United Travel Bank holds money you can spend on United flights, but only United flights
A United Travel Bank (also called a travel credit) is a balance of money in your United Airlines account that you can use to pay for plane tickets on United Airlines. You cannot use it to buy anything else — not hotel rooms, rental cars, meals, or flights on other airlines. It is not cash, and United will not send it to you as money. It sits in your account until you book a United flight and choose to pay with it.
You get a travel credit when you cancel a United flight and choose not to get a refund. Instead of money back to your original payment method, United puts the same amount into your travel account. You can also receive a travel credit if United cancels your flight, oversells your seat, or significantly changes your departure time — in those cases, United may offer you a credit as compensation.
The credit stays in your account for one year from the date United issued it. After one year, it expires and you lose the balance. There is no way to extend an expiring credit or convert it to cash.
Key Takeaways
- United Travel Bank can only be used to pay for United Airlines flights — you cannot use it for other airlines, hotels, car rentals, or anything else.
- Your travel credit expires one year after United issues it, and expired credits cannot be recovered or transferred to someone else.
- You can use your credit for yourself or give it to another person by providing them with your confirmation number, but only one person can use each credit.
- When you book a flight, you choose whether to pay with your travel credit or another payment method — United does not automatically explore it.
How to use your travel credit when you book
When you go to book a United flight on United.com or through the United app, you will see your available travel credit balance on the payment page. During checkout, you can choose to pay with your credit, pay with a different method, or split the cost between your credit and another payment method.
If your flight costs less than your credit balance, you will use only part of the credit. The remaining balance stays in your account for future bookings. If your flight costs more than your credit, you will need to pay the difference with a credit card, debit card, or other payment method United accepts.
You must have a United account to use your travel credit. If you do not have one, you can create a free account on United.com before you book.
Giving your travel credit to someone else
You can let another person use your travel credit, but there are limits. The person using the credit must be the one who actually flies — you cannot use your credit to buy a ticket for someone else and then have them reimburse you. United calls this the "passenger rule," and it means the name on the booking must match the name on the ticket.
To let someone else use your credit, you give them your confirmation number and the details of your travel credit. They can then book a United flight and pay with your credit during checkout. Once they use any part of your credit, they cannot transfer the remaining balance to another person — only you can do that.
If you want to be certain the credit gets used, you should give it to someone you trust and let them know the expiration date. There is no way for United to track whether someone else is using your credit, so you will need to keep track of the balance yourself by checking your United account.
What happens if your credit expires
When your one-year window closes, any unused balance disappears. United does not send you a warning email or notification before the credit expires, so you need to check your account periodically if you have an active credit.
Once a credit expires, you cannot recover it or get a refund. United does not make exceptions for credits that expire while you were traveling, sick, or unable to book. The only way to avoid losing money is to use your credit before the expiration date.
If you are unsure when your credit expires, log into your United account and look at your travel credits section. It will show the balance and the expiration date for each credit you have.
Travel Bank credits versus airline vouchers
United Travel Bank is different from a flight voucher, which is a separate product United sometimes offers. A voucher is usually issued as compensation for a flight cancellation or significant delay, and it works similarly to a travel credit — you can use it to pay for a United flight. However, vouchers sometimes have different rules about transferability and expiration, so you should check the terms on any voucher United gives you.
If you have both a travel credit and a voucher in your account, you can use them on the same booking or on separate bookings. When you book, you will see both balances and can choose which one to use.
Using your credit for basic economy and premium cabin flights
Your travel credit can be used to pay for any United flight, including basic economy (the lowest fare) and premium cabins like business class. However, if you book a basic economy ticket with your credit, you will have the same restrictions as a basic economy passenger — you may not be able to choose your seat in advance or bring a carry-on bag, depending on the route.
If you want to use your credit to upgrade from economy to a higher cabin, you will need to pay the upgrade cost with a different payment method. Your travel credit can only cover the base ticket price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my travel credit to my spouse or family member?
You can give someone else your confirmation number so they can use your credit to book a flight, but they must be the passenger on that flight. You cannot transfer the credit itself to their account, and once they use part of it, they cannot give the remaining balance to a third person.
What if I book a flight with my travel credit and then need to cancel?
If you cancel a flight you paid for with your travel credit, United will issue you a new travel credit for the same amount. The new credit will have a new one-year expiration date. You will not get your original credit back.
Can I use my travel credit to buy a gift card or ticket for someone else?
No. Your travel credit can only be used by the person whose name is on the booking. You cannot buy a ticket as a gift and have someone else use your credit to reimburse you.
Do I lose my travel credit if I don't use it right away?
Not when ready. You have one full year from the date United issued the credit. After that year ends, the balance expires and cannot be recovered. Check your United account to see the exact expiration date of each credit you have.
Can United extend my travel credit if it's about to expire?
United does not extend expired credits under any circumstances. The only way to keep your credit is to use it before the expiration date. If you are close to the important date, book a flight as soon as you can.