does anyone know the difference between an airline credit and waiver

[Dznypal]

Im trying to get the paper work ready so the end of March I can submit it to the insurance so I can get my money back for a trip we cancelled back in Feb of 2020 the airline already extended the credit date by one year--and it looks like airlines are going to be doing it again

I checked with united and they said our waiver would expire at the end of this dec--up until this time it was always called a credit
I did a chat with united who just said credit can be used for future travel any route you can use it waiver is the extend the validity of your credit for to use in the future

I have no idea what this all means--

all I want to do at this point is get my paper from the airline saying credit expired without use and submit to insurance
by the time this is all said and done it will have taken me 3 years to get my money back with insurance--

 

[sam_gordon]

Im trying to get the paper work ready so the end of March I can submit it to the insurance so I can get my money back for a trip we cancelled back in Feb of 2020 the airline already extended the credit date by one year--and it looks like airlines are going to be doing it again

I checked with united and they said our waiver would expire at the end of this dec--up until this time it was always called a credit
I did a chat with united who just said credit can be used for future travel any route you can use it waiver is the extend the validity of your credit for to use in the future

I have no idea what this all means--

all I want to do at this point is get my paper from the airline saying credit expired without use and submit to insurance
by the time this is all said and done it will have taken me 3 years to get my money back with insurance--

If I understand it correctly (and maybe I don't)...

You paid for a flight you were going to take in Feb. 2020.
You had to cancel that flight and you were issued a credit by United for the price you paid. That was going to expire at some point (presumably in 2021).
They then issued you a waiver so that instead of the credit expiring in 2021 (whenever it was supposed to expire), it now expires a year later.
So they may issue you another waiver extending the credit expiration.

My advice... contact your travel insurance company (whoever you used). Explain the situation to them. Tell them you're not interested in the credit and just want to get your money back. Ask them what you need to do to do so. You may need to wait until the credit expires (whenever that is).

What *I* would do... find another time later this year and book a flight to somewhere I want to go. Hadn't you said your flight was originally to Hawaii? I'd book that again.

 

[Lewisc]

Not sure about your case...a credit is a dollar amount. A waiver might let you book you original itinerary without paying any difference in fare.

In some cases the credit might be less a service fee. The waiver might give you a full credit equal to what you paid

Sorry I can't give a real answer I hope I gave you the questions to ask

 

[EACarlson]

You had to cancel that flight and you were issued a credit by United for the price you paid. That was going to expire at some point (presumably in 2021).
They then issued you a waiver so that instead of the credit expiring in 2021 (whenever it was supposed to expire), it now expires a year later.
So they may issue you another waiver extending the credit expiration.

My advice... contact your travel insurance company (whoever you used). Explain the situation to them. Tell them you're not interested in the credit and just want to get your money back. Ask them what you need to do to do so. You may need to wait until the credit expires (whenever that is).

This is my understanding of OP's situation as well. A waiver is an exception to rules, in this case an exception to the travel credit expiring. Agree with calling your travel insurance and seeing if they will do anything for you.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

What I think they are saying is they have issued a waiver to the credit expiration. Still a credit, still not expired. Still available for you to use for another flight.

Have you spoken to the insurance company about it? See if there are any options related to the time lapsed?

 

[Dznypal]

Thanks for the replies. I will be calling the ins on mon. I am so annoyed by all of this. I thought that since we cancelled before Covid took hold and my moms going into hospice I thought we’d be grandfathered in to the old rules. Credit for one year then I could submit the papers but unfortunately that’s not the case I feel like I’m chasing something I’ll never reach. DCL and air Canada were great. Got money quick and efficient from the ins. But United is being a pain to work with. I’m not giving up though.