Originally Posted by
Juliekelly
In the past year I have 2 surgeries on my back, and they both failed which is why I booked business class, I am not a whiner, but I did expect a better level of service
which is why I chose to write to Air Canada in the first place
Many people on here, myself included, have written in to AC to complain when service is not up to expectations. The details of the story that led to you getting the card really aren't relevant. What is relevant is that they provided you with a $150 eGift Card to use.
Air Canada offers gift cards, and eGift cards. These are slightly different. The main difference is that eGift cards can only be used at aircanada.com, through a call center, or the web portal for travel agents. The terms of the gift cards and eGift cards are found at this link (underlining in quote is mine):
http://www.aircanada.com/en/giftcard/tc.html
5. Redemption:
The Card can be redeemed at aircanada.com, at airport locations in Canada and the U.S. via the Canadian or U.S. Call Centers, or through a travel agent if the booking is made at aircanada.com/agents.
The eGift card can be redeemed at aircanada.com, via the Canadian or U.S. Call Centers or through a travel agent if the booking is made at aircanada.com/agents. However, it cannot be redeemed at airport locations.
Cards and eGift cards will not be accepted as a payment method for bookings made via a mobile device or for the payment of self-serve check-in options online, via a mobile device or at an airport kiosk.
Cards and eGift cards are only redeemable at Air Canada in Canada and the U.S. toward the purchase of air travel offered by Air Canada and operated by Air Canada, Air Canada rouge and Air Canada Express carriers (i.e. Air Georgian, Sky Regional, Exploits Valley Air Services and Jazz Aviation LP) and/or the purchase of ancillary services offered by Air Canada in conjunction with an Air Canada, Air Canada Express or Air Canada rouge flight. Air travel and ancillary services offered by Air Canada are limited to air transportation costs, change fees, upgrades, additional checked baggage fees, pet handling fees, unaccompanied minor fees, and applicable taxes or any other similar fee that applies to the purchase.
Cards and eGift cards cannot be used for payment of air travel wholly over the services of any other airline, or for the payment of a ticket which is part of a group booking. Cards and eGift cards are not redeemable toward the purchase of Air Canada Flight Passes, Air Canada Vacations products and services, Air Canada Cargo products and services, Air Canada Maple Leaf Club membership fees, or for the purchase of third party products/services such as eBoutique, duty-free, Air Canada Café (e.g. food and beverages), hotel bookings, car rentals and/or travel insurance.
My experience booking with ACV has been that they do operate independently of the main airline. Air Canada has not been able to touch my bookings, etc. - everything had to be done through ACV. The last time that I flew ACV the cost to upgrade to business through ACV was significantly cheaper than if I had booked directly through aircanada.com. The payment of any advance upgrade costs is through ACV, and not the airline. Unfortunately, none of these costs are eligible for use with an eGift card. As silly as it seems, I believe there are reasons the companies are separate (I'm not sure what they are) and certain things that happen because of this; IIRC an example of this is that if someone want to travel AC to Cuba they can only do so by booking through ACV.
Originally Posted by
Juliekelly
I would really like some guidance, we never fly without it being all inclusive, so the e-gift card is something I cannot use, and although I sent my original complaint to Air Canada "Vacations" they sent it to Air Canada, I feel like I am being passed around until I go away, they tell me there is nothing they can do to help me
Unfortunately you are only causing yourself added aggravation by continuing to pursue this. You've been given the answer by AC and ACV that aligns with the T's and C's of the eGift pass. I'm not sure you're getting passed around; it sounds like whoever you are speaking to gave you the right answer (which you don't like) but was willing to let you plead your case to someone else in the hopes they might give you a different answer (which hasn't happened).
FWIW any sort of vouchers, etc. airlines/other companies hand out for compensation tend to be quite restrictive. Air Canada typically gives 5% off discount codes that need to be used at aircanada.com for bookings. Before gift cards they used to typically provide MCO's or eMCO's which could only be applied to base fare - at least the gift cards can (I believe) be used to cover taxes/surcharges. I've received compensation at other stores where I had to spend a minimum amount before the discount would apply, etc.