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
Mar 11, 2020, 10:21 am
#601
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,546
They're finally allowing some additional flexibility: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...-bookings.html
Mar 11, 2020, 10:26 am
#602
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 495
They had already something in place for bookings after March 2. As to travel after April 30, surely yhey will extend that later if (when) necessary.
(We have nothing planned until early May. So not covered yet, but anyway, our position is also wait and see. Even though we fully expect that we'll need to cancel that trip.)
(We have nothing planned until early May. So not covered yet, but anyway, our position is also wait and see. Even though we fully expect that we'll need to cancel that trip.)
Work travel to Kenya and UK in April looking less likely.
Mar 11, 2020, 10:27 am
#603
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: AC*E35
Posts: 484
I have flights booked mar 13-24 to Africa via London.
I can cancel for refund minus 600 dollars per ticket based on my original fare rules.
if I take up air Canada’s offer of cancel and receive credit for use until dec 31 2020, will I still be able to cancel that credit say 6 months from now If I don’t feel I can use the credit before December? Or do we think I’ve lost that ?
I can cancel for refund minus 600 dollars per ticket based on my original fare rules.
if I take up air Canada’s offer of cancel and receive credit for use until dec 31 2020, will I still be able to cancel that credit say 6 months from now If I don’t feel I can use the credit before December? Or do we think I’ve lost that ?
Mar 11, 2020, 11:10 am
#604
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,804
[QUOTE=MaxFlying;32169336]Curious where you are going that you expect to need to cancel? I have personal travel to Spain, France and UK in May and hoping to still make the trip as planned. Perhaps I am overly optimistic.
/QUOTE]
I still hope that we'll be OK and won't need to cancel. It's to various places in Europe, not including Italy. But at this point, I fell we should prepare ourself for the chances it won't be OK. Which looks likely to me. Also, given that we belong in a group at higher risk.
Additionally, we had planned to stop in Boston for a bit on the way back to visit our son. Which it probably even worse, plus, the main reason for that trip will also likely disappear as a result of the virus.
But I sure hope I won't need to cancel a July trip to Australia.
/QUOTE]
I still hope that we'll be OK and won't need to cancel. It's to various places in Europe, not including Italy. But at this point, I fell we should prepare ourself for the chances it won't be OK. Which looks likely to me. Also, given that we belong in a group at higher risk.
Additionally, we had planned to stop in Boston for a bit on the way back to visit our son. Which it probably even worse, plus, the main reason for that trip will also likely disappear as a result of the virus.
But I sure hope I won't need to cancel a July trip to Australia.
Mar 11, 2020, 11:19 am
#605
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE100K MM
Posts: 903
A bit late, but much better...
Made a booking with a 30% off code I had.
What are the chances they give me my code back to use again as well?
Does the "any residual value resulting from a lower fare will be lost" statement save them from giving me the code back as well?
Made a booking with a 30% off code I had.
What are the chances they give me my code back to use again as well?
Does the "any residual value resulting from a lower fare will be lost" statement save them from giving me the code back as well?
Mar 11, 2020, 11:23 am
#606
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,946
AC Mar 11 update - waiving change fees for existing bookings made prior to Mar 4 for travel before Apr 30 2020.
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...14%7c250092163
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...14%7c250092163
Mar 11, 2020, 11:29 am
#607
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,804
AC Mar 11 update - waiving change fees for existing bookings made prior to Mar 4 for travel before Apr 30 2020.
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...14%7c250092163
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...14%7c250092163
You are over two hours late:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32169015-post595.html
Mar 11, 2020, 11:49 am
#609
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: YYZ / HKG / DXB
Programs: Emirates Silver, Marriott Platinum... Previously AC*SE100K, Star Alliance Gold, Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 127
As a result of Covid19 and AC waiving change fees, is there any point in booking FLEX fares at all? They are still selling them
Mar 11, 2020, 11:56 am
#610
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 302
Mar 11, 2020, 11:57 am
#611
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,804
Mar 11, 2020, 12:05 pm
#612
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,804
Actually the most notable point about the goodwill rebooking policy is that in all cases, Air Canada will get/keep the money during 2020. All travel to be completed by the end of the year or forfeited and no refund.
In case of forfeiting, it would only be fair if they consider forfeited money as AQD, and the paid for but missed miles as AQM. (So I would still keep my SE status...) :-)
In case of forfeiting, it would only be fair if they consider forfeited money as AQD, and the paid for but missed miles as AQM. (So I would still keep my SE status...) :-)
Mar 11, 2020, 12:09 pm
#613
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,232
Nice try, but I think AC builds some assumption of breakage into their pricing. And I doubt very much they intend to credit you (or the rest of us) in any way for that.
Mar 11, 2020, 12:11 pm
#614
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 302
Actually the most notable point about the goodwill rebooking policy is that in all cases, Air Canada will get/keep the money during 2020. All travel to be completed by the end of the year or forfeited and no refund.
In case of forfeiting, it would only be fair if they consider forfeited money as AQD, and the paid for but missed miles as AQM. (So I would still keep my SE status...) :-)
In case of forfeiting, it would only be fair if they consider forfeited money as AQD, and the paid for but missed miles as AQM. (So I would still keep my SE status...) :-)
It's also my understanding (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) that if you cancel and rebook later that you can only buy one ticket, not say two separate tickets if you suddenly can't take that TATL J but instead use the credit to travel within Canada and want to spread the funds over two trips?
Mar 11, 2020, 12:13 pm
#615
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,804
Fine then if they insist. ;-)