Using a travel voucher for holiday airline travel

[quixotic78]

I'm looking for two airline tickets to visit the in-laws over Christmas, and they're expensive! At least $500 each, and I've tried looking at nearby cities, flexible dates, etc. I had a wacky idea that maybe a place like eBay would sell travel vouchers, and sure enough, they do. Here's an example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/U-S-Airways-Take-Flight-FREE-Roundtrip-Voucher_W0QQitemZ190250724489QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190250724489&_trkparms=72%3A1163%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

I've done some checking, and these things are transferable (there's no name on them, actually). My big concern, of course, is that the airlines will indeed let you use the voucher, but only on February 22, April 9, and two days in June (i.e., that they impose severe blackout restrictions).

So, has anyone had any luck using a "free flight" voucher during a holiday season? And, even more of a long shot, has anyone ever bought one and used it successfully?

P.S. Off topic -- I haven't been at the SDMB in ~2 years. Before, I could click on the "Link" button when making a post, and it'd ask me for a link, and ask me for the text I'd want (so I could replace a big long URL with the word "here," for example). But now that button just asks for the link. What is the syntax for hyperlinking a word and disguising the URL? Thanks again...

[kunilou]

P.S. Off topic -- I haven't been at the SDMB in ~2 years. Before, I could click on the "Link" button when making a post, and it'd ask me for a link, and ask me for the text I'd want (so I could replace a big long URL with the word "here," for example). But now that button just asks for the link. What is the syntax for hyperlinking a word and disguising the URL? Thanks again...

I can't tell you anything about vouchers, but as for this...

Type the text you want to include in the link. Then highlight it and click on the link button. Put your link address in there and click OK. The hyperlink tags will appear around your highlighted text.

As an example:

Type your text and then link (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=10174795)

[Rick]

Don't buy the voucher!
Voucher for free flights are under the same rules as redeeming frequent flier miles. There is a very limited number of seats on each aircraft that are eligible for redemption, and once those are redeemed, no more are available for that flight. It would not matter that the plane is 1/2 empty, if the seats eligible for ff/voucher are gone, they are gone.
The odds of you landing a pair (Don't forget you have to get there and get back) of seats for flights that will work for you with only 3 months lead time are probably slim and none.
Unless of course you are flying to someplace no one wants to go. :)

[atomicbadgerrace]

I've done some checking, and these things are transferable (there's no name on them, actually). My big concern, of course, is that the airlines will indeed let you use the voucher, but only on February 22, April 9, and two days in June (i.e., that they impose severe blackout restrictions).

Err... my suggestion would be to take the advice in the auction:

Do your own research on black out dates by calling U.S. Air at 800-428-4322.

Depending on the type of voucher and airline, it may or may not fall under the same guidelines as an award seat. You shouldn't assume that it does, nor should you assume that it doesn't. I'd do what the auction suggests--call US Airways and ask them about terms and restrictions on Take Flight certificates for your selected travel dates.

Naturally, you should be aware of the risk of buying any travel certificate through a third party on eBay -- the airlines don't suggest this, for obvious reasons.

[Rick]

Depending on the type of voucher and airline, it may or may not fall under the same guidelines as an award seat. You shouldn't assume that it does, nor should you assume that it doesn't. I'd do what the auction suggests--call US Airways and ask them about terms and restrictions on Take Flight certificates for your selected travel dates.
As of 2 years ago when I last tired to use a US Scare travel cert, they did fall under the same rules as FF awards.
Also they are not good on code share flights (A United plane that also has a USA flight number. Again ask me how I know this.*



*I think I threw the cert away, as I could not for the life of me find a way to use the damn thing.