Originally Posted by
neuron
Although I have no idea if the agent was correct or not, if you can check your booking, you might be able to see if the option is available to you -
From the
OMW webpage
If you have already completed your booking:
Go to the
Manage my Bookings page, retrieve your flight booking, and you’ll have the option to add the On My Way service at any time 96 hours or more before your flight.
AFAIK OMW is unavailable for Aeroplan reward tickets.
For trip interruption protection when travelling on a reward ticket, some credit cards have some form of protection (subject to conditions of coverage of each individual card) or one has to buy separate travel insurance for such situation if one does not have one of those credit cards or does not meet the requirements of coverage.
However, those insurance only covers out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the event of a flight interruption but unlike OMW, re-booking to the next available flight is still subject to the mercy of the operating airline. In case of AC, they will only put you on the next available AC flight with space. SE is subject to the same rule AFAIK. SE only gets a higher priority waitlist. It may be several days later. With OMW, you have the option of booking to fly a different airline if there is space earlier than AC. Spaces are on a first come first get basis. The quicker that you're able to reach an agent to do the re-booking the better. In such situation, it may be quicker via the OMW desk than the SE desk, or finding a Concierge agent.