Tips for Maximizing and Keeping Track of Your Airline Credits

There’s nothing more annoying than digging through old emails looking for a credit code that expired yesterday. I forget about these credits all the time. Who doesn’t?

Checking Current Balances and Expiry Dates

Every airline hides this info somewhere different—“My Trips,” “Wallet,” random email subject lines. I once found a Delta eCredit only after guessing my old ticket number for the third time. If I’d just logged in and clicked “Wallet,” it was right there, ticking down to zero.

Sara Raudenbush (travel pro, spreadsheet queen) says she tracks her credits in Google Sheets—flight, value, date, expiry. I tried that, still missed an American credit by three days. Sometimes, if you rebook and cancel, the expiration resets (not obvious, but Forbes checked). There are apps for this, but honestly, just search your email for “credit” or “voucher” before you book.

Using Credits for Extras and Free Checked Bags

Airlines never tell you that you can use expiring credits for extras—I only found out after using a United credit on a seat upgrade and accidentally got a free checked bag. Some let you add priority boarding, snacks, whatever, as long as you do it when you redeem the credit. But don’t count on it. I tried on JetBlue and got nothing because Blue Basic blocked all the extras.

Upgrades are the sneaky loophole. Some consultant told me, “use credits for what makes your trip better,” but really, it’s whatever shows up on the final bill. Southwest lets you use credits for EarlyBird Check-In and bag fees. If you’ve got $48.11 left, just use it on anything before it disappears.

Understanding Carry-On Bag and Checked Bag Policies

If you think “checked bag included” means the same thing everywhere, you’re dreaming. United and American change their bag rules between fare types or how you use credits. Sometimes, even if you redeem a credit for main cabin, you still don’t get a bag. I found out the hard way—fare class roulette is real.

Usually, a carry-on’s fine. But if you use a credit on Basic Economy, good luck—no bags, and you don’t find out until you try to check in at 6am. Industry stats say 30% of people forget these rules when using credits. Never assume your perks carry over. Always triple-check the terms, or better yet, call and make the airline say it out loud, then email yourself. You’ll forget otherwise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nothing like scrambling for fine print after airlines drop new rules in the middle of summer. This month, airlines changed how long you have to use credits, added exceptions, stricter transfer rules, and—just to annoy everyone—different policies depending on when you booked.

What’s the new expiration date for flight credits issued during the recent updates?

Supposedly, if you booked before May 27, 2025 on Southwest, your credits never expire. Simple, right? Except, after May 28, they start expiring again, and sometimes just changing an old ticket puts you under the new rules.

I dug through Southwest’s site and still found old language. Customer reps say, “only credits after May 27th expire,” but Reddit says some people got stuck with six-month limits. Who’s right? No clue.

Can I transfer my flight credit to someone else under the new policy changes?

Tried to give a credit to a friend—nope. Still locked to your name almost everywhere.

Even with new rules, transfers are rare. Delta says, “flight credits are non-transferable.” I overheard a gate agent say you might get a companion voucher if you’re nice, but that’s for elite flyers, not regular people like us.

Are there any exceptions to the updated flight credit expiration rules?

Airlines love hiding exceptions in the fine print. Southwest said they’ll “review hardship cases”—military, medical, whatever—but there’s no guarantee.

United’s FAQ mentions special extensions for pandemic credits. I called about my December 2019 credit and got a “depends.” So helpful.

How do I check the balance and expiry of my current flight credits?

I lose track all the time because every airline hides it somewhere else. American puts it under “view credit details,” and I’ve got screenshots with expiry dates that don’t even match.

Delta and JetBlue both lock me out half the time, but I’d just download PDF copies of every credit confirmation. Someone on FlyerTalk said it’s the only way to prove you had it if the airline’s system “forgets.”

What happens to my flight credits if I can’t use them before they expire now?

Once the expiration hits, they’re gone. No reminders, no partial anything, just—poof. I asked three reps (Delta, American, Southwest) and none offered alternatives unless I’d already planned something before the expiry. One said, “it’s like a gift card, the value just goes away.”

I did meet someone who complained and got a one-time gesture credit, so loopholes exist, but don’t count on it unless you’re lucky and persistent.

Have the rules changed for extending or renewing flight credits approaching their expiration?

So, last year, airlines kept tossing out those rolling extensions, all, “Oh, COVID, what a shock, here’s another few months.” Now? Honestly, I wouldn’t hold my breath. JetBlue’s rep barely made eye contact and mumbled something about “maybe, if you’re Mosaic or whatever, you can appeal.” Super clear, right?

Everyone else? It’s just, like, whatever random policy they feel like enforcing that day. I know people who literally set alarms, call every morning, try to beg for a little more time—usually, nope. Unless there’s some wild PR meltdown and they panic-extend credits again, you can pretty much kiss those expiring credits goodbye. Why do I even bother keeping track anymore?