Cashing In Your COVID Flight Voucher

A year after the COVID-19 pandemic upended the travel industry and canceled flights, those with vouchers could be racing the clock. NBC's Liz McLaughlin reports.

(NBC News) — A year after the COVID-19 pandemic upended the travel industry and canceled flights, those with vouchers could be racing the clock.

The first step to avoid losing out is to read the fine print on your expiration date.

“On some vouchers, it might refer to the date when you have to make a booking by, but on other vouchers that might refer to the date when you have to travel by,” notes Scott Keyes of discount travel site Scott’s Cheap Flights.

Keyes says now is the time to read up on the stipulations of that travel credit and perhaps give customer service a call.

“The airlines have actually been quite flexible with extending your vouchers, but only for people who ask to have them extended,” he says.

Demand is still recovering, so travelers can take advantage of low prices now, even if they’re booking a trip later this year.

“As we get closer to the summer months, vaccinations become higher and cases hopefully drop,” notes Hopper economist Hayley Berg. “We can expect prices to increase. So book now, if possible.”

If you do need to reschedule later, many airlines are still waiving change fees for flights booked by the end of the month.

Read more here.