Let’s talk about TUI vouchers.
TUI voucher types. How to exchange a TUI voucher to cash?
People are very much used to airline vouchers. Hence it’s not a surprise that so many accept vouchers as a compensation when things go wrong, when an airline messes things up. In this article, we are going to talk about the most popular situations, when vouchers are issued and what are your rights in these situations — oftentimes, you don’t have to accept a voucher.
A voucher is not the same as a compensation.
1. TUI Vouchers
Vouchers are coupons worth a certain amount of money.
Airlines frequently issue vouchers as a means of payment to their customers. TUI also provides such vouchers to its passengers. Generally speaking, there are two types of TUI vouchers – TUI Holiday Gift Cards and flight compensation vouchers.
- TUI Holiday Gift Cards – regular travel gift cards. Can be used to pay for flights or other services that you are buying from TUI. You can buy such a card yourself.
- TUI compensation vouchers – can be used same way as gift cards. But they are given by the airline when there are problems with a flight (delay, cancellation, overbooking, etc.).
With gift cards everything is easy. Someone gifted one to you.
But what about flight compensation vouchers? What about vouchers issued as a refund for unused flight? Keep reading to learn more about the latter.
2. TUI Voucher (Refund/Compensation)
What happened that you were given a voucher?
2.1 Your Flight Was Cancelled
In this case you should always be given a choice.
If TUI cancels your flight, they should offer you the choice between a TUI refund or an alternative flight. The alternative flight can be with TUI or another airline and should not require any additional payment. In certain situations, you may also be eligible for TUI flight cancellation compensation.
Refund and compensation (when it’s due) should be paid to your bank account. The airline may offer a voucher, but you don’t have to agree to that.
2.2 Your Flight Was Delayed
There are two most likely scenarios.
Either it was fault of TUI, or it wasn’t the airline’s fault.
If it was fault of TUI, you might be entitled to TUI flight delay compensation. Find it out and don’t agree to anything less than what you are entitled to.
The European Union and UK have set laws that regulate the flight compensation procedure and compensation amounts. Typically, flight compensation amounts range from 250 to 600 euros. However, it is possible that you are offered TUI discount voucher instead of compensation. First of all, you don’t have to agree to this. Secondly, if you do accept a voucher, make sure to check the voucher’s value (if it’s the same as requested by the law).
If it wasn’t fault of TUI, a voucher can’t be exchanged for money. It wasn’t their fault that your flight got delayed, so, according to the law, they don’t even have to compensate anything.
2.3 You Were Denied Boarding
You don’t have to agree to give up your seat.
In situations where the plane is overbooked, passengers may be involuntarily denied boarding, including possibly yourself. If this happens, you are entitled to receive either a new flight or a refund to your bank account, as well as full TUI denied boarding compensation.
If you agree to give up your seat, you may be offered anything from cash to TUI flight vouchers and TUI gift cards. Pay close attention to what you are getting, if it’s refundable or non-refundable, the validity and what you can use it for.
By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
2.4 Other Situations
As always, pay attention to what you are offered.
When in doubt, do your own research to find out if you are treated fairly. Here on this website we talk about different situations when you are entitled to compensation and/or refund. In many situations you have a right to a full TUI refund not voucher, even though you are offered the latter.
Here’s a summary of what you can get in what situation:
| Situation | EU/UK flight compensation | Refund |
|---|---|---|
| Flight delay of 3+ hours | If it’s fault of TUI, you will be entitled to flight delay compensation | No |
| Flight delay of less than 3 hours | No | No |
| Flight cancellation less than 2 weeks before the flight | If it’s fault of TUI, you will be entitled to flight cancellation compensation | Refund or new flight (you can choose) |
| Flight cancellation more than 2 weeks before the flight | No | Refund or new flight (you can choose) |
| Boarding denial (overbooking) | Yes, denied boarding compensation | Refund or new flight (you can choose) |
| You have given up your seat | No | As you agree with TUI (your airline) |
In some situations you can get compensation or refund, in some situations you can get both. In all situations mentioned above, all of this has to be paid either in cash or to your bank account.
3. How to Request a Refund?
You can do it online — tui.co.uk/destinations/contact-us.
Depending on your ticket and situation, you can request a full refund of your ticket price, extras that you have booked with TUI, or it may be a flight compensation the airline owes you.
3.1 Demand a TUI Refund (or Compensation), Not Voucher
In many situations you should have a choice.
You have the right to refuse TUI gift cards or TUI vouchers as compensation. Additionally, if the laws and regulations entitle you to a full refund to your bank account, you should receive it instead of coupons. While you can accept these options if you want to, TUI must give you the choice and honor your decision. See the table above to learn about all the possible scenarios.
What if you have already accepted a voucher?
If you were given a voucher instead of a cash refund by TUI and you believe you should have received cash, you can try to request an exchange. However, the possibility of getting a full cash refund will vary depending on your specific case. It is worth trying if you were not given a proper explanation or were not given a choice between voucher or cash initially.
Read more: Your TUI Refund Is Taking Forever: How to Tackle It?
What is your experience with TUI vouchers? Have you ever been given one? Was it a refundable TUI voucher or you could use it only for TUI flights?
Featured photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels