Air Canada changes their refund policy

[moonstone]

Air Canada finally gave in after so people complained and signed a petition about the restrictive refund policy when flights were cancelled due to COVID19 restrictions. The new policy has removed the travel by date on the vouchers and people also have the option to transfer the voucher to somebody else or sell it.

Amid growing pressure to offer refunds, Air Canada makes a change to its voucher policy

Airline still refuses to refund cancelled flights, supported by federal regulator the Canadian Transportation Agency

www.theglobeandmail.com

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadian-airlines-refunds-consumer-complaints-1.5580042

~Diane

 

[jabberwocky]

But they still are not giving cash refunds, so really there isn't a change in policy.

Over on FlyerTalk there is chatter that WestJet is offering cash refunds for transborder flights (i.e., to the US). Apparently all of the DOT compliants are starting to work. I will test this out this weekend for our June 26th flights to OGG which were cancelled by WestJet.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

But they still are not giving cash refunds, so really there isn't a change in policy.

Over on FlyerTalk there is chatter that WestJet is offering cash refunds for transborder flights (i.e., to the US). Apparently all of the DOT compliants are starting to work. I will test this out this weekend for our June 26th flights to OGG which were cancelled by WestJet.

Actually, it is a change in policy, just not a change in policy to provide refunds. Perhaps a fine point, but changing the voucher policy to have no expiry date and making the voucher transferable and salable is certainly also a change in policy. Having a choice of the voucher or a refund would certainly be a better change, but with virtually no cash flow currently I certainly understand the airline's preference for a voucher.

 

[am1]

Actually, it is a change in policy, just not a change in policy to provide refunds. Perhaps a fine point, but changing the voucher policy to have no expiry date and making the voucher transferable and salable is certainly also a change in policy. Having a choice of the voucher or a refund would certainly be a better change, but with virtually no cash flow currently I certainly understand the airline's preference for a voucher.

Cash refunds should be provided. People are not in the business of brokering vouchers? Who would buy a voucher for face value? Could be a business buying up vouchers cheap and reselling them or pressure Air Canada for cash.

 

[Yellowfin]

The problem is that Air Canada is very expensive on many routes and that makes the vouchers much less valuable than cash.

 

[Dori]

Back in March, We were able to cancel two mid-June flights to Vietnam, booked through Aeroplan on EVA Air, a Star Alliance partner. This was even before EVA had officially cancelled our flight. We got back all our Aeroplan miles, plus the taxes.
That left us with a third ticket that we booked directly with EVA, paying by credit card.
About two weeks ago, Eva contacted us, saying our flight was cancelled, and I was able to get a full refund on the third ticket. I was so happy about that one, as it was almost $1400!

I have no idea when we will be able to travel back to Vietnam, but certainly not any time soon. It has been almost a year since we have seen our son, daughter-in-law and beautiful grandchildren.

Dori

 

[jabberwocky]

Actually, it is a change in policy, just not a change in policy to provide refunds. Perhaps a fine point, but changing the voucher policy to have no expiry date and making the voucher transferable and salable is certainly also a change in policy. Having a choice of the voucher or a refund would certainly be a better change, but with virtually no cash flow currently I certainly understand the airline's preference for a voucher.

I don't disagree with you. My point was that the title of the thread indicated there was a change in refund policy, I wanted to keep people from getting too excited.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

The problem is that Air Canada is very expensive on many routes and that makes the vouchers much less valuable than cash.

That has not generally been my experience, but I guess it depends upon the particular route. Or are you talking about a vacation package, as opposed to just a flight?

In any case, I am not sure I follow your logic. If Air Canada is more expensive on the route, then why would you book with them in the first place? In which case, you would have no need of a refund or a voucher from AC. Or is your only consideration when booking a flight the lowest cost? If the latter, and you bought on sale at AC, but wouldn't use them again, then I guess it makes some sense. Or did I miss something?

 

[CanuckTravlr]

I don't disagree with you. My point was that the title of the thread indicated there was a change in refund policy, I wanted to keep people from tetting too excited.

Good point!!

I missed the reference to "refund" in the title of the thread.

 

[am1]

That has not generally been my experience, but I guess it depends upon the particular route. Or are you talking about a vacation package, as opposed to just a flight?

In any case, I am not sure I follow your logic. If Air Canada is more expensive on the route, then why would you book with them in the first place? In which case, you would have no need of a refund or a voucher from AC. Or is your only consideration when booking a flight the lowest cost? If the latter, and you bought on sale at AC, but wouldn't use them again, then I guess it makes some sense. Or did I miss something?

Sometimes cheaper a lot of times more. Layover options are usually cheaper on other carriers. Thats why cash in hand is king.

 

[Tacoma]

Although cash is always king I will give Air Canada credit for this (and I'm a westjet girl) at least you will be much more likely to use it. I got 2 vouchers from Flair Airways for $68 each. They can only be flown by the person it was originally ticketed to and has about a one year fly by expiration date. At least now with Air Canada one person could use up the value of both vouchers by going further or at a more expensive time. It is way more difficult to use up vouchers in multiple names with expiration dates attached.

 

[Blues]

Cash refunds should be provided. People are not in the business of brokering vouchers? Who would buy a voucher for face value? Could be a business buying up vouchers cheap and reselling them or pressure Air Canada for cash.

First, I agree with you. AC should do full cash refunds; anything else is chickens**t.

But to address your comment. Back in the good ol' days when Southwest allowed their vouchers for cancelled flights to be used by anyone, any flight, any time; there was an active market in Southwest vouchers. Mostly on eBay. It was very easy to get 90 cents on the dollar for vouchers; perhaps 95 cents if you held out long enough.