Delta Air Lines: eCredits and Expiry Adjustments
Nobody wants to chase after expiring flight credits. Delta’s eCredit policy changes feel like trying to remember when I last replaced my toothbrush—suddenly, it’s too late. The rules look simple, but they shift constantly, and your Denver trip vanishes if you blink.
How Delta eCredits Work After Cancellation
Canceled a Delta flight in April (don’t even ask why), and the eCredits dropped back into my SkyMiles account. Okay, fine. But you can’t mix eCredits with SkyMiles or “Miles + Cash” bookings. Why? Who knows. A staffer said, “That’s Delta’s hybrid payment policy.” I guess that’s an answer, but it just means I get less flexibility.
Sometimes, if you rebook a main cabin ticket with an eCredit, the expiration date gets pushed out. But nobody at customer service will confirm if you can keep doing that year after year. My travel agent swears you can keep extending by booking and canceling, but when I tried, the site lagged out and my faith in “automation” took a nosedive.
Recent Enhancements to Flight Credit Flexibility
And then there’s always some rumor—like, “Hey, they just extended all the credits again!” Delta did update eCredit rules this spring, and supposedly the app is better for redemptions now. Except, the app crashed for me last Friday. Does that count as “enhanced”? Travel forums (TPG’s breakdown is actually pretty solid) are full of people saying rebooking keeps extending expiry, sometimes by a year.
If you don’t use the whole eCredit, you get a new one for the leftover, but only if you booked directly with Delta. Third-party sites? You’re out of luck. And those generous COVID extensions? Gone. Now, if you miss your window, a reissued eCredit won’t save you—unless you catch a miracle agent. I’ve given up trying to figure out when “extension” applies. Every FAQ says “policy subject to change,” which is about as helpful as flipping a coin to decide if milk’s still good.
United Airlines: Major Shifts in Expiry Rules
So, I’m halfway through booking a United flight and realize—wait, when did they change all their credit expiration rules? If you’re not watching closely, you’ll lose credits before you even remember you have them. Now, apparently, you can stretch those credits further, even if you bought basic economy last year or changed your trip for the third time.
New Flexibility for United Flight Credits
Remember when United’s “travel by” rule meant you’d just lose your credit if you didn’t use it in time? Not anymore. Credits issued after 2023 get a new expiration date every time you use them for a new booking. Book a cheap flight with your credit? Any leftover turns into a new credit, with a fresh expiration. Thrifty Traveler pointed this out—your new credit isn’t stuck with the old deadline. You don’t have to match the original trip, either.
Feels like a loophole, honestly. Not spelled out in the fine print, but every agent I’ve bugged confirms it. Some people book a fully changeable trip right before their credit expires, then change the dates later. I mean, if you’re facing a $400 disappearing act, why not? Officially, credits last 1–2 years, but “use it or lose it” is a little less scary now.
Redeeming Credits Across Fare Types
But United keeps moving the goalposts on what you can buy with credits. Basic economy fares look cheap, but most credits don’t work for those. You can usually pay the difference and get main cabin or better, though. PCMag even called this out as unique among airlines.
Leftover balances? Book a $250 ticket with a $500 credit, and you’ll get a new $250 credit—with a new expiration. But United’s site glitches sometimes, so you’ll probably have to call support if the balance won’t apply online.
Trying to combine credits or dodge blackout dates? Good luck. United doesn’t let you stack credits for premium fares during peak times. My friend tried during Thanksgiving—support just said “no.” Each credit keeps its own expiration, no merging. Their dashboard is a mess. I screenshot everything now, because I just don’t trust it.
