What can I cancel again?

Its been quite a while that we have been in this pandemic and there have been so many changes and many airlines have been flip-flopping with their cancellation policies. As a result, its also very easy to lose track of who is offering what in terms of their refund and/or cancellation policies.

So below is a quick summary of whats being offered today.

Aeroplan

You can cancel any reward flight free of charge until October 16, 2020.
(Note this date has been pushed forward several times, so we fully expect it to be pushed further again.)
If you’d like to cancel any Flight Reward, the fastest way to do so is at aeroplan.com.
Until October 16, you can cancel free of charge and receive all of your Aeroplan Miles back in your account, plus a full refund of any associated taxes, fees and surcharges on the unused value of your travel.
Simply log in at aeroplan.com and visit “Manage your bookings”

Air Canada

You can make a one-time change without a fee or cancel your existing booking and rebook later if your original travel is between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021.

If you booked with a travel agent or any online travel agency (for example, Expedia or Priceline), you need to contact them directly for changes or cancellations.

If you booked with Air Canada vacations, click here to be redirected to their website for more details.

Note you also have these additional options:
You can also convert your previously cancelled booking (for original travel between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021) to an Air Canada Travel Voucher that is fully transferrable and never expires
or
Aeroplan Miles with an additional 65% bonus miles.
(Some restrictions apply based on your address if in Canada or US)

West Jet

West Jet is offering a flexible change or cancellation policy with no fee to change or cancel flights booked before December 31, 2020.

The full value of your cancelled flight will be credited to a Travel Bank valid for 24 months from the date of issue.

The easiest way is to do it online.
Click here to “Manage your flights” under “Manage trips” to change/cancel flights online.

If you are unable to cancel online, click here and fill in the details on the online form.

WestJet Vacation packages booked prior to August 4, 2020 can be cancelled with the value credited as WestJet dollars valid for 24 months. For bookings after August 4, you can protect your vacation with the Travel Protection Plan. To request cancellation of a WestJet Vacations package, you need to contact WestJet directly.

It is interesting to note that only Aeroplan is giving back fully what you originally paid i.e. redeposit of Aeroplan Miles and refund of all taxes and fees.
(Certain exclusions still apply i.e. previously-charged fees, including contact centre booking fees and change fees, or for government taxes and fees which are non-refundable by law.)

With Air Canada and West Jet, you can only get back vouchers for future travel or frequency flyer reward points of the respective airline.

Do I have other options not published by the airline?

So, what do you do, if you still want to get a full refund to your original form of payment with Air Canada or West Jet?

You have two options at your disposal:
a. If the flight was cancelled, and if you have been denied a refund;
initiate a chargeback on your credit card for “services not rendered”
or
b. Go online and initiate a Small Claims Court case for “Frustrated Contracts”

Additionally, you should also complain to DOT if your flight involves a flight to/from the US or to the EU regulator if your flight departs from the E.U. or involves a carrier from the E.U.

The Covid Cancellations DOT Complaint Generator is available online here.
The Complaint Generator was created by FORMidable Solutions in collaboration with Dr. Gábor Lukács, president of Air Passenger Rights, Canada’s non-profit advocacy group.

Click here for details on your rights on flights  that depart from the E.U. or involves a carrier from the E.U.

Feel free to reach out for help at the Air Passenger Rights Group on the Facebook group managed by Airline Passengers advocate Dr. Gabor Lukacs and his wonderful team of moderators.
In addition to information on refunds, you can also get information related to flight delays, cancellation, denied boarding/transportation, baggage delay, damage, theft, loss and failure to accommodate disabilities.

Note that the team at CanadaPointsGuy.com still does not advocate travel unless its essential. So, in case you have a reservation and need to change/cancel, you know where to turn to.

Written by Dominic Fernandes aka CanadaPointsGuy.

Image photo courtesy of Bermix Studio on Unsplash