During the pandemic, we saw most major airlines in the United States eliminate change fees on a majority of fares, giving travelers lots more flexibility. The catch is that the ticket credits issued from canceled tickets do have expiration dates, and for some airlines, those expiration dates are coming up for travel from the start of the pandemic.
Fortunately Delta Air Lines has just announced an initiative that leads the US airline industry when it comes to the validity of vouchers.
In this post:
Delta extends eCredits through end of 2023
As of January 12, 2022, all outstanding Delta eCredits will be extended through December 31, 2023. This represents a further one year extension compared to the previous expiration. The same expiration will apply for any new tickets booked in 2022.
This means that if you cancel any eligible ticket that was initially booked between the start of the pandemic and December 31, 2022, the eCredit will now be valid through December 31, 2023. That end of 2023 timeline is also only the date by which you have to book, meaning that you could use a voucher for travel in 2024.
It will take a while for Delta to update the expiration date of eCredits, so don’t be worried if you still show an expiration date of December 31, 2022. These vouchers can be redeemed directly online, by going through delta.com/redeem.
Here’s how Allison Ausband, Delta’s Chief Customer Experience Officer, describes this move:
“We want to ensure our customers enjoy peace of mind when booking or rebooking their Delta trips this year. This leading extension provides more time for customers to use their travel credits, so they can book with complete confidence that Delta has their back even when moments arise out of their control.”
Delta is leading the industry here
Delta deserves to be commended for this extension of ticket credits, as the Atlanta-based carrier is doing the ethical thing. It’s my understanding that the airline has well over a billion dollars in outstanding ticket credits, so as much as I’m sure any airline would be tempted to get as many vouchers as possible to expire, that’s not what Delta is doing.
How does Delta’s policy compare to those of other major carriers in the United States, which also made ticket credits more flexible during the pandemic?
- American Airlines ticket credits that were issued in 2020 expire on March 31, 2022, while ticket credits issued now are valid for one year
- Southwest Airlines ticket credits that were issued in 2020 expire on September 7, 2022, while ticket credits issued now are valid for one year
- United Airlines ticket credits that were issued in 2020 expire on December 31, 2022, while ticket credits issued now are valid for one year
Delta is by far being the most generous here, both for previously booked tickets and for newly booked tickets.
Bottom line
Delta has just extended all ticket eCredits issued during the pandemic through December 31, 2023. That’s only the date by which you have to ticket a reservation, meaning you could travel all the way into 2024. This same policy applies for tickets issued in 2022, meaning travelers are getting more flexibility for newly booked tickets as well.
This is a very generous policy, especially when you consider that rival carriers haven’t extended vouchers nearly as long. I hope we see other major US carriers match (though I wouldn’t hold my breath).
What do you make of Delta extending ticket vouchers through the end of 2023?
FYI, if your "eCredit" came as an Amex spending reward, Delta doesn't actually consider it an eCredit, despite how it appears in the Delta app. Delta did not extend those, and refuses to reissue credit. Amex is no help either.
Mine are still showing as expiring at the end of 2022.
AA allows endorsing flight credit to another person. I think that's probably more generous than the extension, although it ends at the end of this month.
Bravo? How about just give us our money back! I have "credits" with 4 different airlines that over the next couple of months will force me to travel or lose my money! I am high risk and the last thing I want to do is travel during this continued pandemic. Airlines are one of the only industries that are permitted not to refund a customer's money. This is exactly an issue our feckless government representatives...
Bravo? How about just give us our money back! I have "credits" with 4 different airlines that over the next couple of months will force me to travel or lose my money! I am high risk and the last thing I want to do is travel during this continued pandemic. Airlines are one of the only industries that are permitted not to refund a customer's money. This is exactly an issue our feckless government representatives should be working on for their constituents. But as a hostage, have to say thank you to Delta for throwing us a morsel and hope all the other airlines do likewise!
I can't think of any industry that is required to refund a purchase...
While this may cost them a bit with credits getting used that would have expired, it's also a savvy move to bring in more new cash -- if you were thinking about booking a trip for this summer or fall, especially internationally, it's easier to go ahead and book if you know you'll have a long time to use the credit afterwards if you aren't able to take the trip as planned.
And even...
While this may cost them a bit with credits getting used that would have expired, it's also a savvy move to bring in more new cash -- if you were thinking about booking a trip for this summer or fall, especially internationally, it's easier to go ahead and book if you know you'll have a long time to use the credit afterwards if you aren't able to take the trip as planned.
And even with these extensions Delta will probably benefit from some people forgetting they have credits, not being able to use them, etc., and so still make some money on unused credits like other airlines will.
It’s a great customer service gesture, and also a shrewd way to hold off inevitable regulator demands that pax who have not used credits from flights scheduled during the worst of the pandemic get a cash refund.
I wish AA would do this. I have $2000 held up with them that expire March 31 and I don’t know if I can use them. It says you must travel by that date