Air Canada has introduced a goodwill policy to give all customers flexibility with imminent travel plans.

The update comes as Air Canada and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) enter the 21-day cooling off period that follows the end of federal conciliation in their negotiations.

Air Canada says it is committed to seeking a negotiated agreement with the ALPA, and operations for the airline continue as normal.

“However, certainty about their travel plans is important to customers,” says the carrier in its latest statement.

With that in mind, starting today, August 27, Air Canada customers who have purchased travel on Air Canada flights for the period immediately preceeding and after the end of the cooling off period on September 17 can change any travel already purchased at no additional cost.

Changes can be made through travel advisors, or online at aircanada.com, through the Air Canada mobile app or by calling an Air Canada Contact Centre. The airline notes that “wait times may be elevated” for customers reaching out to the call centre.

The policy allows customers holding bookings on any fare type with travel between September 15 and 23, 2024, to …

A) Rebook to any other Air Canada flight(s) with the same origin and destination up to November 30, 2024.  Change fees and any other fees or fare difference will be waived, meaning such changes can be made at no cost for customers who choose to travel the same route in the same cabin,

or

B) Cancel their flight and retain the residual value on a future travel credit. Refunds will be available as per fare rules for customers with refundable tickets; for customers with non-refundable tickets, refunds are not available as flights are scheduled to operate as normal

or

C) Cancel their flight and rebook travel for after November 30, in which case change fees will be waived but the customer will have to pay the fare difference, if any.

The policy applies to all Air Canada operated flights, including Air Canada mainline, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz or PAL Airlines, and Air Canada Vacations (an additional fee may apply for hotels).

“It is important to remember that Air Canada Express flights, operated by Jazz or PAL Airlines, are not operated by Air Canada pilots and therefore will not be impacted by the end of the cooling-off period,” says the airline.

“Additionally, to give customers with special requests visibility, certain special services will be temporarily unavailable. These include services such as the Unaccompanied Minor Program, special request baggage services for items such as bicycles and hunting equipment, and the Meet and Assist Program in Japan.”

Air Canada added: “Air Canada’s intention remains to reach a negotiated settlement with its pilots, one that recognizes their professionalism and contributions to the airline. During the talks, there has been significant progress and the three-week cooling off period gives the parties more than sufficient time to address any outstanding issues. Air Canada is fully committed to bargaining meaningfully throughout the period.”

More details are available at aircanada.com/action and for ACV customers at vacations.aircanada.com/en/travel-advisories.

Source: Travelweek