Jan 27, 2020, 3:42 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 don’t 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 don’t 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 16, 2020, 3:02 pm
#1681
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,125
Very possible. I don't see AC's international routes changing much from what they are flying today until Canada and other countries start opening up borders and removing quarantine restrictions. When that will happen is anyone's guess, but it could well be a very long time from now. Since AC won't refund tickets when they cancel flights, it makes no sense to buy a ticket until they actually start flying the route that you are interested in.
Last edited by StuMcIlwain; May 16, 2020 at 3:09 pm
May 16, 2020, 6:04 pm
#1682
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,505
Very possible. I don't see AC's international routes changing much from what they are flying today until Canada and other countries start opening up borders and removing quarantine restrictions. When that will happen is anyone's guess, but it could well be a very long time from now. Since AC won't refund tickets when they cancel flights, it makes no sense to buy a ticket until they actually start flying the route that you are interested in.
May 16, 2020, 6:23 pm
#1683
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,765
The change is that AC is no longer providing full refunds in the event of involuntary schedule changes.
May 17, 2020, 9:49 am
#1684
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 10
Help understanding Aeroplan cancellation fees
Recently, I've been booking quite a few reward flights with recently purchased miles. All flights are AC in Canada. With all the recent changes, I'm confused by the cancellation policy. Up to June 30, 2020, it seems I can cancel for free and get my miles/fees back as stated on the Aeroplan website: "Cancel any Flight Reward free of charge, until June 30"
Question: How much does it cost to cancel a flight after June 30? The website link below seems to imply it is free up to 24 hours but I'm thinking this can't be the case.
https://www.aeroplan.com/faqhelp/531...tLanguage=en#/
As an additional complication, one of the accounts I'm booking flights with has Diamond status. This previously allowed me to cancel for $30 - but Diamond Status will be going away at some point in the fall (exact date unknown). I also have altitude 25k status on one of my accounts.
Thanks!
Question: How much does it cost to cancel a flight after June 30? The website link below seems to imply it is free up to 24 hours but I'm thinking this can't be the case.
https://www.aeroplan.com/faqhelp/531...tLanguage=en#/
As an additional complication, one of the accounts I'm booking flights with has Diamond status. This previously allowed me to cancel for $30 - but Diamond Status will be going away at some point in the fall (exact date unknown). I also have altitude 25k status on one of my accounts.
Thanks!
May 17, 2020, 11:36 am
#1685
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 10
I called Aeroplan and will answer my own question:
- Reward flights can be cancelled free of charge until June 30
- After June 30, there is a charge of $125. If you have Diamond status, the charge is still $30
- Apparently, Diamond status won't be going away until 2021
May 17, 2020, 5:52 pm
#1686
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: CO Platinum/1K, SPG Platinum/Ambassador
Posts: 1,705
When calling in, I was told that cancelled flights would entitle me to a rebooking without add collect on the same route. What was unclear is do I have to follow the 1 year validity of my ticket or will they extend the validity and do I need to change by the original departure date.
May 17, 2020, 6:40 pm
#1687
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,765
May 17, 2020, 10:37 pm
#1688
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: YSC (and all its regularly scheduled flights)
Posts: 2,516
When calling in, I was told that cancelled flights would entitle me to a rebooking without add collect on the same route. What was unclear is do I have to follow the 1 year validity of my ticket or will they extend the validity and do I need to change by the original departure date.
May 17, 2020, 11:31 pm
#1690
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,397
That is indeed the policy, yes. Because someone appears to have also gotten it wrong in the another thread: you can cancel ANY itinerary until June 30 for a free refund - even for travel after June 30.
May 18, 2020, 12:11 am
#1691
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: CO Platinum/1K, SPG Platinum/Ambassador
Posts: 1,705
May 18, 2020, 1:45 am
#1692
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,765
It's a nice benefit in theory, but given the current uncertainty over future travel, not very useful. For instance, I had to cancel my YVR round trip for the F'ing Epic Do last month. I knew I would use the credit for another trip to YVR, but even now, a month later, I still don't know when I'll be able to use it.
May 18, 2020, 8:25 am
#1694
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Montreal & Nashville
Programs: Aeroplan SE100K, Accor Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium Elite, BW Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 391
Do you think it's a good idea to plan travel right away expecting prices will go up when travel resumes?
I have must-do travel end of June and well as end of August and thinking of booking now. I
I have must-do travel end of June and well as end of August and thinking of booking now. I
May 18, 2020, 11:23 am
#1695
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 317
I was busy in the clinic last month sorting out how we are going to react to COVID when i got a involuntary schedule change YVR --> YYZ. It wasn't very clear/I was pretty distracted and from previous experience thought I would get full refund, somehow ended up with a partial refund of $134 on $1600 for two return tickets. Realized what had happened a few weeks later and thought i was pretty much out of luck but called CS anyway. They decided to give me balance as future travel credit. Thought that was pretty decent of them, so not all bad customer relations I remain mostly pleased with the service i've gotten from them over the past few years. On the other hand one could argue that refunding <10% should never have been an option i suppose.