Last week I booked AA reservations to Munich using vouchers - $1400 worth. The AA agent booked my flight reservations and asked me a few questions about my vouchers -- issue date and some other code on the voucher.

I was then told to mail the vouchers into a Milton, FL, address, and I would be issued an E-ticket via e-mail. I was told to put the the flight # and date of flight at the bottom of the return address.

I asked the agent, what if the vouchers got lost in the mail? I was told that has never happened.

I thought to myself -- OK. I then made a copy of the vouchers and decided to send them UPS 2nd Day Air, figuring I'm going to get a tracking # and signature.

Sent on Wednesday, they should have been received on Friday. On Saturday, tracking the package it was not delivered. Checking Monday afternoon, the package still was not delivered. Getting worried.

Called UPS to put a trace on the package, then called AA. AA told me words to the effect: "too bad, we don't track vouchers. If you lose them, too bad, yada, yada, yada."

I asked the UPS driver who dropped by my office on Tuesday who said, words to the effect: "too bad, it was paper/documents, not worth anything if you try to put in a claim, yada, yada, yada."

Up shot of the down draft, package was traced, found, and delivered this afternoon -- 5 days late.

The only thing going thru my mind was that someone broke the code, knew what was in that package, vouchers were not tracked, and ripped me off.

Just curious -- has this ever happened to anybody? If that packet was somehow lost, I would have been SOL. Should I have insured the package?

Close call, Budman! I wonder if it would have been possible to insure the package?

Glad it all worked out for you.

Very interesting, Budman. The last time I used vouchers was when AA used to have those handy little locations in hotels and other places around town, easy to walk in with the vouchers, no fear of losing them.

But please, some good news. You got your e-tickets in the end, right?

I found the same response from my FedEx person when I was mailing stock certificates. They wouldn't insure them for any more than an average piece of paper.

Glad that yours turned up!

I just got delivery confirmation from UPS. I'm still waiting for AA to acknowledge receipt, but at least I know the vouchers got there.

I could have traveled to Newark Airport to take care of the transaction, but total travel time, parking, etc, would have been 3-4 hours and the trip wasn't until next May. I figured $10 UPS Air packet would suffice. I'll have to rethink it the next time.

Rather than insuring the package you could have sent it registered mail, which requires a signature each time the package changes hands. Slow but sure.

When we had vouchers from Northwest, we were told by the airline to send them certified mail. That way, there was a receipt that they were sent, and they also required a signature upon delivery.

Hi Budman, and anyone else is this situation. I would send any document like that via USPS, Certified Mail or Registered Mail, I can never remember which is the best but the PO can tell you.

I had to send a watch to an authorized repair service place a few years ago. I called them and they advised me to NOT use UPS or FedEx, to use USPS. That rather surprised me.

It is disgusting the lack of service that so many companies have in these days. I am sure glad you got it worked out, just make sure of course you get the E-ticket. Best wishes.

Hola Budman,
I returned a DAL 35,000 mi voucher for redeposit USPS Certified/Insured without a problem.
Enjoy the new ED Bimmer.
M

Certified mail wouldn't do you any good...while you'd have a receipt that you sent SOMETHING to the airline, you wouldn't be able to prove that it was $1500 in vouchers. You could have just sent a plain letter and SAID that it was vouchers.

I think Registered Mail or Insured Mail would be better, maybe.

As for UPS, they owe you a refund of the shipping fee for not getting it there on time.

t2c,
One has to have copies and downstream correspondence for documentation.
Just rechecked with the USPS - certified/insured is still recommended.
M

As an alternative to mailing to Florida, could you have delivered the vouchers in person to a local AA office or ticket counter?

Keith

Finally been ticketed as of today. Lesson learned -- I'll send certified/insured next time.

Keith, closest AA ticket office would have cost me 4 hours (drive to/from/park, walk to terminal). Not feasible unless I happen to be going that way.

Congratulations on your ticketing!

Now you can continue the fun of planning a great trip to Munich!

You wouldn't be taking the same "Back to My Roots" tour a friend took a few years back, would you?

Roots of beer, that is!

Happy travels!

Budman.......I guess I missed something as I dont understand about insuring the vouchers...Most airline vouchers if lost will not be replaced..So if they get lost,who is going to replace them???Help me out,dude..

Amazing how uninformed folks are.
M

kopp, I've done that already. Going the following day to spend 10 days in Switzerland.

BeachBoi, I don't understand your question. You are right; they won't replace lost vouchers -- that's why I sent them UPS next day air with a tracking number requiring a signature, but I guess that wasn't good enough -- that's the purpose of this thread.

ahhh, Switzerland. I knew I liked you! LOL

I get about 2-3 AA vouchers a year. Mail them in REGULAR mail, never had a problem yet.

But maybe if it was $1500 worth, I would insure them with the shipper.

The suggestion to make copies is useless. AA will NOT accept any photocopies as proof.

Insuring the letter with the shipper assures one thing. You will get $1500 if they can't prove delivery.

I'm not sure why BeachBoi is confused about that?

But, once again, I mail $300-$500 vouchers all the time to Milton, FL., regular mail and never have any problems.