CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Did you have to cancel a flight last year, when the pandemic canceled millions of vacation plans?
You might want to take a close look at the flight vouchers you received.
Consumer reporter John Matarese explains why, so you don’t waste your money.
Hundreds of thousands of Americans are sitting on airline vouchers, for trips postponed last year when COVID-19 hit.
Unfortunately, those vouchers do not last forever.
And you may need to take a flight this year or lose them.
Eulah Williams, like so many of us, had to cancel a planned flight and cruise last spring.
"Before our cruise, everything got canceled, and shut down," Williams said.
But instead of a refund, Frontier Airlines gave her a flight voucher.
Airfarewatchdog.com says many people are in the same situation - holding vouchers for Delta, Southwest, and other airlines.
The problem: Most of them expire at the end of 2021, meaning you need to fly by the end of this year.
So from the doesn't that stink file, being forced to use it or lose it, even if you are still afraid to travel with the COVID-19 variants now spreading.
But Airfare Watchdog has a possible solution:
It says some airlines will let you purchase the most expensive, fully refundable ticket.
Then, If you have to cancel, you might be able to get a refund. Just be sure to ask.
If you are skittish, it suggests booking a fall trip, in the hope most Americans are vaccinated by then.
Some airlines could extend vouchers another year.
But for now, assume you'll lose them after December, so don’t waste your money.
