Am I being spiteful to AC by not cancelling non-refundable ticket?
May 19, 2019, 10:39 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: AC E
Posts: 35
Am I being spiteful to AC by not cancelling non-refundable ticket?
Not sure if any of you ever buy non-refundable tickets for personal travel. I often do, if the discount is deep enough. Almost never have I been unable to use them.
Question is, since you get $0 back if you can't use the tickets, should I still let AC know I am not going to? I say no. If they won't give me any kind of refund, I won't share them data that has value.
How spiteful is that?
Question is, since you get $0 back if you can't use the tickets, should I still let AC know I am not going to? I say no. If they won't give me any kind of refund, I won't share them data that has value.
How spiteful is that?
May 19, 2019, 10:46 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,569
If you cancel you can always use the value of the ticket for a year (less change fees)
So unless the ticket is <$200 and you won't fly in the next 365, you are for sure spiteing someone, but it isn't AC.
So unless the ticket is <$200 and you won't fly in the next 365, you are for sure spiteing someone, but it isn't AC.
May 19, 2019, 11:12 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
I'd recommend checking the rules of the fare since as others have noted even with non-refundable fares, you can often get a portion of the value back. In addition, whenever the airline makes a change to the scheduled departure time, you'll usually have an option to get a full refund on the ticket (even if the ticket was Basic Economy!)
Per the AC domestic tariffs:
-James
Per the AC domestic tariffs:
Schedule irregularity
(1) Definition
Schedule irregularity means any of the following:
a) Delay in scheduled departure or arrival of a Carrier’s flight
(1) Definition
Schedule irregularity means any of the following:
a) Delay in scheduled departure or arrival of a Carrier’s flight
- b) Flight cancellation, omission of a scheduled stop, or any other delay or interruption
in the scheduled operation of a Carrier’s flight, or - c) Substitution of equipment or of a different class of service, or
- d) Schedule changes which require rerouting of passenger at departure time of the original flight.
- (2) In the case of a schedule irregularity, the Carrier shall implement the provisions of this rule, unless applicable local law provides otherwise.
- (3) Given that passengers have a right to information on flight times and schedule changes, the Carrier will make reasonable efforts to inform passengers of delays, cancellations and scheduled changes and to the extent possible, the reason for the delay or change.
- (4) In the event of a scheduled irregularity, the Carrier will:
- d) If the passenger chooses to no longer travel or if the Carrier is unable to perform the option stated in (a) (b) or (c) above within a reasonable amount time, make involuntary refund in accordance with RULE 100 – REFUNDS (an exception to the applicability of a refund occurs where the passenger was notified of the schedule irregularity prior to the day of departure and the schedule irregularity is of 60 minutes or less
May 19, 2019, 3:23 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 8,003
Not sure if any of you ever buy non-refundable tickets for personal travel. I often do, if the discount is deep enough. Almost never have I been unable to use them.
Question is, since you get $0 back if you can't use the tickets, should I still let AC know I am not going to? I say no. If they won't give me any kind of refund, I won't share them data that has value.
How spiteful is that?
Question is, since you get $0 back if you can't use the tickets, should I still let AC know I am not going to? I say no. If they won't give me any kind of refund, I won't share them data that has value.
How spiteful is that?
May 19, 2019, 4:00 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CHI
Programs: UA 1K, MR Titanium, IHG Gold, National Exec
Posts: 3,841
AC, thankfully, has very reasonable change fees, so yes, I do this all the time, and am even happy to book relatively speculative tickets in Standard to take advantage of low fares.
May 19, 2019, 5:16 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Erstwhile Accidental AC E35K
Posts: 2,916
It’s a year from when you bought the ticket, not from the date of the flight or date of cancelation, IIRC.
May 19, 2019, 5:33 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,569
May 19, 2019, 7:47 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: AC E50K, FPC Platinum
Posts: 56
On the day of it’s also worth checking to see if either your departing or arriving airport has a weather warning. In the winter it can be a significant number of airports and even if your flight is still scheduled they’ll let you cancel without penalty
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...l-outlook.html
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...l-outlook.html
May 20, 2019, 5:31 am
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG, Enterprise, Avios, Nexus
Posts: 8,355
You have a ticket you can't use. Air Canada has your money. You aren't getting your money back and can't use the ticket for another flight. How is not telling them you won't use the ticket being "spiteful" to Air Canada? Having been in a similar situation what they did was give my seat to a standby passenger even though I'd checked in online.
May 20, 2019, 9:45 am
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,342
Don't cancel until either:
a) there's been enough of a schedule change or delay that you can get a refund, or
a) there's been enough of a schedule change or delay that you can get a refund, or
b) 2 hours before departure (unless as was noted the change fee exceeds the ticket cost)
May 20, 2019, 11:57 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: AC E
Posts: 35
Thanks for the responses. I did say "non-refundable" but should have said "economy standard" which is basic economy.
Some are saying I could have got taxes refunded. That is interesting.
Even if it was a changeable flight, I'm not sure spending $400 to change two $500 tickets to a date/location that we probably won't want or be able to use is a good investment.
When booking for personal travel, I have saved a lot of money over the years booking these classes of fares. Knowing full well that I am taking a risk of losing the entire ticket amount. This is the first time that has happened; I am still ahead.
Some are saying I could have got taxes refunded. That is interesting.
Even if it was a changeable flight, I'm not sure spending $400 to change two $500 tickets to a date/location that we probably won't want or be able to use is a good investment.
When booking for personal travel, I have saved a lot of money over the years booking these classes of fares. Knowing full well that I am taking a risk of losing the entire ticket amount. This is the first time that has happened; I am still ahead.