Jan 27, 20, 4:42 pm
Last edit by: Adam Smith
Key points of AC COVID change/cancellation policy [as of December 10, 2021]:
(see this page under "Changes and cancellations")
Unlimited changes. No change fees. Until December 31, 2021, if you want to change your flight, we'll waive the change fee. After December 31, 2021, you can make one change at no extra charge. If your new fare has a higher price, you only need to pay the difference from your original fare.
If Air Canada changes the time of your flight, you make a change for free.*
*Within 3 days for North American destinations and 7 days for international and sun destinations.
If your flight is cancelled, you get a refund If your flight is cancelled for any reason and we dont rebook you on another flight that departs or arrives within three hours of your original departure or arrival time, or if we add a connection to your itinerary, you can request a refund.
Need to cancel? Save the value for future travel If you need to cancel a booking, the full value can be transferred to an Air Canada Travel Voucher, which never expires and is fully transferrable, or converted into Aeroplan points with a 65% bonus. Refundable tickets are always refundable.
Flexibility with Aeroplan bookings Until December 31, 2021, if you want to change your Aeroplan flight reward, we'll waive all change fees. After December 31, 2021, you can still make one change without a fee.
(see this page under "Changes and cancellations")
Unlimited changes. No change fees. Until December 31, 2021, if you want to change your flight, we'll waive the change fee. After December 31, 2021, you can make one change at no extra charge. If your new fare has a higher price, you only need to pay the difference from your original fare.
If Air Canada changes the time of your flight, you make a change for free.*
*Within 3 days for North American destinations and 7 days for international and sun destinations.
If your flight is cancelled, you get a refund If your flight is cancelled for any reason and we dont rebook you on another flight that departs or arrives within three hours of your original departure or arrival time, or if we add a connection to your itinerary, you can request a refund.
Need to cancel? Save the value for future travel If you need to cancel a booking, the full value can be transferred to an Air Canada Travel Voucher, which never expires and is fully transferrable, or converted into Aeroplan points with a 65% bonus. Refundable tickets are always refundable.
Flexibility with Aeroplan bookings Until December 31, 2021, if you want to change your Aeroplan flight reward, we'll waive all change fees. After December 31, 2021, you can still make one change without a fee.
Master thread COVID-19/Coronavirus; travel waivers, route changes, AC impacts
May 9, 20, 12:55 pm
#1621
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Edmonton/Calgary/Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,520
I have had refunds come relatively quickly (both AC and Aeroplan). I did have an Aeroplan booking with the taxes not yet refunded. I gave them a call and the agent graciously pushed it through this am. It seems that things have quieted down a fair bit so calling an agent may not be as big an issue. You may wish to try this and see where the refund is in the queue. I have had all my outstanding refunds processed and credited back to my AMEX..
May 9, 20, 7:36 pm
#1623
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: AC 50K *G, Honors Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 111
Thank you! It was good you got some information first hand.
May 9, 20, 7:38 pm
#1624
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: AC 50K *G, Honors Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 111
I have had refunds come relatively quickly (both AC and Aeroplan). I did have an Aeroplan booking with the taxes not yet refunded. I gave them a call and the agent graciously pushed it through this am. It seems that things have quieted down a fair bit so calling an agent may not be as big an issue. You may wish to try this and see where the refund is in the queue. I have had all my outstanding refunds processed and credited back to my AMEX..
May 9, 20, 7:39 pm
#1625
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: AC 50K *G, Honors Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 111
Yeah, I did my online as I didn't want to be on hold for ever however another poster said the phone lines seemed to have died down. I will try them tomorrow (Sunday) morning.
May 10, 20, 12:27 pm
#1626
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Edmonton/Calgary/Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,520
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38...te-march-2021/
May 10, 20, 1:03 pm
#1627
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,172
I'd like some advice please - or at least the options i have. My partner and I are due to fly to London at the end of July to intern my mother's ashes. We booked in February for 5 nights or so in Economy on a flex fare. I realise that the stars have to line up so both Canada and the UK don't have a ban in place. Also, given it was a short trip, quarantine may be in place in the UK AND on our return, it makes the trip unviable. I can't recall what T&Cs that AC may have had in at the time for peace of mind if any.
When do I cancel if I need to, how much does it cost and I assume it's a credit note
thanks in advance
When do I cancel if I need to, how much does it cost and I assume it's a credit note
thanks in advance
The UK Civil Aviation Authority is on your side:
BBC - Coronavirus: Airlines warned over passenger refund rights
May 10, 20, 4:21 pm
#1628
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K, BA Silver, AC35k
Posts: 23,121
Of course no refund. Even though the flight is over 3 months from now, they are citing "government advisory"
DOT complaint filed. How does AC get away with breaking US law like this?
May 10, 20, 11:02 pm
#1629
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 9
Hi all,
Was booked on economy standard to fly to FRA on 872/873 2-MAY to 18-MAY, cancelled back in early March. If I were to use my voucher to purchase a latitude ticket and pay the difference, could I then request a refund per latitude fare rules all back onto my original CC?
/BB
Was booked on economy standard to fly to FRA on 872/873 2-MAY to 18-MAY, cancelled back in early March. If I were to use my voucher to purchase a latitude ticket and pay the difference, could I then request a refund per latitude fare rules all back onto my original CC?
/BB
May 10, 20, 11:51 pm
#1630
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, DL PM, WS Plat, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,068
Hi all,
Was booked on economy standard to fly to FRA on 872/873 2-MAY to 18-MAY, cancelled back in early March. If I were to use my voucher to purchase a latitude ticket and pay the difference, could I then request a refund per latitude fare rules all back onto my original CC?
Was booked on economy standard to fly to FRA on 872/873 2-MAY to 18-MAY, cancelled back in early March. If I were to use my voucher to purchase a latitude ticket and pay the difference, could I then request a refund per latitude fare rules all back onto my original CC?
No, what you're asking isn't possible. The original amount remains subject to the refund rules of the original ticket. If you changed to Latitude, you would probably be able to get back the difference between your original ticket and the Latitude one, but not the original amount.
Did AC cancel your flights, or did you cancel the booking before AC cancelled anything?
May 11, 20, 12:27 am
#1631
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 9
Welcome to FT
No, what you're asking isn't possible. The original amount remains subject to the refund rules of the original ticket. If you changed to Latitude, you would probably be able to get back the difference between your original ticket and the Latitude one, but not the original amount.
Did AC cancel your flights, or did you cancel the booking before AC cancelled anything?
No, what you're asking isn't possible. The original amount remains subject to the refund rules of the original ticket. If you changed to Latitude, you would probably be able to get back the difference between your original ticket and the Latitude one, but not the original amount.
Did AC cancel your flights, or did you cancel the booking before AC cancelled anything?
May 11, 20, 12:51 am
#1632
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, DL PM, WS Plat, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,068
They pretty much said what you had mentioned. H.U.C.A and the second lady told me to email customer relations and ask for my Credit to be converted to an e-coupon (eliminating the fare policy restrictions.)
May 11, 20, 10:21 am
#1633
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: United 1K, AC 50K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 676
I looked through a fair number of previous responsed but could not seem to find an answer to this. I understand that if I book an non-refundable fare I will be given a travel credit if I cancel or if Air Canada cancels the flight. The question I have is what if I book an itinerary of 4 tickets for my family and the tickets are cancelled? Say the tickets cost $2000 for the four. Do I have to apply that $2000 to 4 new tickets at some point for all of us to fly together, or can I use the $2000 to book any combination of ticekts for myself or anyone else until the money is used up? Thanks.
May 11, 20, 10:32 am
#1634
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, DL PM, WS Plat, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,068
I looked through a fair number of previous responsed but could not seem to find an answer to this. I understand that if I book an non-refundable fare I will be given a travel credit if I cancel or if Air Canada cancels the flight. The question I have is what if I book an itinerary of 4 tickets for my family and the tickets are cancelled? Say the tickets cost $2000 for the four. Do I have to apply that $2000 to 4 new tickets at some point for all of us to fly together, or can I use the $2000 to book any combination of ticekts for myself or anyone else until the money is used up?
Also note that the credit has to be used all in one go. Book a flight for $1,500, and you don't have $500 remaining, you forfeit that amount. Of course, if the new ticket costs $2,200, you pay the $200 out of pocket. Heads AC wins, tails you lose.
There are reports upthread (or in the credits vs refunds thread) that AC is working on a new system that would be more flexible, but that's how it is at the moment.
May 11, 20, 12:07 pm
#1635
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: AC, KL
Posts: 51
I had a flight cancelled in March, it was a refundable fare and at the time was told my refund request would be added to queue and I could expect it in 6-8 weeks. It has now been more than 8 weeks so I called AC. They could not find the reservation by confirmation code or ticket number and told me to just keep waiting. Is anyone in the same boat?
