Last edit by: Adam Smith
As of April 13, 2021 (in conjunction with the federal government bailout), AC is providing refunds for flights cancelled due to COVID, which applies to tickets with travel after February 1, 2020, and purchased before April 13, 2021. This includes flights cancelled by customers rather than AC.
Going forward (i.e. tickets purchased on or after April 13, 2021), cancelled flights will be refunded if AC does not offer a re-booking option with departure +/- 3 hours from the original time.
AC refund portal
Online refund request form
Press release on the bailout
Going forward (i.e. tickets purchased on or after April 13, 2021), cancelled flights will be refunded if AC does not offer a re-booking option with departure +/- 3 hours from the original time.
AC refund portal
Online refund request form
Press release on the bailout
Master thread Air Canada Refunds vs credits; Class action lawsuit filed
#1621
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: YOW
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 578
I got the same emails tonight but ignored them. Assumed they were related to previous bookings I had converted to travel vouchers and used to rebook new itineraries with. My bookings are still intact
#1622
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,187
The booking I got it for has some UN segments, which I thought might have been the issue (active PNR with cancelled segments), but I intend to take the trip, so I ignored it.
#1623
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: 16,622
Received this e mail tonight:
This is not a trip I have cancelled and as far as I know it is still on the go. It shows up as a confirmed booking in my AC/Aeroplan account and in the app (This is a paid fare, not reward)
May give them a call to see what's going on, but if anyone has any experience with similar e mails, I would appreciate their advice. Thanks
This is not a trip I have cancelled and as far as I know it is still on the go. It shows up as a confirmed booking in my AC/Aeroplan account and in the app (This is a paid fare, not reward)
May give them a call to see what's going on, but if anyone has any experience with similar e mails, I would appreciate their advice. Thanks
For example, you were booked on AC102 on August 10 and that got cancelled, you re-booked on AC104 for the same date. AC102 was cancelled and therefore you're due a refund if you want one, even though you might be perfectly happy to fly AC104.
#1624
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,809
The question for both of you would be, even if the trips are currently intact, at some point, did AC cancel one of the flights on your PNR? If so, even if you've re-booked (or accepted AC's re-booking), you would be eligible for a refund.
For example, you were booked on AC102 on August 10 and that got cancelled, you re-booked on AC104 for the same date. AC102 was cancelled and therefore you're due a refund if you want one, even though you might be perfectly happy to fly AC104.
For example, you were booked on AC102 on August 10 and that got cancelled, you re-booked on AC104 for the same date. AC102 was cancelled and therefore you're due a refund if you want one, even though you might be perfectly happy to fly AC104.
#1625
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,274
Still waiting for a partial refund (in form of voucher) from a cancelled return flight that was paid for with a voucher. Approching 3 months.
Last edited by rankourabu; Jun 30, 2021 at 10:30 am
#1626
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 19
I'm in the same boat, I rebooked my cancelled flight, and the rebooked flight might go ahead in 17 days, but if it does, I won't be allowed entry to Japan, so I might have to cancel for a refund. Curious about the email though.
#1627
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,202
AC tells US DOT to pound sand regarding the enforcement proceedings for extreme refund delays
https://viewfromthewing.com/air-cana...m=BoardingArea
Docket: https://www.regulations.gov/document...2021-0073-0005
https://viewfromthewing.com/air-cana...m=BoardingArea
Docket: https://www.regulations.gov/document...2021-0073-0005
#1628
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,620
AC tells US DOT to pound sand regarding the enforcement proceedings for extreme refund delays
https://viewfromthewing.com/air-cana...m=BoardingArea
Docket: https://www.regulations.gov/document...2021-0073-0005
https://viewfromthewing.com/air-cana...m=BoardingArea
Docket: https://www.regulations.gov/document...2021-0073-0005
If AC loses, other airlines are not going to be happy with them.
I was worried a couple of months ago when AC started providing refunds that the resolution is anticlimactic but sounds like I should be making some popcorn.
#1629
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,008
Didnt read the whole thing but it sounds like a rehash of ACs response to passenger filed complaint (discussed earlier in this thread) that DoTs Industry Letter is not binding as it didnt go thru rule making process (APA). DoT had fully authority for decades (not just years) under various Republican and Democratic Administrations to prohibit the the practice frowned upon in the Letter with explicit regulations but choose not to.
If AC loses, other airlines are not going to be happy with them.
I was worried a couple of months ago when AC started providing refunds that the resolution is anticlimactic but sounds like I should be making some popcorn.
If AC loses, other airlines are not going to be happy with them.
I was worried a couple of months ago when AC started providing refunds that the resolution is anticlimactic but sounds like I should be making some popcorn.
#1630
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Alaska, Delta, Southwest
Posts: 1,661
It's galling that Air Canada continues to blatantly lie that their position is consistent with the Contract of Carriage and Tariff, and that refunds prior to the pandemic were goodwill gestures - their International Tariff, which applies to flights from the U.S., did call for refunds upon request for flights canceled by the airline up until its update on January 6, 2020, which changed the wording to only offer credits for flights canceled for reasons "outside the airline's control".
And of course, their current position presumes the cancellations were beyond their control, which they haven't proven - in my case, Delta continued operating the route that Air Canada suspended (DTW-YYZ) throughout the pandemic.
And of course, their current position presumes the cancellations were beyond their control, which they haven't proven - in my case, Delta continued operating the route that Air Canada suspended (DTW-YYZ) throughout the pandemic.
#1631
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,620
It's galling that Air Canada continues to blatantly lie that their position is consistent with the Contract of Carriage and Tariff, and that refunds prior to the pandemic were goodwill gestures - their International Tariff, which applies to flights from the U.S., did call for refunds upon request for flights canceled by the airline up until its update on January 6, 2020, which changed the wording to only offer credits for flights canceled for reasons "outside the airline's control".
And of course, their current position presumes the cancellations were beyond their control, which they haven't proven - in my case, Delta continued operating the route that Air Canada suspended (DTW-YYZ) throughout the pandemic.
And of course, their current position presumes the cancellations were beyond their control, which they haven't proven - in my case, Delta continued operating the route that Air Canada suspended (DTW-YYZ) throughout the pandemic.
#1632
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,202
Perhaps Eckert Seamans, the law firm hired by AC for this case, is advising AC to continue challenging refunds just so that the law firm can get more billable hours
#1633
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: ba silver
Posts: 719
Can't believe the arrogance of this airline. The President should simply ban AC from US airspace until all refunds and fines are paid. While such a ban could be challenged in court the airline stands to lose a lot of money from passengers who don't want to book for fear of being stranded.Another reason airlines feel they can get away with things is that airline managers are not liable, only the company. Governments should start fining the employees who make these decisions. You'll see them make the right decisions in the future.
#1634
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, United Premier Silver
Posts: 204
It's galling that Air Canada continues to blatantly lie that their position is consistent with the Contract of Carriage and Tariff, and that refunds prior to the pandemic were goodwill gestures - their International Tariff, which applies to flights from the U.S., did call for refunds upon request for flights canceled by the airline up until its update on January 6, 2020, which changed the wording to only offer credits for flights canceled for reasons "outside the airline's control".
And of course, their current position presumes the cancellations were beyond their control, which they haven't proven - in my case, Delta continued operating the route that Air Canada suspended (DTW-YYZ) throughout the pandemic.
And of course, their current position presumes the cancellations were beyond their control, which they haven't proven - in my case, Delta continued operating the route that Air Canada suspended (DTW-YYZ) throughout the pandemic.
- flight disruptions to locations that are covered by a government advisory against travel or unnecessary travel due to COVID-19;
- employee quarantine or self-isolation due to COVID-19;
- employee refusal to work under Part II of the Canada Labour Code, R.S.C, 1985, c. L-2, (or equivalent law) due to COVID-19; and
- additional hygiene or passenger health screening processes put in place due to COVID-19.
#1635
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Alaska, Delta, Southwest
Posts: 1,661
What is considered as "Uncontrollable" within the context of COVID-19 cancellations has guidance from the CTA via Determination No. A-2020-42 actually (Link: https://otc-cta.gc.ca/node/569158) It states:[8] Section 10 of the APPR provides a non-exhaustive list of situations considered outside the air carriers control (the third category above). These include medical emergencies and orders or instructions from state officials. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the following would be considered outside a carriers control:
- flight disruptions to locations that are covered by a government advisory against travel or unnecessary travel due to COVID-19;
- employee quarantine or self-isolation due to COVID-19;
- employee refusal to work under Part II of the Canada Labour Code, R.S.C, 1985, c. L-2, (or equivalent law) due to COVID-19; and
- additional hygiene or passenger health screening processes put in place due to COVID-19.