MileagePlus awards or tour packages.

Travel certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance. They are not transferable and cannot be sold. However, they can be used by anyone as long as the travel is booked by the original certificate holder.

To redeem a travel certificate, log in to your MileagePlus account and access the "My Account" page, where your travel credits will be listed. On the payments page, you will have the option to redeem your ETCs. You can also combine up to 10 ETCs on the United website or by calling the reservations line.

Travel credits and MileagePlus

United Airlines offers two types of travel credits: future flight credits and travel certificates. These can be used to book new travel and, in some cases, can be used to purchase extras such as seat assignments.

Future Flight Credits

Future flight credits are issued when you voluntarily cancel or change your flight to a cheaper alternative. They can be used for flights operated by United, United Express, and their partners, and can be purchased via the United website or app. They can also be used for certain non-ticket items, such as seat selections, but only when booking the ticket. These credits are valid for 12 months after the date they are issued and are not transferable.

Travel Certificates

Travel certificates are issued when you voluntarily give up your seat on an overbooked flight or as a gesture of goodwill from the airline. They can be used for booking flights and certain non-ticket items, and, unlike future flight credits, they are transferable and can be used by anyone. Travel certificates are valid for 12 months after the date of issuance.

MileagePlus

If you are a MileagePlus member, you can track your travel credits in your wallet in your MileagePlus account. You can also redeem your travel credits online or via the United app.

Frequently asked questions