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About Us: FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Our frequently asked questions links below provide quick answers to some important issues. If your question isn't included on our listplease send us an email.
Important note: If you haven't received your flight confirmation, check your bulk/spam folders before contacting us. Some schools, and email providers like Yahoo!, can block our flight confirmations. If you add help@studentuniverse.com to your address box, that will help too!
Eligibility & Joining
1. Am I eligible to purchase a ticket?
If you are a student or faculty member for a government accredited college, community college, or university of 2-4 years, yes! You do not need to be attending school full time, as long as you are currently enrolled and taking/teaching classes, you are eligible.
Register now, and book a great fare!
Full or part-time students and faculty currently enrolled or teaching in graduate programs are eligible.
If you are a student who is studying abroad, please register under whatever school you are registered in as a currently enrolled student.
You can be a student at a school anywhere in the world, as we have students from schools all over the world getting our great deals. If you do not see your school listed, go to the sign up page, select the country where your school is located, and then select the link "My school is not listed" right below. We will review your information right away, and get your school added to our website.
If you have a school-issued email address (ending .edu), and you are a student, please join here.
If you have a school-issued email address (ending .edu), and you are a faculty member, please join here.
If you are a student and do not have a school-issued email address, please join here.
If you are a faculty member do not have a school-issued email address, please join here.
Unfortunately, high school students and teachers, unless they are part of a group of 12 or more passengers, are not eligible to purchase from StudentUniverse. If you are part of a group of 12 or more, get a quote from our Group Department.
Note: Some of our student airfares do have age requirements. Once you have logged in, only fares you are eligible for will be shown.
2. What if I don't have a school-issued (ending in .edu) email address?
Even without a school issued e-mail, you can still get our great fares! If you are a currently enrolled part or full-time student, and you do not have a school-issued (.edu) email address, join here. If you are a full or part-time faculty member, join here.
3. Are students of non-US/Canadian schools eligible to purchase?
Yes!
If you have a school-issued (ending .edu) email address join here.
If you do not have a school-issued email address join here.
If you do not see your school listed, we would be happy to add it to our site.
Note: To be added, your school must be accredited by an independent/government body, and offer degrees of some kind.
4. Not sure if you already have an account with us?
StudentUniverse powers multiple student travel websites (including the Travelocity Student Center and one on Orbitz). If you have created a login for the student centers for either of these sites, you can use the same login for StudentUniverse. Your regular (non-student center) Travelocity or Orbitz login, however, will not work on StudentUniverse.
If you try and create an account and you see the message:
Email in use, please login
Then you already have an account with StudentUniverse using this e-mail, so you can log-in right away.
If you forgot your password, we have password help available online. Or, please call us at from the U.S. or Canada, from the U.K. at , and from anywhere else .
5. What if I'm part of a study abroad program?
If you are a student who is studying abroad, please register under whatever school you are registered in as a currently enrolled student.
If you have a school-issued (.edu) email address, please join here. If you do not have a school-issued (.edu) email address, please join here.
6. Do I need an ISIC/ITIC card to purchase a ticket from you?
No, you do not need to buy an ISIC/ITIC (International Student/Teacher Identity Card) to purchase tickets from us.
Other student travel companies require you to buy an ISIC/ITIC card (for over $20), but we do not. We do not accept ISIC/ITIC cards as proof of student/faculty status, and we will work with you and your school to do that at no charge.
7. Why do I need to have my student/faculty status verified?
We offer low student airfares because we sell only to students and faculty. We work with all of the major airlines to offer students and faculty members significantly discounted airfares that they will not sell to the general public. We check to make sure you are a student or faculty member, so we can keep offering you these great deals.
8. Why am I no longer verified?
Because a person can change schools, take time off, graduate, or just leave a school, we do need to re-verify a your status from time to time.
Finding and Booking Your Flight
1. What is an e-ticket, and will I get one?
An e-ticket is an electronic travel record which allows you to check-in and board your flight without a paper coupon. E-ticketing is an easy, hassle-free way to travel. Whether you receive an e-ticket or a paper ticket is up to the airline. All domestic flights are e-ticketed and most international flights are as well. Intra-European flights, however, frequently require a paper ticket.
In general, most passengers fly on an e-ticket, as even for international travel, it is easier and less expensive for everyone.
2. When will I get my ticket?
Since most of our tickets are e-tickets you will not receive anything in the regular mail. Those who receive an e-ticket will get an email with a link to their itinerary, including the change and cancellation rules of their ticket. You should expect this email within 3 days of ordering online, or sooner. Once you receive it, simply click on the enclosed link to display your itinerary.
Paper ticketed passengers will also receive an email with a link to their itinerary once their ticket has been issued. This will include their shipping information for their paper tickets, including their tracking number. You should expect this email within 3 days of ordering online, and the paper tickets will arrive a day or two thereafter.
3. What if I want to fly with a friend?
This is very common, and very easy to do.
You will see the number of student seats available for your flight when you are on our site, so you will be able to pick a flight that has enough available seats for you and your friends. You will need to book your tickets separately, under your own individual accounts. We recommend you decide on the flights you want, and book them back-to-back or as close together as possible.
If you do have any questions when you're doing this, please call us at from the U.S. or Canada, from the U.K. at , and from anywhere else .
If you are part of a group of 12 or more, get a quote from our Group Department.
4. What if my traveling companion is not a student or faculty member?
If you are looking to travel with a friend or relative who is not currently a student or faculty member, we suggest you look for the flights you want with us, then coordinate the same flights on one our partner sites, Travelocity or Orbitz. You can then request the airline to seat you together.
5. Why are there no seats available?
Student fares, like other cheap airfares can sell out. Please be flexible; you may have to fly out on a Tuesday and come back on a Thursday, or fly out of a different airport in order to find a great student fare. The website has all of our available fares and new deals are always being added.
Generally speaking, traveling on a Monday-Wednesday, and returning on these same days, gives you the least expensive prices and best availability.
6. Why can't I find an advertised fare?
Before we advertise a fare, we check to make sure there are seats available for it. While there may not be seats available for it on every day, we try to make sure that a person can find the fare we advertise.
Flights can sell out quickly, and we need to list flights sometimes weeks in advance of an ad running, so there are a lot of things that can happen. The price you see in an advertisement will normally be good for only certain time periods, and even within that, certain days of travel. We note this in our fare terms and conditions found at the bottom of the ad. The price in the ad typically does not include all taxes and fees, as airlines change these frequently, so we only list the price of the base fare itself and note that most taxes and fees are extra.
Generally speaking, leaving on a Monday-Wednesday and returning on these same days gives you the least expensive prices.
7. Can I earn frequent flyer miles with a StudentUniverse ticket?
Some airlines permit accrual of frequent flyer points/miles for student tickets, and others do not. Please see the chart below to see if your flight is eligible for these rewards.
Airline Eligible for Frequent Flyer Mileage? Phone Number
Aer LingusYES888-474-7424
Air ChinaYES++800-882-8122
Air FranceYES*800-237-2747
Air IndiaYES800-223-7776
Air New ZealandNO800-262-1234
Air PacificContact your carrier800-227-4446
Alaska AirlinesContact your carrier800-252-7522
AlitaliaYES800-223-5730
American AirlinesYES**800-433-7300
Austrian AirlinesNO800-843-0002
Avianca AirlinesYES800-284-2622
bmiYES800-788-0555
British AirwaysNO800-247-9297
Cathay PacificYES800-233-2742
Continental AirlinesContact your carrier800-523-3273
Delta AirlinesYES800-221-1212
Emirates AirlinesYES800-777-3999
Etihad AirwaysYES888-838-4423
Frontier AirlinesContact your carrier800-432-1359
Hawaiian AirlinesContact your carrier800-367-5320
Iberia AirlinesNO800-772-4642
IcelandairYES800-223-5500
KLM AirlinesContact your carrier800-225-2525
Korean AirYES800-438-5000
Lan AirlinesContact your carrier866-435-9526
LufthansaYES800-581-6400
Martinair HollandYES800-627-8462
NorthwestYES***800-225-2525
QantasYES****800-227-4220
Scandinavian AirlinesNO800-221-2350
Singapore AirlinesNO800-742-3333
Sun Country AirlinesContact your carrier800-359-6786
SwissYES877-359-7947
TACANO800-535-8780
TAP Air PortugalNO800-221-7370
United AirlinesYES**800-241-6522
US AirwaysYES800-428-4322
V AustraliaNO800-444-0260
Virgin Atlantic AirwaysYES++800-862-8621
*25% of actual miles flown
**Domestic only
***up to 250 miles per segment
****70% of actual miles flown
+For Delta SkyMiles
++50% of actual miles flown
The above table is for informational purposes only. While we will make every attempt to keep this information up to date, StudentUniverse will not assume any responsibility for its accuracy as airlines reserve the right to make changes to their frequent flyer program without advance notice. Actual mileage earned may be different from what is stated above.
If your flight is eligible to receive frequent flyer rewards, you can make sure you get proper credit in one of two ways. When you check in at the airport gate, make sure you give the airline agent your frequent flyer information, or you can call the airline directly to make sure they have your frequent flyer information in your flight record. See the chart above for the best number to call.
8. How do I buy a ticket for someone else?
Many people who purchase tickets from StudentUniverse do so for someone else. If you are buying a ticket for a student or faculty member, you will need to have his or her login information to complete the purchase.
If you are buying tickets for more than one person, we recommend you buy your own first, and then purchase tickets for others the same way you bought your own. You will need to use the other traveler(s') log-in(s). Unfortunately, you cannot purchase tickets for more than one person in the same transaction, so each ticket purchased will need to go through separately.
Any airline tickets purchased will be issued in the name of the person logged in, and cannot be used by anyone else. Airlines do not allow name changes once the ticket is issued.
The name on the credit card CAN be different than the name of the traveler.
9. Can I use someone else's credit card?
Yes!
Since we sell to students, our tickets are frequently purchased using a friend or parent's credit card. You will need to get their permission, and you will be asked for the credit card billing information.
10. Can I buy a ticket with a non-US or Canadian credit card?
Yes!
We accept international credit cards with non U.S. or Canadian billing addresses. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover, are all welcome.
11. Can I buy a ticket for travel that originates outside the US or Canada?
Yes!
StudentUniverse offers one-way fares to the U.S. and Canada from Europe, Russia, South and Central America, Australia, and Asia. We also have intra-European tickets too.
Right now, we offer round-trip fares originating from South East Asia, the South Pacific, and Central and South America to the U.S. or Canada. If we do not offer what you are looking for, being smart, you can book yourself a one-way flight to the U.S., and a one-way back, and get a great student fare for both.
Here are some tips and other important information:
Please make sure you obtain the proper documentation before you travel, and are carrying it when you travel. If you do not have the proper documentation to enter the US on a one-way ticket, the airline will deny you boarding and you will lose the full value of your ticket. Further information can be obtained by contacting the airline directly, the US embassy, or online at www.state.gov.
It is always the TRAVELER'S RESPONSIBILITY to carry the proper, current travel documents for all flights.
12. Can I fly into one city and return from another?
This is known as an open jaw, and yes you can book these flights on our site. Our website requires that your origination airport and final destination on any round trip be the same.
If you want to fly into one city and return to a city that was not your original departure city, you can:
  • Create your own itinerary by booking one way flights on our website, or
  • Call us if you know where you want to go and when, and are ready to book your flight.
Note: you only need to call us if your originating and final destinations are different, otherwise, you can book online at any time.
If you want to book a flight where the originating and return city differ, and you know the specific dates and places you wish to travel, please call us at from the U.S. or Canada, from the U.K. at , and from anywhere else .
13. Do you have better deals if I call?
No. Our web site has all our deals and is available 24/7. Our travel agents do not have access to anything other than what's on our site.
A small number of itineraries do need to be booked via an agent, these would include:
  • Departing in under 2 days
  • Stopovers
  • Departing from one airport and returning to another
In these rare instances, you would need to contact an agent directly when you are ready to book your flight. Please call us at from the U.S. or Canada, from the U.K. at , and from anywhere else .
14. Can I book a stopover?
If you would like to book a stopover, you will need to contact us directly and speak with an agent.
If you are not familiar with a stopover, it is when you are traveling from one destination to another, and stopping for a few days at another along the way. Stopovers are common when you travel long distances, say from New York to Sydney but stopping off for a couple of days in Auckland.
If you are ready to book a flight with a stopover, please contact one of our agents directly for help. Please call us at from the U.S. or Canada, from the U.K. at , and from anywhere else .
15. What is a promo code?
From time to time, StudentUniverse.com and/or its partners will offer promotional codes to be used online when purchasing a ticket. These promotion codes entitle you to a discount on your flight, and are a great way to make a student deal even cheaper. Most promotion codes require minimum prices for the flights and have dates of validity, so check that out before you book.
To use your promo code, enter it in the space provided on our billing page right after you enter your credit card. On the following page you will see a recap of your order with your promo code applied, so you can see your discount.
We frequently send out promotions and deals to our DealAlert subscribers, so join now.
Our agents cannot enter these codes once an order has been placed online.
16. Do you offer a price guarantee?
StudentUniverse does not guarantee that the prices of airline tickets found on this website are the most competitive in the market. Furthermore we do unfortunately not offer any compensation if another customer books the same itinerary as you at a lower price. StudentUniverse is different from other travel agencies in that we sell student airfares that can not be found on major travel sites - and though that makes our pricing highly competitive, we will not always be the cheapest.
Other Things We Offer
1. Do you offer car rentals?
Yes we do! If you’re traveling to Europe, Australia, or South America, we can get you a car rental at a great rate. Check out the details and drive off with a deal today.
Unfortunately, while we do have car rental deals outside the U.S. and Canada, we do not currently offer any domestic car rentals.
2. Do you offer travel insurance?
Yes we do, and we strongly recommend you get it!
When you book your flight you’ll be offered the chance to say yes to get travel insurance, which we call Trip Protection. The insurance will be added into the cost of the flight, and that way you’ll be covered should the unexpected happen.
Find out more details on our Trip Protection.
3. What does travel insurance cover?
Travel insurance covers you in a number of unexpected situations; unforeseen sickness, injury or death of yourself, a family member or a traveling companion. The policy also covers for inclement weather, unforeseen labor strikes affecting public transportation, and unforeseen traffic accidents. There are no deductibles or co-payments required.
Find out more details on our Trip Protection for your upcoming trip.
4. Do you have package deals?
We have flights to pretty much anywhere you want to go, and we have hostels and budget hotels in all of those places too.
You book your flight and hostel/hotel separately, so that gives you the freedom to choose (and spend) what you want.
Changing, Canceling, and Other Stuff
1. How do I change or cancel my ticket?
Most tickets do allow changes, and all airlines charge a fee for changing your flight. Change rules and fees are always listed on your confirmation e-mail, so please read them carefully before you call.
If you wish to cancel your ticket, you must contact us by phone in advance of your flight boarding. If you do not, for any reason, any refundable amounts will be forfeited to the airline.
If you do wish to make a change, and it is prior to your departure, Please call us at from the U.S. or Canada, from the U.K. at , and from anywhere else .
After departure, please contact your airline directly to make any changes.
2. How do I book seat assignments and meal requests?
You will receive your confirmation a day or two after booking your flights with us. Once you have received your confirmation email, you may contact the airline to request seat assignments and indicate any meal preferences. Your confirmation will include your airline's toll-free number. For seat assigments we recommend going to the airline's website and doing it there as some airlines charge for this service over the phone.
3. What is the phone number for the airline?
Airline Phone Website
Aer Lingus888-474-7424www.aerlingus.com
Aer China800-882-8122us.fly-airchina.com/US/index.html
Air France800-237-2747www.airfrance.com
Air India800-223-7776www.airindia.com
Air New Zealand800-262-1234www.airnewzealand.com
Air Pacific800-227-4446www.airpacific.com
Alaska Airlines800-252-7522www.alaskaair.com
Alitalia800-223-5730www.alitalia.com
American Airlines800-433-7300www.aa.com
Austrian Airlines800-843-0002www.aua.com/us/eng
Avianca Airlines800-284-2622www.avianca.com
bmi800-788-0555www.flybmi.com
British Airways800-247-9297www.ba.com
Cathay Pacific800-233-2742www.cathaypacific.com/us
Continental Airlines800-523-3273www.continental.com
Delta Airlines800-221-1212www.delta.com
Emirates Airlines800-777-3999www.emirates.com
Etihad Airways888-838-4423www.etihadairways.com
Frontier Airlines800-432-1359www.frontierairlines.com
Hawaiian Airlines800-367-5320www.hawaiianair.com
Iberia Airlines800-772-4642www.iberia.com
Icelandair800-223-5500www.icelandair.com
KLM Airlines800-225-2525www.klm.com
Korean Air800-438-5000www.koreanair.com
Lan Airlines866-435-9526www.lan.com
Lufthansa800-581-6400www.lufthansa.com
Martinair Holland800-627-8462www.martinair.com/us_en/
Northwest800-225-2525www.nwa.com
Qantas800-227-4220www.qantas.com
Scandinavian Airlines800-221-2350www.flysas.com
Singapore Airlines800-742-3333www.singaporeair.com
Sun Country Airlines800-359-6786www.suncountry.com
Swiss877-359-7947www.swiss.com
TACA800-535-8780www.taca.com
TAP Air Portugal800-221-7370www.tap.com
United Airlines800-241-6522www.united.com
US Airways800-428-4322www.usair.com
V Australia800-444-0260www.Vaustralia.com
Virgin Atlantic Airways800-862-8621www.virgin-atlantic.com
4. Do I need a passport if I'm traveling outside my country?
Rules can change on this, so we always recommend you contact your airline directly for these questions. If you are a U.S.citizen, we also recommend http://travel.state.gov/passport as a good source for travel documentation information
5. How do I get a receipt for my flight?
Before you complete your travel you may print a receipt for your ticket through your Virtually There™ confirmation. Once you've completed your travel your itinerary may no longer be available online. If you need a receipt after it is no longer available through Virtually There™, please just email this request, and we would be happy to send you a receipt. Simply let us know your flight information, and we will get it out to you right away.
6. Where can I find my ticket number/confirmation code?
When you receive your confirmation you can click on e-ticket receipt at the top of your confirmation. When you do, a screen will appear that contains this information and more. See below for details
7. What is Virtually There™?
Virtually There™ is the easy-to-use system we use to provide you electronic ticket confirmations and information about the trip you have booked. Once your reservation has been ticketed you will receive an email with a link to view your flight information, flight details, gate assignments, change and cancellation terms, and other relevant information. Use Virtually There™ to email your flight information to someone else, download it to your handheld device, or be notified if your airline makes any changes to your flight time.
8. What if I'm sick and cannot fly as scheduled?
If you are sick and cannot travel as planned, Please call us at from the U.S. or Canada, from the U.K. at , and from anywhere else .
You MUST cancel or change your flight by phone with a StudentUniverse agent prior to your original flight boarding or you will forfeit the value of your ticket. Change/Cancellation fees will apply. If your ticket is non-refundable, most airlines will not make exceptions in any instance.
Plan for the unexpected; purchase travel insurance when you book your flight.
9. What if I have a family emergency and cannot fly as scheduled?
If you have a family emergency, including illness of a family member, and cannot travel as planned, Please call us at from the U.S. or Canada, from the U.K. at , and from anywhere else .
You MUST cancel or change your flight by phone with a StudentUniverse agent prior to your original flight’s boarding or you will forfeit the value of your ticket. Change/Cancellation fees will apply. If your ticket is non-refundable, most airlines will not make exceptions in any instance.
Plan for the unexpected; purchase travel insurance when you book your flight.
10. I have questions about airport security
Please contact your airline directly for all questions about security, and what you can and cannot bring on board your flight.
11. How early should I arrive for my flight?
Airlines normally recommend arriving 2 hours prior to any domestic flight, 3 hours for any international flight. These times may change however, so we always recommend you ask this question when you call the airline to confirm your flight the day before departure.
12. I have questions about baggage - how much can I bring?
Airline Website Tickets Purchased on/after Effective Travel Date First Checked Bag Second Checked Bag
American Airlines www.aa.com June 15, 2008 June 15, 2008 $15 $25
Delta Airlines www.delta.com July 31, 2008 July 31, 2008 Free $25
Northwest www.nwa.com July 10, 2008 July 10, 2008 $15 $25
United Airlines www.united.com June 13, 2008 August 18, 2008 $15 $25
US Airways www.usair.com July 9, 2008 July 9, 2008 $15 $25
The above table is for informational purposes only and is subject to change without prior notice from the Airlines. We will make every attempt to keep this information up to date. Airlines will charge you for extra bags, or if the weight of an individual bag exceeds their limits, so please check ahead of time with your airline directly for all questions about baggage, weight limitations, and carry-on questions.
13. What if I received an email that my flight itinerary changed?
All schedule changes are done by the airline, and most are only a few minutes different than the original flight.
If your airline schedule change does not work for you, Please call us at from the U.S. or Canada, from the U.K. at , and from anywhere else .
We will follow up and check what options are available for you. If you have already flown on part of your trip, you will need to contact the airline directly.
14. Do you offer group travel discounts?
Yes!
If you are traveling in a group of 12 or more, complete the quote request form and we will follow up with you as quickly as possible. Groups under 12 can book themselves directly online at www.studentuniverse.com.
15. My paper tickets are lost or stolen, what do I do?
If your paper tickets are lost or stolen, Please call us at from the U.S. or Canada, from the U.K. at , and from anywhere else . If you have flown on the first part of your ticket, and do not have the return portion of your paper ticket, please contact your airline directly for resolution.
Unfortunately, airlines do have substantial fees and penalties for losing a paper ticket.
16. Need another copy of your e-ticketed flight?
If you need a copy of your upcoming flight, and you are traveling on an e-ticket, please e-mail us and we would be happy to send you another copy, or answer any question you have. If this is a time-sensitive request, Please call us at from the U.S. or Canada, from the U.K. at , and from anywhere else .
17. What if I'm having technical difficulties?
Please contact us for help in booking your flight if you are having technical difficulties so we can forward your feedback to our technical support team, please note what actions you were taking, any error messages, or any other relevant information.
Please call us at from the U.S. or Canada, from the U.K. at , and from anywhere else .
18. What do you do to ensure privacy on your site?
We follow industry standards for credit card transactions to make sure your information stays yours. We use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption technology and Private Communication Technology (PCT) security standards, which are widely used and respected across the industry. SSL encrypts your name, address, telephone number and credit card information before they are transmitted across the Internet, so you can feel safe about doing business with us.