The Difference Between Refunds, Credits, and Vouchers
When a flight gets canceled or a trip goes sideways, airlines love to offer you something — but what they offer matters a lot. A refund, a credit, and a voucher may all sound like ways to get your money back, but legally they’re very different. And if you don’t know the difference, you might end up accepting far less than you’re entitled to.
Here’s how to tell them apart — and how to make sure you get what you’re owed.
Why This Matters
Airlines are banking on confusion. When plans fall apart, many travelers accept whatever pops up on the screen or whatever an agent suggests.
The problem?
A refund gives you your money back.
A credit ties your money to the airline.
A voucher usually comes with strings attached (and an expiration date).
If you click the wrong option, you may lose the right to a refund entirely.
Refunds, Credits, and Vouchers: The Short Version
Here’s the quick breakdown:
Refund = real money back to your original form of payment.
Credit = airline-controlled money you can use for future travel.
Voucher = a conditional coupon, often more restrictive than a credit.
Airlines don’t always make this clear — so let’s break down what each one actually means in practice.
Refunds: Your Most Powerful
A refund is the cleanest, strongest option because it returns your money exactly how you paid it:
Back to your credit card
Back to your bank account
Back to your travel agency (if booked through one)
Under U.S. law, you’re owed a refund when:
Your flight is canceled and you choose not to travel
There is a significant delay, and you decline the new itinerary
You paid for extras you can no longer use (bags, seats, Wi-Fi, etc.)
Refunds are not discretionary — they’re a legal right. And once you accept a credit or voucher, you often cannot go back and ask for cash.
Think of refunds as:
You’re getting your money back, with no homework for future travel.
Credits: Airline IOUs
A credit (often called “travel credit,” “trip credit,” or “eCredit”) is money stored within the airline’s system for you to use later.
Sounds simple, right?
Here’s what airlines don’t highlight:
Credits expire (sometimes in as little as 12 months).
They’re usually non-transferable.
They may only apply to the same passenger or same origin/destination.
They may require you to pay fare differences — even for the same route.
Legally, a credit is not a refund. Once you take it, the airline has no obligation to give cash later.
Think of credits as:
Your money — but locked in the airline’s vault.
Vouchers: The Trickiest of Them All
A voucher is not money — it’s a coupon. And coupons come with rules.
Airline vouchers typically include:
Short expiration periods
Blackout dates
Restrictions on who can use them
Limits on destinations or fare classes
Inability to pay taxes/fees
“One-time use” rules (if you don’t use the whole amount, you lose the remainder)
Vouchers are usually offered when:
You volunteer to give up your seat
You’re bumped from an oversold flight
The airline is trying to avoid issuing a refund
You experience service issues but the airline is not legally required to compensate you
Airlines like vouchers because they cost the airline less — many passengers never use them before they expire.
Think of vouchers as:
A coupon that benefits the airline more than you.
Why Airlines Push Credits and Vouchers
Simple: they want to keep your money.
A refund takes revenue out of the airline’s pocket immediately.
A credit or voucher keeps your money in their system — and forces you to fly with them again.
That’s why the app and email notifications often highlight:
“Accept travel credit!”
“Take a voucher worth 20% more!”
These offers aren’t kindness — they’re strategy.
When to Insist on a Refund
Always choose a refund when:
You don’t know when you’ll travel next
You’re switching airlines or destinations
The replacement flight doesn’t work for you
The delay ruins the purpose of the trip (weddings, cruises, events, etc.)
The airline tries to push a credit by default
The cancellation is on the airline’s side (not yours)
If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, the airline legally cannot make you accept a credit or voucher instead of a refund.
Tips to Protect Yourself
Always read the options — don’t click the top button automatically.
If you want cash, look for words like Refund or Original Form of Payment.
Avoid credits and vouchers unless your future plans are certain.
If a refund button doesn’t appear, call or chat — sometimes airlines bury the option.
Screenshot everything — especially when the airline tries to funnel you into credit.
Bottom Line
Refunds, credits, and vouchers may all sound like ways to “make things right,” but legally, they’re not equal. A refund is real money. A credit ties you to the airline. A voucher limits you even more.
Know Your Rights. Know the Difference. Fly Fair.
And never accept less than what you’re legally owed.