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Billions of dollars in travel vouchers and credits are set to expire in the coming months, according to The Wall Street Journal. More than $10 billion in unused airline credit and vouchers remained as the door closed on 2020, notes the report.
While some airlines reportedly extended credit for travelers, many consumers, do not yet feel comfortable booking travel as COVID-19 still presents a risk in most locations worldwide—in fact, many areas remain in some level of lockdown, and unnecessary travel is still discouraged in most locations.
Consumers have not yet filed a class action over the travel vouchers and credits set to expire in the coming months, but the travel industry was hit with dozens of lawsuits as the initial wave of the pandemic hit. Airlines were accused of unfairly denying refunds for flights canceled due to COVID-19 lockdowns, along with travel agencies and travel insurance companies.
Travelers who booked flights on certain airlines last spring, but ended up canceling, may lose the money on the ticket soon, but most airlines implemented more generous cancelation policies on these tickets.
Some travelers, especially those who booked winter holiday trips that were canceled due to coronavirus surges, may find that they do not fall under these more generous COVID cancellation policies rolled out last spring.
For example, Delta credit for tickets booked after April 17, 2020 will expire one year after purchase, says WSJ. For tickets booked on Southwest Airline after Sept. 7, 2020, a one-year expiration date applies as well.
Further, consumers who try to use their travel vouchers report obstacles in the form of complicated terms, says The Wall Street Journal, including expiration periods based on the date of purchase rather than the date of travel. Some travel companies are even purportedly less likely to accommodate expired vouchers.
In fact, Consumer Reports told reporters that it has experienced an increase in complaints about expired travel vouchers.
“It hit people, ‘Oh my gosh it’s 2021,”’ William McGee, Consumer Reports’ aviation adviser told USA Today. “It seemed like a long way off last year and now it’s not.”
McGee told reporters that he is reviewing airline travel voucher policies, but said that it is difficult for regular consumers to understand the fine print that often comes with a flight cancelation.
As the pandemic hits its one-year anniversary, many consumers potentially leave money in the form of unused travel credit on the table.
Do you have expiring travel vouchers? What are you going to do? Tell us in the comment section below.
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11 thoughts onBillions in Delta, Southwest Airlines, and Other Travel Vouchers Set to Expire
Why isn’t there a class action for expired LUV vouchers yet? My family lost $600 that expired in January 2021. I tried going through the Better Business Bureau but now Southwest has terminated their membership. It is so unfair for them to penalize people who we’re staying at home during the Stay at Home Order.
Southwest refused to reinstate my LUV vouchers that expired in January 2021, during the worst days of the pandemic. I would like to join is a lawsuit for people who have LUV vouchers that expired during the pandemic and were unable to use them due to the shutdown of our country.
yes my ticketwas not use i explain to them i was sick do to cov19 i wasnt able to use my ticket then my sister past a month after that my dasughter got it so i realkly wasnt able to buse my ticket they took my money
Southwest didn’t give you an option when cancelling your flight due to Corona lockdowns. I had to take points or credits that are not enough for another flight so I haven’t had a chance to use them. I think they expire soon so I actually never got reimbursed.
In September I purchased round trip tickets for my son and his bride for their honeymoon trip to Walt Disney world. Disney closed all attractions on March 16 Sunday. Their return flight was for that next Thu. My son found a car and drove back to Grand Rapids Michigan.
I would like a cash refund that can used or a voucher that is for can be used through 2022.
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I lost $400 in funds that were “canceled” by Southwest Airlines because the “travel funds were created on December 29, 2019, and expire on December 28, 2020.” Their response is provided below:
Dear Steven,
Thank you for reaching out to us about your travel funds. I appreciate the opportunity to respond.
We understand that many of our Customers have concerns about traveling at this time. As you know, we are making a temporary exception to our travel funds policy in order to give Customers additional time to utilize their travel funds in the future, if the creation date of the funds fell within certain time frames. Specifically, we are extending the expiration date in the following scenarios:
• Customers’ funds that expired or will expire between March 1 – September 7, 2020, will now expire September 7, 2022
• Any newly created travel funds because of a flight cancellation between March 1 – September 7, 2020, will have an expiration date of September 7, 2022
That said, your travel funds were created on December 29, 2019 and expire on December 28,2020. As such, we are unable to honor your request for an extension on the funds being held under confirmation numbers VL2TPI and S2VIOH .
Your business is important to us, and we certainly hope you will give us an opportunity to welcome you onboard in the future.
Sincerely,
Karla
Southwest Airlines
ADD ME ALEIGANT AIR OWES ME
Delta denied my refund and my voucher will expire soon
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Please add me!!