Please note that the change/cancellation/refunds policies are changing by the minute. Please refer to the website of the respective airline for the most updated information. I will endeavour to keep this page updated.
Its natural to be apprehensive to want to travel with all thats happening around us right now i.e. Flights cancelled, borders closed, national emergency declared etc.
Yet, we are also worried at the prospect of losing all our money on fares that are non-refundable. So, what do you do?
Here is a summary of what the airlines are currently offering:
Air Canada
Purchase period: Before March 4, 2020
Travel period covered: Before April 30, 2020
What: One Time Change
Deadline: Up to 24 hours before your departing flight
Also applies to: Aeroplan and Air Canada Vacations
Online: Yes
Call Centre: Yes
Free Change: a one-time change fee waiver will apply for travel completed before December 31, 2020
Cancellations/Refunds: You may cancel your flight and apply any unused value of the ticket toward the purchase of a new ticket provided all travel is completed by December 31, 2020. Kindly note that any fare difference will apply and any residual value resulting from a lower fare will be lost.
Notes: any fare difference will apply apply and any residual value resulting from a lower fare will be lost.
West Jet
Purchase period: Before March 3, 2020
Travel period covered: Travel in March or April 2020
What: $0 one-time fee waiver for changes or cancellations
Deadline: Change or cancellation must be requested at least 24 hours prior to departure
Also applies to: West Jet Vacations but change or cancellation must be requested at least 3 days prior to departure. Policy does not apply to Group bookings. Policy cannot be applied to packages with the following hotels: Disney, Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, Grand Pineapple Resorts and Playa Resorts.
Online: West Jet working on a solution to offer online
Call Centre: Yes
Free Change: $0 one-time fee waiver for changes or cancellations
Cancellations/Refunds: Value of cancelled flights will be returned as a credit to your Travel Bank
Notes: If you change your flight, the difference in fare applies
Porter
Purchase period: Bookings made before March 31, 2020
Travel period covered: Travel within the next 12 months.
What: Waiving change and cancellation fees
Deadline: At least 24 hours before departure
Also applies to: Not clear if applies to Porter Flights + Hotel
Online: Yes available for all fares except Basic
Call Centre: Yes
Free Change: Change or cancel your flight once without a fee
Cancellations/Refunds: Change or cancel your flight once without a fee
Notes: If you are booked on a Basic fare, you must contact the Porter Call Centre at 1-888-619-8622, or your travel agent.
Sunwing
Purchase period: Bookings made prior to March 4th, 2020
Travel period covered: Travel before April 30th 2020.
What: One change can be made per booking with no fees
Deadline: Change must be made 5 days or more prior to travel date.
Also applies to: NA
Online: Yes
Call Centre: Yes
Free Change: One change can be made per booking
Cancellations/Refunds: Only if you had purchased “Worry Free Cancellation” waiver at the time of booking,
Notes: New departure date must be prior to October 31st, 2020.
New travel must be for the same hotel and destination (subject to availability). If original destination is unavailable, credit can be applied to a package in a new destination.
Air Transat
Purchase period: Booked before March 4, 2020
Travel period covered: Travel until April 30, 2020.
What: Waive the change fees on all flights and packages
Deadline: Updated:Air Transat has changed the previous clause in their flexibility policy, which required a three-day notice prior to departure for any changes, to 24 hours prior to departure.
Also applies to: Package to any destination offered by Transat
Online: Yes
Call Centre: Yes
Free Change: Change the travel dates, hotel or destination—or all three—once at no charge towards travel completed by December 31, 2020
Cancellations/Refunds: If you cancel the reservation, you can use the credit towards subsequent travel completed by December 31, 2020.
Notes: Changes to group bookings can be made up to 3 days before departure. Customers who booked through a travel agency must contact their travel agents.
Swoop
Purchase period: Starting March 13th, all new bookings will automatically include ModiFly at no extra charge, for flights that are a minimum of seven days out. Travellers with existing bookings will be able to add ModiFly to their booking for free, excluding travellers that are travelling within the next seven days. Travellers who are travelling within the seven days will not be able to add ModiFly to their flight. These travellers must pay up to a $150 change fee .
Travel period covered: Not specified.
What: One-time change of time and/or date
Deadline: Use ModiFly to make a one-time change of time and/or date per direction (flight segment) up to 24 hours prior to departure.
Also applies to: Swoop Getaway
Online: Yes
Call Centre: Yes
Free Change: One-time change of time and/or date
Cancellations/Refunds: No
Notes: NA
Safe travels and hope this helps you to make your changes.
Written by Dominic Fernandes aka CanadaPointsGuy
Image courtesy of Ross Findon on Unsplash