Is it legal to use a US booking site for United Airlines

[dac123]

I had electronic travel certificates which I was paying with, I only mentioned paypal if they needed another payment source . That way it would not require a credit card and UK address, which the US site will not accept. If you enter a UK address it transfers you straight back to the UK site where the seats would cost more in sterling as the exchange rate has changed.
The question is it legal has been resolved, I managed to get a united agent to do the booking for all of us using the travel certificates. As the certificates more than covered the cost of the seats on the US site, I did not need any other payment details. The agent did say the system will normally transfer you back if you are from the UK but they could get round it. The booking is complete I have all the paperwork and instead of it costing just over £100 extra on he UK site at the time of booking, I got a travel certificate back with just over $300 on it.

[juliebissett72]

I wanted to book internal US basic economy flights on United last year but for some reason only economy were offered on the UK site it kept transferring me to when using credit card and they were significantly dearer. I got around it using Expedia.com(US version) in the end and it accepted my UK credit card. OP you should be absolutely fine if not making a payment but I thought I’d mention how I got around it in case it helps others.

[RM2016]

Originally Posted by dac123

I had electronic travel certificates which I was paying with, I only mentioned paypal if they needed another payment source . That way it would not require a credit card and UK address, which the US site will not accept. If you enter a UK address it transfers you straight back to the UK site where the seats would cost more in sterling as the exchange rate has changed.
The question is it legal has been resolved, I managed to get a united agent to do the booking for all of us using the travel certificates. As the certificates more than covered the cost of the seats on the US site, I did not need any other payment details. The agent did say the system will normally transfer you back if you are from the UK but they could get round it. The booking is complete I have all the paperwork and instead of it costing just over £100 extra on he UK site at the time of booking, I got a travel certificate back with just over $300 on it.

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Great that you got booked, what number did you phone please? I have 7 E-Certificates to use by the end of the year, thanks.

[dac123]

Mine were valid 24 months, you can use them online, my problem was they are priced in Dollars and although they have a sterling equivalent listed, if the exchange rate has changes enough it can make the US site the best option. I phoned the UK number, I got a short recorded message then straight to a person. Although it is a UK number the call is answered in the US and they were very helpful. I have called several times and it has been the same each time. 020 7136 0582. I was entitled to an online credit which is only valid for 12 months from the date you get the ticket. I thought the electronic travel certificate which is valid for 24 months would be a better option but it has to be authorised by a United employee. When I called they could not be more helpful, they cancelled the 8 flights and issued the certificates instead of the online credit. It should take 7 days to get them, I had them in 2. I have had a very good experience with united compared to the farce that is Aer Lingus.

[RM2016]

Thanks very much, I did not have much success trying to do it online. I’ll try again before phoning the number above.