Air Canada’s cancellation policy provides options for passengers to cancel flights, with refunds and fees depending on fare type, timing, and circumstances. Below is a concise overview based on available information:
24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation: You can cancel any flight within 24 hours of booking for a full refund to the original payment method, provided the flight departs at least 7 days later (168 hours). This applies to all fare types, including Basic Economy, and Aeroplan award tickets, with no cancellation fees.
Cancellations After 24 Hours:
- Basic Economy: Non-refundable after the 24-hour window. No refunds or credits are issued unless Air Canada cancels the flight, delays it by 3+ hours, changes the schedule by 2+ hours, or in cases of death, military orders, or jury duty.
- Standard, Lowest Premium Economy, Lowest Business: Cancellation fees of CAD/USD 100–200 apply, with the remaining value issued as a travel credit (valid for one year). No cash refunds are available.
- Flex, Comfort, Latitude, Flexible Premium Economy, Flexible Business: Fully refundable to the original payment method with no fees if canceled before departure. Refunds are processed within 7–20 days (7 days for credit cards, 20 days for cash/cheque).
- Aeroplan Award Tickets: Cancellation fees range from CAD/USD 0–175, depending on fare type and whether canceled via aeroplan.com (CAD 0–150) or the contact center (CAD 0–175). Top-tier Aeroplan Super Elite 100K members pay no fees. Miles are redeposited, and taxes are refunded.
- Non-Refundable Tickets: If canceled, you may receive a travel credit (valid for one year) after fees (CAD 75–300, depending on fare and timing). No cash refunds unless specific conditions are met (e.g., airline-initiated cancellations).
Airline-Initiated Cancellations: If Air Canada cancels your flight or delays it by 3+ hours for reasons within their control (e.g., maintenance, crew issues), you’re entitled to a full refund for the unused portion, including baggage fees, or rebooking on the next available flight (including competitors if necessary). Compensation under Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) may apply:
- CAD 400 for 3–6 hour delays
- CAD 700 for 6–9 hour delays
- CAD 1,000 for 9+ hour delays For flights departing from EU/UK airports, EU/UK Regulation EC 261/2004 may provide up to €600 if notified less than 14 days before departure and the issue is within Air Canada’s control. Refunds are not available for disruptions outside their control (e.g., weather, strikes).
Special Circumstances:
- Medical Emergencies or Death: Full refunds may be granted with documentation (e.g., medical certificate, death certificate) for the passenger or immediate family.
- COVID-19 Cancellations: For tickets booked on/before April 30, 2021, for travel by April 30, 2022, full refunds were offered. For later bookings, standard fare rules apply, but COVID-related cancellations by Air Canada qualify for full refunds.
- Preemptive Cancellations: If Air Canada cancels flights preemptively (e.g., anticipated strikes), they must offer rebooking or refunds, and compensation may apply as these are within their control.
How to Cancel:
- Phone: Contact Air Canada Reservations at +1-877-240-6770 (international, verify legitimacy).
- In-Person: Visit an Air Canada ticket counter at the airport.
- Travel Agents: If booked through a third party (e.g., Expedia, Kayak), contact the agent directly for cancellations and refunds, as Air Canada cannot access their systems.
- Aeroplan Bookings: Cancel via aeroplan.com or the contact center.
Refunds:
- Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 7 days for credit cards or 20 days for cash/Interac. If the card is expired, contact your financial institution.
- Non-refundable tickets may yield travel credits (valid for one year) after fees, or only taxes are refunded.
- No refund processing fees are charged by Air Canada.
- Refunds for extras (e.g., baggage fees, seat upgrades) are issued if the service wasn’t provided due to cancellations or delays.
Additional Notes:
- Always check fare rules at booking, as conditions vary by fare type (Basic, Flex, Comfort, Latitude, etc.) and destination.
- APPR applies to flights to, from, or within Canada; EU/UK EC 261/2004 applies to flights departing from EU/UK airports.
- Some X posts from 2022 noted goodwill policies for winter storm cancellations (Dec. 22–26), allowing full refunds or vouchers for tickets purchased by Dec. 21, but these are no longer active.
- Customer reviews on platforms like Trustpilot mention delays in refund processing, suggesting persistence or services like AirHelp for claims.
