How do bump exchange coupons work? - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums

Laurie · February 8, 2007, 12:24 PM

I've got a couple of these from Delta, and the reservation agent couldn't answer any of my questions.

Is expiration date to fly by, or book tickets by?

If my exp date is Dec 07, and today I use them to pay for flights for less than the amount of the coupon... I assume they reissue coupons for the left-over. If that is correct (is it?), what will that expiration date be, Feb 08? (and what does it mean?)

If the airlines gets bought out by another, are these coupons valid on the new entity?

I put flights on hold, but have to drive all the way to an outlying airport to cash them in. I assume that is always necessary?

I guess that's where they can answer these questions, but if they don't allow me to use the left-over amount on something, I won't fly Delta this time.

TIA!

PStreet1 · February 8, 2007, 12:38 PM

The expiration date (at least on American, and I assume it's the same) is to book. They issue a new voucher for any money left over, and you have a year from the date the "new" voucher was issued to book another ticket.

Phone the Delta customer service people and discuss it with them. Our vouchers have all been American, but I can't believe Delta's are any different. On American, you can mail the vouchers to them and they'll take care of everything and return the new vouchers to you. At one time, our vouchers were supposed to negate the need to pay most of the tax charged on a flight. The airport people didn't know that, and it took a few phone calls to American's customer service to get them to send us a voucher for the tax we'd paid and weren't supposed to have paid.

We found the airport ticket agents didn't know all that much about vouchers, so it's worth it to call customer service and at least have your facts straight before you get to the airport--and you may decide to mail in the vouchers.

JeffW · February 8, 2007, 12:48 PM

We just received Continental ones last month. Although I already used them, my impression was that they could be used purchase a flight up to the expiration date. With flights often available ~11 months into the future, that gave you almost 2 full years to use them.

The Continental ones did NOT allow any residual balance to be used. Also, they can only be used to buy tickets for the named person. When I bought 2 tickets earlier this month with them, a separate PIN box came up next to each ticket. The tickets were a little less than the value of the voucher, so I was hoping the extra could be applied to the other ticket.

One thing I did a few times several years ago with Delta vouchers was to buy fully refundable tickets (typically one-way First Class tickets). I bought them close to the expiration date, for as far in advance as I could. I later cancelled them, but then they had a new 1yr expiration. That got a little tricky, as in order to maximize the voucher use, I had to buy slightly more expensive tickets, which I used a credit card to pay for. Once I did that, the full amount (if I remember right) became non-refundable, because they realized part of the purchase was made with a non-refundable form of payment (voucher).

Jeff

Timeshare Von · February 8, 2007, 04:18 PM

It really depends on what they gave you. Is it a voucher for a "free ticket in the continental USA" or is it "cash value" to be used to purchase a ticket?

With Northwest, they offer both depending on their circumstances. If you get a voucher worth $$ off a ticket or towards a ticket, they will allow you to keep the balance "on account" so to speak and keep track of it online tied to your frequent flier account (if you have one).

Delta was offering tickets in Cincinnati this past weekend due to overbooking status. In those cases, the ticket inventory that you can use a free ticket against is very limited . . . the same pool as those with frequent flier free tickets and travel agency and other commission type free tickets issued. I typically will avoid the bump when these tickets are what they are offering.

Good luck in using it to your best advantage.

Yvonne

Dave M · February 8, 2007, 04:25 PM

Based on Laurie's wording, it seems clear the vouchers are for cash amounts. Otherwise, she would not have commented that she used them today "to pay for flights for less than the amount of the coupon".

Laurie · February 8, 2007, 06:29 PM

Right Dave, they're for a cash amount. Thanks everyone for your help - I'll try to get Delta customer service on the phone, and if I can't, it sounds at least likely I can apply the left-over $ to a future ticket - likely enough to motivate me to drive to the airport. I'm only using 1/2 the value so if they won't reissue new coupons for the balance, I definitely won't buy these. I'll see if they'll waive any of the taxes and fees, too - good tip!

vicki · February 10, 2007, 10:42 AM

One thing that we learned about using vouchers to book reservations is that, while American allows us to make the reservation by telephone, then mail them the voucher, Delta doesn't allow such a reservation process. With Delta, we were required to go to the airport to make the reservation and hand them the vouchers. For most of you, driving to the airport isn't probably a big deal, but for us (living in the boonies) it's a 4 hour drive! It was still worth the drive to get 2 free tickets, but frustrating! We'll continue to "bump" on American, but not on Delta anymore!

Kay H · February 10, 2007, 12:34 PM

I had a voucher a few yrs ago for a bump. I forget which airline. It stated on the voucher that I either had to purchase the ticket at the airport or through a travel agent. I had a hard time finding a travel agent who would do it but Boscov's charged me $50 to purchase the ticket. It was better than driving to the airport and parking just to buy a ticket.

Timeshare Von · February 14, 2007, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicki

One thing that we learned about using vouchers to book reservations is that, while American allows us to make the reservation by telephone, then mail them the voucher, Delta doesn't allow such a reservation process. With Delta, we were required to go to the airport to make the reservation and hand them the vouchers. For most of you, driving to the airport isn't probably a big deal, but for us (living in the boonies) it's a 4 hour drive! It was still worth the drive to get 2 free tickets, but frustrating! We'll continue to "bump" on American, but not on Delta anymore!

One reason I really like NWA is that they provide their "bump" certificates in a form that will go "on account" online and can be drawn against like a debit card, if you have a World Perks (frequently flier) account. They will handle everything online, and never need to see or receive the certificate given at the time of the denied boarding.

Yvonne

February 8, 2007, 12:24 PM	#1
Laurie TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: NC Posts: 1,365	How do bump exchange coupons work? I've got a couple of these from Delta, and the reservation agent couldn't answer any of my questions. Is expiration date to fly by, or book tickets by? If my exp date is Dec 07, and today I use them to pay for flights for less than the amount of the coupon... I assume they reissue coupons for the left-over. If that is correct (is it?), what will that expiration date be, Feb 08? (and what does it mean?) If the airlines gets bought out by another, are these coupons valid on the new entity? I put flights on hold, but have to drive all the way to an outlying airport to cash them in. I assume that is always necessary? I guess that's where they can answer these questions, but if they don't allow me to use the left-over amount on something, I won't fly Delta this time. TIA!

February 8, 2007, 12:38 PM	#2
PStreet1 TUG Lifetime Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Rosarito Beach, Baja Norte, Mex., & Phx Posts: 736	The expiration date (at least on American, and I assume it's the same) is to book. They issue a new voucher for any money left over, and you have a year from the date the "new" voucher was issued to book another ticket. Phone the Delta customer service people and discuss it with them. Our vouchers have all been American, but I can't believe Delta's are any different. On American, you can mail the vouchers to them and they'll take care of everything and return the new vouchers to you. At one time, our vouchers were supposed to negate the need to pay most of the tax charged on a flight. The airport people didn't know that, and it took a few phone calls to American's customer service to get them to send us a voucher for the tax we'd paid and weren't supposed to have paid. We found the airport ticket agents didn't know all that much about vouchers, so it's worth it to call customer service and at least have your facts straight before you get to the airport--and you may decide to mail in the vouchers. Last edited by PStreet1 : February 10, 2007 at 02:58 PM. Reason: stupid mistake: "fly" should have been "book"

February 10, 2007, 12:34 PM	#8
Kay H TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,043 Resorts: Killington Grand	I had a voucher a few yrs ago for a bump. I forget which airline. It stated on the voucher that I either had to purchase the ticket at the airport or through a travel agent. I had a hard time finding a travel agent who would do it but Boscov's charged me $50 to purchase the ticket. It was better than driving to the airport and parking just to buy a ticket. __________________ Kay H

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February 8, 2007, 12:48 PM	#3
JeffW TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 1,049	We just received Continental ones last month. Although I already used them, my impression was that they could be used purchase a flight up to the expiration date. With flights often available ~11 months into the future, that gave you almost 2 full years to use them. The Continental ones did NOT allow any residual balance to be used. Also, they can only be used to buy tickets for the named person. When I bought 2 tickets earlier this month with them, a separate PIN box came up next to each ticket. The tickets were a little less than the value of the voucher, so I was hoping the extra could be applied to the other ticket. One thing I did a few times several years ago with Delta vouchers was to buy fully refundable tickets (typically one-way First Class tickets). I bought them close to the expiration date, for as far in advance as I could. I later cancelled them, but then they had a new 1yr expiration. That got a little tricky, as in order to maximize the voucher use, I had to buy slightly more expensive tickets, which I used a credit card to pay for. Once I did that, the full amount (if I remember right) became non-refundable, because they realized part of the purchase was made with a non-refundable form of payment (voucher). Jeff

February 8, 2007, 04:18 PM	#4
Timeshare Von TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Mar 13, 06 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 2,590 Resorts: FF/Wyndham Flagstaff, FF/ Wyndham Williamsburg - Kingsgate, FF/Wyndham Myrtle Beach/Westwinds, Lifetime in Hawaii (Oahu)	It really depends on what they gave you. Is it a voucher for a "free ticket in the continental USA" or is it "cash value" to be used to purchase a ticket? With Northwest, they offer both depending on their circumstances. If you get a voucher worth $$ off a ticket or towards a ticket, they will allow you to keep the balance "on account" so to speak and keep track of it online tied to your frequent flier account (if you have one). Delta was offering tickets in Cincinnati this past weekend due to overbooking status. In those cases, the ticket inventory that you can use a free ticket against is very limited . . . the same pool as those with frequent flier free tickets and travel agency and other commission type free tickets issued. I typically will avoid the bump when these tickets are what they are offering. Good luck in using it to your best advantage. Yvonne

February 8, 2007, 04:25 PM	#5
Dave M Moderator TUG Lifetime Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 16, 04 Location: Sun City Hilton Head, SC Posts: 11,351	Based on Laurie's wording, it seems clear the vouchers are for cash amounts. Otherwise, she would not have commented that she used them today "to pay for flights for less than the amount of the coupon".

February 8, 2007, 06:29 PM	#6
Laurie TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: NC Posts: 1,365	Right Dave, they're for a cash amount. Thanks everyone for your help - I'll try to get Delta customer service on the phone, and if I can't, it sounds at least likely I can apply the left-over $ to a future ticket - likely enough to motivate me to drive to the airport. I'm only using 1/2 the value so if they won't reissue new coupons for the balance, I definitely won't buy these. I'll see if they'll waive any of the taxes and fees, too - good tip!

February 10, 2007, 10:42 AM	#7
vicki TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 12, 05 Location: Liberal, KS Posts: 55 Resorts: Diamond Resorts; Bluegreen	One thing that we learned about using vouchers to book reservations is that, while American allows us to make the reservation by telephone, then mail them the voucher, Delta doesn't allow such a reservation process. With Delta, we were required to go to the airport to make the reservation and hand them the vouchers. For most of you, driving to the airport isn't probably a big deal, but for us (living in the boonies) it's a 4 hour drive! It was still worth the drive to get 2 free tickets, but frustrating! We'll continue to "bump" on American, but not on Delta anymore!