Travel vouchers are like pacifiers. Extenuating travel setbacks make for a host of consumer inconveniences, concerns and complaints. To quell these flight, cruise and other excursion glitches, companies issue travel vouchers verisimilar to the way a parent heaves a pacifier into an earsplitting baby’s mouth.

Despite the travel industry’s eagerness to appease yammering consumers with travel vouchers, it seems many companies are not as zealous about redemption. As airlines continue to overbook flights and the winter weather brings more imprmptu flight cancellations, travel companies will be doling out more vouchers with stipulations, restrictions and fine print. Whether it’s a travel voucher for a complimentary flight, cruise or hotel stay, these pacifiers have different terms:

• A potentially free travel product

• Dollar credit toward future purchase

• A percentage of discounts on a future trip

Review these travel voucher facts, fixes tips provided by the free online consumer portal, ConsumersStrikeBack.com:

Limited Trip Inclusive Complimentary discount vouchers given by resorts or cruise lines as a compensation for a trip gone wrong come with a major setback. In order for the traveler to redeem the trip, they must purchase another airline ticket.

>>Travel voucher fix

Prior to excepting ANY travel voucher, always inquire about the limitations, restrictions and other stipulations.

Short-term Validity As nice as it seems for airlines, resorts and cruise lines to offer free to discounted travel voucher offers, it appears a little ingenuous that many of these specials are only valid for six months. In many cases, travelers are unable to travel within the stringent time frame of many vouchers.

>>Travel voucher fix

In cases where a company has overbooked or cancelled a trip, instead of accepting the six-month voucher request that the company issue a 12-month one.

Discount Delusion

Various resorts, and cruises try to compensate guests with discounted vacation vouchers. Generally, these vouchers are not worth the value of the discounts offered online and via cruising agencies.

>> Travel voucher fix

To avoid the discount delusion try to haggle for a full to partial refund.

Off Peak Seasons

Many travel vouchers are limited to off peak days and seasons. Regardless if the original trip was booked during the peak of Spring break, a voucher rain check maybe redeemable only during unappealing days.

Negligible Inventory

Quite often complimentary (fly free) vouchers are applicable to a very small, limited inventory of future flights. To maximize their bottom line, airlines strictly curtail the number of seats allocated for travel vouchers. In many cases, free flight vouchers are merely negligible inventory.

>> Travel voucher fix

Instead of opting for a worthless, free flight voucher, request a cash credit. Cash credits should not have any stipulations or limitations. After all, a cash credit will outdistance the restrictions of most travel vouchers.