[OVER 48 HOURS FROM DEPARTURE] AC changed/cancelled my flight. What are my options?
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
You still flew in PE from YYZ to Asia, correct? Or were you booked the whole way on a different airline? So as ChrisA330 says, you'll get some prorated refund which is probably not very much. Not ideal, I know.
#17
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, KE Morning Calm
Posts: 813
Original Booking: ATL-YYZ-ICN on AC "Premium Economy - Mixed cabin" YYZ-ICN PE
ATL-YYZ was cancelled
I was rebooked to KE ATL-ICN (E class). I actually asked ATL-ORD or IAH or DEN-SFO-ICN UA/UA/OZ or UA since I can sit on E+ on UA flight. However, the agent told me that he did see that routing option on the AC system.
Last edited by Adam Smith; Oct 7, 21 at 3:55 pm Reason: Merge consecutive posts by same user
#18
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,322
Given this, AC will follow the rules outlined in their Tariffs here: https://www.aircanada.com/content/da..._Tariff_en.pdf
You can go here to send a complaint to Customer Relations for review of any compensation and/or refunds: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...r-support.html
You can go here to send a complaint to Customer Relations for review of any compensation and/or refunds: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...r-support.html
#19
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,130
You are entitled to a refund of the difference between Premium Economy and Economy.
What that means, and what the difference is, will be a battle between you and AC, since some Y fares can be higher than PE fares.
What that means, and what the difference is, will be a battle between you and AC, since some Y fares can be higher than PE fares.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K, BA Silver, AC35k
Posts: 23,139
Why would you choose to fly AC? Was it cheaper? AC is notorious for luring ex-USA traffic in with lower prices than the competition, now you know why.
One thing you should do - is write to United to get credit for the flight in your account based on the "original routing credit". That is a lot of PQPs.
They've always been accomodating when AC messes up and I end up on other airlines.
#21
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, KE Morning Calm
Posts: 813
I did 5 or 6 ICN-ATL roundtrips every year before COVID. I usually took United ICN-SFO-DEN-ATL / ATL-SFO-ICN.
United cut ATL-SFO morning flight so that one day connection is not possible any more. PEK connections with OZ are not available. So I tried AC this time.
#22
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,374
Schedule change: policy on rebooking
So, question is: if AC has a schedule change of 24 hours or more, on an overseas booking (in J, if that matters), what are you entitled to ask for in terms of rebooking? I was told that if the original booking was overwater with AC, then any new booking must be overwater on AC too. However, what does that mean in real terms? If I was flying YYC-YYZ-DOH for example, can I ask for YYC-LHR-DOH where LHR-DOH is on another airline (because the overwater is YYC-LHR on AC)? Does the "other airline" that I ask for after the overwater portion need to be *A? Anybody (like BA)? An airline with regular codeshares? Or something in between? Or neither? Meaning could I ask for somebody with no relationship with AC at all like Emirates?
Last edited by Adam Smith; Sep 7, 21 at 1:09 pm Reason: Edit to reflect thread move
#23
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Gold, DL PM, WS Plat, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,115
But in practice...
I was told that if the original booking was overwater with AC, then any new booking must be overwater on AC too. However, what does that mean in real terms? If I was flying YYC-YYZ-DOH for example, can I ask for YYC-LHR-DOH where LHR-DOH is on another airline (because the overwater is YYC-LHR on AC)? Does the "other airline" that I ask for after the overwater portion need to be *A? Anybody (like BA)? An airline with regular codeshares? Or something in between? Or neither? Meaning could I ask for somebody with no relationship with AC at all like Emirates?
#24
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 40
I am about to take AC16 from HKG to YYZ next week. When I bought the ticket in Jul, the departure time was 13:55. In Aug, AC changed the departure to 13:20 and I accepted the change. I just found out yesterday the departure is now changed to 10:25. Is it possible to ask for a refund or change of date without paying the fare difference because the new departure time is now more than 3 hours from the original time when I purchased the ticket?
#26
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: YTO
Programs: AC P25K
Posts: 10
I had a redeye flight be canceled (YVR-YYZ-EWR, seems they got rid of the redeye widebody altogether), and their new schedule put me on an earlier flight forcing an overnight in YYZ, then the YYZ-EWR flight in the morning
Called Aeroplan (was a latitude reward booking), they wouldn't provide overnight hotel due to covid, is this normal or should I be pushing them? (schedule change of 3+ hours if that matters)
Called Aeroplan (was a latitude reward booking), they wouldn't provide overnight hotel due to covid, is this normal or should I be pushing them? (schedule change of 3+ hours if that matters)
#27
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, AA PPro, UA Gold, Bonvoy Tit LT Sil, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Accor Silver
Posts: 43,531
I've had numerous schedule changes on numerous airlines, and the only times I've ever had hotels provided were during IRROPS when I was stuck in transit. And in my worst situation, I was *G in J - and that often wasn't enough.
Anything done within North America more than 24 hours in advance, I'd have basically zero expectations.
That entitles you to a rebooking or refund.
#28
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, AA PPro, UA Gold, Bonvoy Tit LT Sil, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Accor Silver
Posts: 43,531
I called the other night to cancel my October Korea trip. A concierge picked up.
At the time of my call, I had UN segments on one date and TK segments on another date, so there had been a massive schedule change.
I told him I wanted a refund, and he said he'd have to put me on hold.
After a few minutes...
"Sir, I've been told that your ticket is non-refundable, so we can't issue a refund. Refunds require a three hour schedule change."
(at this point I noticed he'd resolved the schedule change, so I was HK everywhere)
"... when I called, the PNR showed cancelled segments on the 17th, rebooked to the 18th. That's a 24 hour change."
"That's not a schedule change, because we no longer operate flights on the 17th."
"... it's a 24 hour change, and I want a refund."
"Is the new date inconvenient for you?"
"... yes"
He put me on hold again, then came back to say he'd done me a big favor by refunding it, as it was not within policy.
You know, the 3 hour policy he'd just quoted me. With my 24 hour change.
I need to start recording these calls.
At the time of my call, I had UN segments on one date and TK segments on another date, so there had been a massive schedule change.
I told him I wanted a refund, and he said he'd have to put me on hold.
After a few minutes...
"Sir, I've been told that your ticket is non-refundable, so we can't issue a refund. Refunds require a three hour schedule change."
(at this point I noticed he'd resolved the schedule change, so I was HK everywhere)
"... when I called, the PNR showed cancelled segments on the 17th, rebooked to the 18th. That's a 24 hour change."
"That's not a schedule change, because we no longer operate flights on the 17th."
"... it's a 24 hour change, and I want a refund."
"Is the new date inconvenient for you?"
"... yes"
He put me on hold again, then came back to say he'd done me a big favor by refunding it, as it was not within policy.
You know, the 3 hour policy he'd just quoted me. With my 24 hour change.
I need to start recording these calls.
#29
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,788
I called the other night to cancel my October Korea trip. A concierge picked up.
At the time of my call, I had UN segments on one date and TK segments on another date, so there had been a massive schedule change.
I told him I wanted a refund, and he said he'd have to put me on hold.
After a few minutes...
"Sir, I've been told that your ticket is non-refundable, so we can't issue a refund. Refunds require a three hour schedule change."
(at this point I noticed he'd resolved the schedule change, so I was HK everywhere)
"... when I called, the PNR showed cancelled segments on the 17th, rebooked to the 18th. That's a 24 hour change."
"That's not a schedule change, because we no longer operate flights on the 17th."
"... it's a 24 hour change, and I want a refund."
"Is the new date inconvenient for you?"
"... yes"
He put me on hold again, then came back to say he'd done me a big favor by refunding it, as it was not within policy.
You know, the 3 hour policy he'd just quoted me. With my 24 hour change.
I need to start recording these calls.
At the time of my call, I had UN segments on one date and TK segments on another date, so there had been a massive schedule change.
I told him I wanted a refund, and he said he'd have to put me on hold.
After a few minutes...
"Sir, I've been told that your ticket is non-refundable, so we can't issue a refund. Refunds require a three hour schedule change."
(at this point I noticed he'd resolved the schedule change, so I was HK everywhere)
"... when I called, the PNR showed cancelled segments on the 17th, rebooked to the 18th. That's a 24 hour change."
"That's not a schedule change, because we no longer operate flights on the 17th."
"... it's a 24 hour change, and I want a refund."
"Is the new date inconvenient for you?"
"... yes"
He put me on hold again, then came back to say he'd done me a big favor by refunding it, as it was not within policy.
You know, the 3 hour policy he'd just quoted me. With my 24 hour change.
I need to start recording these calls.