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
Oct 21, 2020, 6:43 am
#2251
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,314
Oct 21, 2020, 11:20 am
#2252
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
CBC: EU removes Canadians from list of approved travellers because of COVID-19
Curious to see if this means more TATL schedule changes for AC.
Curious to see if this means more TATL schedule changes for AC.
Oct 21, 2020, 11:57 am
#2253
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: YQB
Programs: Aeroplan 75K, WoH Explorist
Posts: 127
CBC: EU removes Canadians from list of approved travellers because of COVID-19
Curious to see if this means more TATL schedule changes for AC.
Curious to see if this means more TATL schedule changes for AC.
Oct 21, 2020, 8:05 pm
#2254
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: YEG
Programs: Table scraps from Aeroplan and AmEx Plat
Posts: 901
I had foolishly booked AC flights to KOA a couple of weeks ago, which were promptly cancelled a week later, as at least one of you on here had predicted.
Before I make another bonehead move, I thought I'd get you all's input about PLS - Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. AC is already flying there once a week. Turns out every time I looked at their schedule on my phone, it saved a copy of that particular week's pdf. I've reproduced the evolution of the frequency from YYZ over the past few weeks. So the plan was to start flying once a week in October, which they are doing, and then daily in November. Then, the most recent one shows a marked change. Basically, they intend to fly once a week through November, and starting December, 5 days a week X Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The YUL - PLS schedule was slashed as well, going from twice a week starting November 1 to just once a week starting December 20 and then twice a week in mid-January.
We know and love Barbados, but as of this Friday, they consider Canada a high-risk country, making a complicated covid-19 protocol even more cumbersome. Turks and Caicos also require a pre-flight test, but T-5 days, which might mean our "free" provincial testing could do the trick.
Expert Flyer shows the following availability for some of the days I am looking at:
J9 C9 D9 Z9 P7 R1 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 G9 S9 T9 L9 A9 K0 F0
Westjet during the same time period:
W7 O6 R3 Y7 B7 M7 H7 Q7 N7 S7 X3 T0 K0 L0 E7
I may be foolish to look at these tea leaves but any of your sage advice and prognostications would be most welcome.
Before I make another bonehead move, I thought I'd get you all's input about PLS - Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. AC is already flying there once a week. Turns out every time I looked at their schedule on my phone, it saved a copy of that particular week's pdf. I've reproduced the evolution of the frequency from YYZ over the past few weeks. So the plan was to start flying once a week in October, which they are doing, and then daily in November. Then, the most recent one shows a marked change. Basically, they intend to fly once a week through November, and starting December, 5 days a week X Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The YUL - PLS schedule was slashed as well, going from twice a week starting November 1 to just once a week starting December 20 and then twice a week in mid-January.
We know and love Barbados, but as of this Friday, they consider Canada a high-risk country, making a complicated covid-19 protocol even more cumbersome. Turks and Caicos also require a pre-flight test, but T-5 days, which might mean our "free" provincial testing could do the trick.
Expert Flyer shows the following availability for some of the days I am looking at:
J9 C9 D9 Z9 P7 R1 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 G9 S9 T9 L9 A9 K0 F0
Westjet during the same time period:
W7 O6 R3 Y7 B7 M7 H7 Q7 N7 S7 X3 T0 K0 L0 E7
I may be foolish to look at these tea leaves but any of your sage advice and prognostications would be most welcome.
Could that be the actual winter schedule they will fly to the Caribbean?
Oct 21, 2020, 11:31 pm
#2255
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: Only J via Peasant Points, 777HDPeasant or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance and Narcissism.
Posts: 5,957
Looks like the weekly YVR-PEK in November is gone as well this week. Curious if AC just could not get the approval to get it going.
Between China and Canada, there are five airlines operating six routes. Canadian airlines is only operating 2 out of 10 weekly flights from Canada to mainland China, despite skyrocketed plane tickets.
Between China and Canada, there are five airlines operating six routes. Canadian airlines is only operating 2 out of 10 weekly flights from Canada to mainland China, despite skyrocketed plane tickets.
Oct 22, 2020, 8:58 am
#2256
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 5
@SweFlyer: EU passport and EU Travel Restriction
Flying YYZ - FRA in two weeks. Have a EU passport so not affected by this. Based on the seat map (not the best of indicators I know) the passenger loads are pretty non-existent already. With the quarantine requirements upon returning to Canada I have a feeling there isn't too much travel to Europe as it is. Still a bit nervous though given the large amount of changes to my domestic connecting flight as well as my connecting flight in Europe.
Will having EU Passport allow you to enter EU even with COVID restriction if you live in Canada?
We are in process of obtaining EU Passports, but we are Canadian Citizens also and have trip planned for summer. If restrictions still in place, could we use EU Passports to enter any countries that may have COVID restrictions for Canadian travellers?
I thought customs would ask where you live upon entry to EU, and could deny entry?
Thanks for any information on this.
Oct 22, 2020, 9:11 am
#2257
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,314
@SweFlyer:
Will having EU Passport allow you to enter EU even with COVID restriction if you live in Canada?
We are in process of obtaining EU Passports, but we are Canadian Citizens also and have trip planned for summer. If restrictions still in place, could we use EU Passports to enter any countries that may have COVID restrictions for Canadian travellers?
I thought customs would ask where you live upon entry to EU, and could deny entry?
Thanks for any information on this.
Will having EU Passport allow you to enter EU even with COVID restriction if you live in Canada?
We are in process of obtaining EU Passports, but we are Canadian Citizens also and have trip planned for summer. If restrictions still in place, could we use EU Passports to enter any countries that may have COVID restrictions for Canadian travellers?
I thought customs would ask where you live upon entry to EU, and could deny entry?
Thanks for any information on this.
*some countries will/may require on arrival quarantine
*some countries will also allow spouses/dependents of said EU citizens
Oct 22, 2020, 9:36 am
#2258
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 5
Oct 22, 2020, 11:01 am
#2259
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan 50K/Star Alliance Gold, Accor Gold, base level Marriott/Hyatt/Hilton
Posts: 658
CBC: EU removes Canadians from list of approved travellers because of COVID-19
Curious to see if this means more TATL schedule changes for AC.
Curious to see if this means more TATL schedule changes for AC.
Surprisingly enough, YYZ-ZRH has been upgraded to 5x weekly (still on 789) even though Canadians have to self-isolate upon entry in Switzerland.
Oct 22, 2020, 11:20 am
#2260
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,314
Oct 22, 2020, 11:50 am
#2261
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: 16,779
But presumably Mexico and some of the Caribbean will be desperate enough for our tourist dollars to let us in.
I wonder whether this will lead to AC putting on some more sun flights out of YYC, a market that it has mostly left to WS for quite a while.
Oct 22, 2020, 11:51 am
#2262
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
AC has tried a number of times to restart YYC-FRA/LHR, but keeps pushing it back. I don't think that's going to happen with the EU blacklist but I can see some sun service being added back instead of routing via YVR.
Oct 22, 2020, 12:23 pm
#2263
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,314
I guess we can go to sun destinations? I would have hoped this would mean AC bringing back YYC-LHR/FRA, but now that Canadians are on the EU blacklist again, I don't think that's terribly likely.
But presumably Mexico and some of the Caribbean will be desperate enough for our tourist dollars to let us in.
I wonder whether this will lead to AC putting on some more sun flights out of YYC, a market that it has mostly left to WS for quite a while.
But presumably Mexico and some of the Caribbean will be desperate enough for our tourist dollars to let us in.
I wonder whether this will lead to AC putting on some more sun flights out of YYC, a market that it has mostly left to WS for quite a while.
So Westjet can call it more of a win than AC.
Oct 22, 2020, 12:57 pm
#2264
Join Date: May 2012
Location: YYZ-YYC
Programs: AC50K, OZ*G
Posts: 280
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/alb...ilot-1.5772637
EDIT: nvm - appears that CBC Is wrong... Per Alberta Health "In-eligible candidates: returning Canadians proceeding to other provinces (participants must stay in Alberta for 14 days after entering Canada)"
Oct 22, 2020, 1:46 pm
#2265
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 2002
Location: YEG
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 56,451
MONTREAL, Oct. 22, 2020 /CNW/ - Air Canada is pleased that the federal government and the Province of Alberta have announced a joint initiative for a pilot project to test international and transborder travellers arriving in Alberta for COVID-19. Air Canada has been a leader and a strong advocate of the use of rapid testing to protect customers and employees. Earlier this year, Air Canada partnered with McMaster HealthLabs (MHL) and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority for a study on testing that continues to yield results that demonstrate the validity of testing as a means to ease travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.
"We know Canadians expect the rich data from these test results to lead to a loosening of the federal government's quarantine requirements immediately, which will allow families to reunite and the economy to resume. Our customer surveys clearly show that Canadians favour safe and science-based alternatives to blanket quarantines. The results from the McMaster study at Toronto-Pearson were instrumental in guiding the federal government and public health agencies to add the easing of quarantine to this latest testing initiative. I have personally heard from numerous business leaders in Canada and from other countries who are very anxious to see the quarantine requirements safely abridged as soon as possible," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer at Air Canada.
"The preliminary results from the MHL study provide evidence that testing passengers on arrival into Canada may be an effective way to screen for COVID-19. The data has provided the federal government and the government of Alberta with the confidence to move forward with this new testing initiative. In fact, today Alberta Premier Jason Kenney thanked Air Canada for helping advocate for measures to safely reduce quarantine, which is an encouraging step in the continued push for a secure resumption of air travel. Rapid testing is also a means to enable governments to relax current blanket travel restrictions and quarantines in a measured way while still safeguarding the health and safety of the public," said Dr. Jim Chung, Air Canada's Chief Medical Officer.
Since the Toronto-Pearson study began September 3, MHL has conducted over 28,000 tests of arriving travellers who volunteered to participate. As our interim report noted, more than 99% have tested negative for COVID-19 with less than 1% having indicated COVID-19. For more information on the MHL study see https://aircanada.mediaroom.com/2020...nal-Travellers
On October 1, Air Canada announced that it was finalizing an initial order for 25,000 ID NOW rapid COVID-19 test kits from Abbott as part of its ongoing evaluation of COVID-19 testing technology and protocols.
Air Canada has been at the forefront of the airline industry in responding to COVID-19, including being among the first carriers globally to require customer face coverings onboard and the first airline in the Americas to take customers' temperatures prior to boarding. In May it introduced a comprehensive program, Air Canada CleanCare+, to apply industry leading biosafety measures at each stage of the journey.
Air Canada has undertaken several medical collaborations to further advance biosafety across its business, including with Cleveland Clinic Canada for medical advisory services, Ottawa-based Spartan Bioscience to explore portable COVID-19 testing technology and, since 2019, with Toronto-based BlueDot for real-time infectious disease global monitoring. It continues to explore other potential partnerships with technology and medical companies to further strengthen its biosafety protocols.