Are flight credits transferable? The rules by airline
Published September 20, 2026 · Policies verified September 20, 2026
Most airline credits are locked to the person who bought the ticket. The more expensive surprise is not who can use the credit, but how long it lasts — because on several carriers the clock started the day you booked.
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Transferability: one genuine exception
Southwest is the outlier. Cancel an eligible Choice-tier fare and the value becomes a Transferable Flight Credit, which can be given to another traveller once, provided both people are Rapid Rewards members. The lowest Basic fare does not qualify, the transfer cannot be reversed, and cancellation must happen at least ten minutes before departure or the value can be forfeited entirely.
On most other U.S. carriers credits are issued to the named passenger and are not transferable, though the holder can often use the credit to book travel that includes someone else on the same reservation. The detail varies by carrier and by the type of credit issued, so check the terms on the specific credit you hold rather than a general policy page.
The expiry clock is the real trap
Here is what catches people. On several airlines the credit expires a fixed period from the date the original booking was made, not from the date you cancelled. Book in January for a December trip, cancel in November, and you may be holding a credit with weeks of life rather than a year.
Southwest's transferable credit expires 12 months from the date the original fare was booked and ticketed. Breeze Flight Credits expire 12 months from the original booking date and cannot be extended. Sun Country vouchers expire one year from the date the original itinerary was booked.
Check the expiry the day the credit is issued, and diarise it. A credit you forget about is worth exactly nothing, which is precisely what the accounting assumes.
When you should not be taking a credit at all
If the airline cancelled or significantly changed your flight, you are entitled to a cash refund under DOT rules, and a voucher cannot be substituted unless you affirmatively accept one. Take the credit only if it is genuinely worth more than the cash.
And if you do choose a voucher in that situation, it must be valid for at least five years from issue — far better terms than the ordinary credit you get from cancelling voluntarily.
Getting value out of a credit you cannot transfer
Most credits can be used to book a reservation that includes other travellers, even when they cannot be handed over. If the credit is in your name, you generally book the trip and add your companions to the same reservation. That covers the common case — a family trip funded by one cancelled ticket — without any transfer at all.
Check whether the credit can be split across more than one booking. Some carriers allow the remaining value to survive; others consume the whole credit and issue nothing back for the difference, which turns a $400 credit into a $180 flight and a $220 donation.
And use it early. The expiry usually refers to when travel must be booked rather than flown, which means a credit expiring next month can still buy a trip for next year — but only if you book before the date, not after.
Keep the paperwork, too. A credit is identified by a number, and airlines routinely ask for the original ticket number alongside it when applying the value. If the credit came from a cancellation the airline made, keep that notice as well — it is the evidence that you were entitled to cash and chose otherwise, which matters if the credit is later disputed or expires unused.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone else use my flight credit?
Usually not. Most U.S. airlines issue credits to the named passenger and do not permit transfer. Southwest is the main exception, allowing one transfer of an eligible Transferable Flight Credit between Rapid Rewards members.
When does a flight credit expire?
Often 12 months from the original booking date rather than from your cancellation, which is shorter than people expect. Southwest's transferable credit, Breeze Flight Credits and Sun Country vouchers all run from the original booking date.
Can I get cash instead of a credit?
If the airline cancelled or significantly changed the flight, yes — a cash refund is your entitlement and a voucher cannot replace it unless you accept one. If you cancelled voluntarily on a nonrefundable fare, a credit is generally the best available outcome.
Do vouchers from a cancellation have better terms?
Yes, if you accepted one in place of a refund you were owed. Those vouchers must be valid for at least five years from issue under DOT rules.
Can I sell my flight credit?
No. Credits and vouchers carry terms prohibiting sale, exchange or barter, and airlines can invalidate one they believe was sold. Southwest's transferable credit is a transfer between members, not a resale.
Southwest Transferable Flight Credit terms, Breeze Flight Credit expiration policy, Sun Country voucher terms and the U.S. DOT automatic refund rule, all verified September 2026.
Related: name changes · cancellations and refunds · airline policy guides
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