Throwaway or rebook?
 

My family and I are using some AP points this summer for a trip; things have changed on the return, and we can't change return flights. (I'm a lowly scum-of-the-earth E)(We bought CanJet to return, refusing to give the cash to AC.)

I was going to throw the return away, but am now thinking, for $25 per ticket, I can pick some date in the future, and who knows, maybe use them as the return (for flights I would purchase on Jetsgo or Canjet just out of spite.)

Question -- how far out can I set the date for the return? And is there an absolute outer limit in terms of the date?

Travel must be completed by midnight, one year from the date the ticket was issued.

Or, 1 year from date of outbound travel once it has commenced.

More importantly, you don't have to set the date now. You can just use the ticket whenever the occasion arises. Unlike paid tickets, an AP award ticket does not turn into a pumpkin at midnight on the day of the scheduled flight.

Ken,

Are you are saying that if the pax no shows on an award ticket the ticket is still usable?
Also.. is the award ticket good for 12 months from the original date of issue or the date of the last change to the ticket. For instance: If an award ticket is issued in Jan for travel in Sept and a schedule change is made in June is the ticket valid until Jan or june of the following year?

Thanks.

Biggles.

Yep!

And yep!

Ken,

Thanks. Just got back from Manchester and have an award ticket YYZ - YVR for this weekend.
A.C changed then cancelled the return flight. Just can't be bothered to sort the mess out. So will no-show and use the ticket later.

Biggles.

Wouldn't it be a good idea to call up AC and let them know that you will no-show?

I was thinking of doing something similar last year (show up late for a later flight) and was told that I would be "missing the flight" and could not go standby on a later flight. But, I did not have any status at that point in time. So who knows, but I'd check, just in case.

Correct me if I am wrong. If I call A.C. they will not leave the ticket OPEN. I will have to commit to another date at the time of calling.
If I no-show.... the ticket can be reused anytime before the twelve months expiry and I will not have to confirm dates in advance. Thus saving a $25.00 change if I book now and change later.

Biggles.

Good call Biggles. Well, maybe then it's a better idea to call them and to give them a hypothetical situation just to verify -- not that I don't believe the people, but you never know what AC can pull off... I'd hate to see you lose out.

If outbound travel has commenced, and you are not planning on using the return (entire itinerary must be AC online), you may cancel the return and hold onto ticket number and rebook later for a fee of $25.00. The return date must be no later than 1 year from date of outbound departure.

What if I no-Show on the outbound? Does the same rule apply?

Biggles.

Same thing applies. Then you can change your outbound date for $25 to one that is no later than one year from the issue date of your ticket.

If you need to change after July 1st, will AC charge the booking fee on top of the $25 change fee?

No - $25 booking fee applies to new bookings only.