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 18, 2020, 6:54 pm
#856
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
Surely given AC's financial position as stated on Monday, there is time to secure emergency financing from government to prevent that from happening. I can't imagine Ottawa lets AC or WS fail due to this pandemic, and Ottawa has plenty of fiscal capacity to prop them up until it has passed.
I guess I just don't see why such drastic action to withhold cash from customers is being taken not as a last resort, but as a first step.
I guess I just don't see why such drastic action to withhold cash from customers is being taken not as a last resort, but as a first step.
You've checked all 94 other international destinations?
Mar 18, 2020, 7:05 pm
#857
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 1,931
Guardian article on AC informing pax
The Guardian has this article https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...us-staff-risks
on how AC is handling information to pax regarding Covid-19.
As to cleanliness of cabin, I flew with AC last Sunday and the seat pocket and tablet retainer still contained dirty kleenexes.
on how AC is handling information to pax regarding Covid-19.
Employees of Air Canada, the country’s largest airline, have said the company is not doing enough to inform customers and staff of their exposure to passengers infected with Covid-19.
Mar 18, 2020, 7:14 pm
#858
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 1,932
Mildly concerned, as departure date is in 3 days, so hopefully it comes through in the next couple of days.
Mar 18, 2020, 7:23 pm
#859
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
I managed to get through to Air Canada yesterday (~2pm PDT) and they were still allowing refunds. Or at least, I didn't have to fight at all to get my ticket refunded -- agent put me on hold for ~15min, and then I was told my refund would have to be processed manually as my itinerary is all sorts of screwed up -- so far does not appear to be any change in my PNR.
Mildly concerned, as departure date is in 3 days, so hopefully it comes through in the next couple of days.
Mildly concerned, as departure date is in 3 days, so hopefully it comes through in the next couple of days.
You've made the phone call, and there will definitely be a record of that, so I wouldn't worry too much, it should get processed eventually. They're dealing with excruciating volumes at the moment.
Mar 18, 2020, 7:27 pm
#860
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
The Guardian has this article https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...us-staff-risks
on how AC is handling information to pax regarding Covid-19.
As to cleanliness of cabin, I flew with AC last Sunday and the seat pocket and tablet retainer still contained dirty kleenexes.
on how AC is handling information to pax regarding Covid-19.
As to cleanliness of cabin, I flew with AC last Sunday and the seat pocket and tablet retainer still contained dirty kleenexes.
Thanks for sharing.
Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada component of Canadian Union of Public Employees spoke with the CBC in an article from March 16, posted in this thread
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-...thread-51.html
Based on the info in the Guardian article, it looks like he had more to say. Based on my HKG trips a few weeks ago, cabin crews told me they volunteered for the flights and no one forced them. In fact, on the first of 2 trips, we were delayed 45 minutes for a couple of things including waiting for masks and other medicals supplies to be boarded for the crews. On board, crews showed me their supplies of masks, gloves, wipes, sanitized bottles. They all seemed comfortable with their choice to fly.
Now that AC has so few flights going out, there are significantly less crews needed so perhaps that plus the media coverage will improve things for those crew who still choose to fly.
Mar 18, 2020, 7:42 pm
#861
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, FB Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,605
Remind me on the policy for difference in fare if a flight is cancelled? I have a booking YEG-YUL-LIM for April 9th and routing was changed to YEG-YYZ-YUL-LIM. The YUL-LIM flight no longer exists on April 9th (zeroed out on expert flyer) and it is no longer bookable on AC. I have been waiting as I have a bit to the travel date and the hold times are still very long even for the SE desk.
Mar 18, 2020, 8:12 pm
#862
Suspended
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Posts: 18,877
For those who haven't already seen:
Thanks for posting the AC News Release. I added to the wiki.
Mar 18, 2020, 8:17 pm
#863
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
For what it's worth, I checked a few other international destinations,and most are showing up as having no flights (MUC, CPH, SCL, SYD, BOG, BDA, NAS). However, MEX and CUN both gave me options on AC metal on a few dates in April. So I'd say give it some time and TPE will probably come down, along with those.
Historically, you would get a refund, no problem. The website now suggests you'll get a travel credit good for 24 months, although someone reported still getting a refund a few hours ago. So, YMMV? Please let us know what you get if you do call
Remind me on the policy for difference in fare if a flight is cancelled? I have a booking YEG-YUL-LIM for April 9th and routing was changed to YEG-YYZ-YUL-LIM. The YUL-LIM flight no longer exists on April 9th (zeroed out on expert flyer) and it is no longer bookable on AC. I have been waiting as I have a bit to the travel date and the hold times are still very long even for the SE desk.
Mar 18, 2020, 8:19 pm
#864
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
The media must have read the AC News Release
Global
https://globalnews.ca/news/6699594/c...canada-travel/
Also
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air...ning-1.5502122
Global
https://globalnews.ca/news/6699594/c...canada-travel/
Also
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air...ning-1.5502122
Mar 18, 2020, 8:34 pm
#865
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
For what it's worth, I checked a few other international destinations,and most are showing up as having no flights (MUC, CPH, SCL, SYD, BOG, BDA, NAS). However, MEX and CUN both gave me options on AC metal on a few dates in April. So I'd say give it some time and TPE will probably come down, along with those.
Mar 18, 2020, 8:40 pm
#866
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, FB Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,605
For what it's worth, I checked a few other international destinations,and most are showing up as having no flights (MUC, CPH, SCL, SYD, BOG, BDA, NAS). However, MEX and CUN both gave me options on AC metal on a few dates in April. So I'd say give it some time and TPE will probably come down, along with those.
Historically, you would get a refund, no problem. The website now suggests you'll get a travel credit good for 24 months, although someone reported still getting a refund a few hours ago. So, YMMV? Please let us know what you get if you do call
Historically, you would get a refund, no problem. The website now suggests you'll get a travel credit good for 24 months, although someone reported still getting a refund a few hours ago. So, YMMV? Please let us know what you get if you do call
Mar 18, 2020, 8:49 pm
#867
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
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Posts: 44,355
What dates? I'm booked on YYZ-MUC on May 2 (rebooked first from Mar 23, and then Apr 6), and it's showing as operating. Also just checked and apparently still able to buy a new ticket on it. Half expecting it to be cancelled soon but at this point, I'm in full ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ mode.
Mar 18, 2020, 9:02 pm
#868
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
Mar 18, 2020, 9:04 pm
#869
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,472
I have a J award on AC2 HND-YYZ, Apr 1. The flight has been zeroed out so I assume it's a goner. Closest date where it's not gone is Mar 31. Is it likely they just change my booking to that automatically? Would they change me to NRT-YVR-YYZ on the same day? Or would they do nothing at all unless I call them?
Mar 18, 2020, 9:20 pm
#870
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
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Posts: 16,779
What dates? I'm booked on YYZ-MUC on May 2 (rebooked first from Mar 23, and then Apr 6), and it's showing as operating. Also just checked and apparently still able to buy a new ticket on it. Half expecting it to be cancelled soon but at this point, I'm in full ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ mode.
That being said, certainly seems like there's a high chance it will end up on the chopping block eventually.
Many people were frustrated by that since they didn't want to have to commit to travelling to the affected destinations in such a short time. And many who re-booked are now going to have to be re-re-booked now. So AC seems to be emphasizing travel credits instead. It's generally more favourable to the customer and much simpler to administer.
But you could try digging around the latest versions and see if there's anything about re-booking without fare difference if you do it short-term. I haven't seen it, but doesn't mean for sure that it doesn't exist.
I have a J award on AC2 HND-YYZ, Apr 1. The flight has been zeroed out so I assume it's a goner. Closest date where it's not gone is Mar 31. Is it likely they just change my booking to that automatically? Would they change me to NRT-YVR-YYZ on the same day? Or would they do nothing at all unless I call them?