[asanagirl]

I voluntarily got off a flight with US Airways in December of 2008 and received a voucher for a round trip ticket within the continental US, or at least that's what I thought.

Just yesterday I called to try and use the voucher and was told that there were no seats available for my destination, which was the same as in December, for at least 2 weeks on either side of my departure date but was told I could use the voucher for $200 off a regular priced flight as long as I purchased through them, which is more expensive that it would be if I booked through Orbitz or Travelocity for the same flights.

Seems to me that US Airways dupes passengers into getting off flights with the offer of a round trip anywhere, then mysteriously there are no seats available when you want to use it. I have gotten no satisfaction from anyone at the airlines, which routes your calls to India.

I WILL NEVER FLY US AIRWAYS AGAIN.

[Silent Bob]

First how much was the voucher for exactly? If you flew domestic and they gave you a voucher for a domestic flight, that would mean the voucher was hmmmmm 400 dollars? Plus I don't think they actually said the voucher is good for a round trip ticket, they might have something along the lines of "This voucher can be used to fly to anywhere in the continental U.S. where US airways flies" something like that. Next, you should be able to book the ticket online and also use the voucher, that way you can see if a particlar flight has seats, if it does you can lock it in. These vouchers are the best thing to ever happen to frequent travelers, I have scores of em and they're great for when I wanna take day trips.

[PHXFlyer]

You need to realize that the "free round trip" voucher is capacity controlled much like a Dividend Miles award. It's on the part of the voucher that you sign and they retain when it's issued. The other option, as you said, is to use it for $$ off a published fare. Many fares you see on Travelocity, Orbitz, etc. are bulk or private fares only available through them. Usually the fare quoted by US Airways reservations is more but not by a whole lot.

I recently redeemed one of these vouchers for $$ off for travel this Thanksgiving. I knew that there wouldn't be any capacity controlled seats that weekend. The fare I saw on USAirways.com is what was quoted to me on the phone. Actually the fare was $409 which after taxes totaled $434. My voucher was for $400 so I had my credit card at the ready to pay the balance. I was never asked to pay anything additional!

[PHXFlyer]

Originally Posted by Silent Bob

First how much was the voucher for exactly? If you flew domestic and they gave you a voucher for a domestic flight, that would mean the voucher was hmmmmm 400 dollars? Plus I don't think they actually said the voucher is good for a round trip ticket, they might have something along the lines of "This voucher can be used to fly to anywhere in the continental U.S. where US airways flies" something like that. Next, you should be able to book the ticket online and also use the voucher, that way you can see if a particlar flight has seats, if it does you can lock it in. These vouchers are the best thing to ever happen to frequent travelers, I have scores of em and they're great for when I wanna take day trips.

On US Airways if it's a domestic (lower 48) ticket then the voucher is for a domestic (lower 48) round-trip ticket or $200. If it's Alaska, Hawaii, or international then it's any round-trip or $400.

[asanagirl]

I finally got a hold of someone at US Airways corporate office and indeed my voucher was for a round trip ticket or $200.00 and the choice was mine. I was told that I can't use the voucher online and had to call the reservations desk which is where my frustration came from. There indeed ARE NO SEATS AVAILABLE and was told that I had to book 6 months in advance and the only way for me to get a seat is to call the corporate office. The difference in price was in fact significant in my case. US Airways wanted $650 for a round trip and I got a seat on Southwest for $364.00.

They have since done away with this deceptive and dishonest practice in favor of the $200 voucher for the lower 48 states. Needless to say I still will not travel with US Airways unless it is a total last resort.

[PHXFlyer]

Originally Posted by asanagirl

I finally got a hold of someone at US Airways corporate office and indeed my voucher was for a round trip ticket or $200.00 and the choice was mine. I was told that I can't use the voucher online and had to call the reservations desk which is where my frustration came from. There indeed ARE NO SEATS AVAILABLE and was told that I had to book 6 months in advance and the only way for me to get a seat is to call the corporate office. The difference in price was in fact significant in my case. US Airways wanted $650 for a round trip and I got a seat on Southwest for $364.00.

They have since done away with this deceptive and dishonest practice in favor of the $200 voucher for the lower 48 states. Needless to say I still will not travel with US Airways unless it is a total last resort.

Not true. Perhaps the six month in advance was a suggestion for availability for the capacity controlled round-trip but it really depends on the origin, destination and when you are looking to travel much like an award ticket. If there's availability or you are using it for $$ off you can book anytime from 330 days in advance up to the day before you want to travel. You can book travel with the certs by simply calling the toll-free reservations number. There's no need to call the executive offices.

[asanagirl]

I'm just telling you what the corporate office told me. If you don't believe me call them yourself. I could not get a round trip ticket without calling them and still can't. I could get the $200 off but that is not what my voucher says or what I was told by the airline at the time. EVEN US Airways admits that the voucher I have and the practices they were using were DISHONEST.

[abutterfinger25]

Where and when are you trying to fly using the free round trip option? If it is during peak travel times and/or a popular destination, then the chances are that the seats available for purchase, UNDER THE VOUCHER or the frequent flyer program, are gone. But seats are still open for purchase and you should be able to use the voucher for $200 off that fare.

And I agree with PHX, there is no reason to call the executive offices to redeem a voucher. They don't do reservations. Maybe you were directed to call them because you were unhappy with the inability to use the free round trip option.

If you still want to use the voucher for $200 off your trip and reservations can't help you, send us a message at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm and one of our analysts can try and help.

[asanagirl]

I have nothing further to say to you or anyone else since it is apparent that you don't understand what I have written to date. I will deal with the airline myself since I will get what it is that they promised me in the first place. Your office was of no help when I called them so why are you pretending to help now?