Using a Northwest "Paper Transportation Credit Voucher" Coupons
I'm currently in the process of nailing down and booking my travel for the rest of the year: one trip to Las Vegas, and two trips to Asia. Given the tumultuous changes in the airline industry, I foresee that frequent flyer miles will soon be harder to use, and diluted in value, so I've decided to burn all of my 158k+ frequent flyer miles and vouchers.
In February, my wife and I got "bumped" off of a Northwest flight. As compensation, we were given paper TCV Exchange Coupons. The gate agent assured us that this green and white paper voucher (printed on ticket stock) could be traded in for a round trip ticket anywhere in the US, Alaska or Canada.
Tonight, I tried to book the ticket, and even with the help of a very polite reservation agent, I failed.
The tickets are out of "W class" or the same restricted selection of frequent flyer award seats. Fortunately for us, there were seats available to Las Vegas, albeit on the less desirable flights (early morning and late night return).
After being put on hold several times, the agent came back with an ominous, "Oh... Is that a green and white paper ticket voucher?" When I said it was, the agent stated that she could not process the ticket, only electronic vouchers. I would have to drive to the airport and physically hand the ticket to an agent to process or mail it in.
Of course, no where on the Northwest Airlines web site stated this. On the contrary, the web site instructed me to call reservations to use the voucher, which is incorrect. To further confuse the situation, there are two types of TCVs: free roundtrip tickets and vouchers with a cash value. Additionally there are paper and electronic TCVs. Paper TCVs cannot be exchanged for E-TCVs. Confused yet? So was I.
Not surprisingly, given the restrictions, most paper TCVs are simply not redeemed.
This Saturday, I will be driving out to the airport to trade in the vouchers for tickets to Las Vegas.
Labels: business travel
