Travel plans can change unexpectedly due to various reasons, such as personal emergencies, weather conditions, or health issues. If you have booked a flight with Air Canada and need to change your itinerary, you may be wondering how much it will cost you and how you can avoid paying too much.
Air Canada change fees vary depending on several factors, such as the type of fare, the destination, the date of travel, and the availability of seats. Generally, the higher the fare class, the lower the change fee. For example, if you have booked a Flex fare, you will pay less than if you have booked a Standard fare. Similarly, if you are traveling within Canada or to the US, you will pay less than if you are traveling internationally.
The exact amount of the change fee will be displayed when you make the change online through the Air Canada website or app. You can also call the Air Canada reservation center or visit an Air Canada ticket office to make the change. However, you may incur additional service charges if you do so.
To minimize your expenses when changing your flight with Air Canada, here are some tips and suggestions:
- Book a flexible fare: If you anticipate that your travel plans may change, it is advisable to book a flexible fare that allows you to make changes for free or for a lower fee. You can also purchase a travel insurance that covers flight changes due to unforeseen circumstances.
- Change your flight as soon as possible: If you need to change your flight, you should do so as soon as possible. The closer you are to your departure date, the higher the change fee will be. You can also avoid paying extra fees if you change your flight within 24 hours of booking or within 2 hours of departure.
- Compare your options: Before you make a change, you should compare your options and see which one is more cost-effective. Sometimes, it may be cheaper to cancel your flight and book a new one than to pay the change fee. You can also check if there are any promotions or discounts available for your new flight.
Changing your flight with Air Canada can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. By understanding the policies, costs, and how to minimize expenses, you can save money and time when changing your itinerary.
What are Air Canada Change Fees and When Do They Apply?
Air Canada change fees are the charges that you have to pay if you want to modify your flight itinerary after booking. The amount of the fee depends on the type of fare you purchased, the time of the change, and the difference in fare between your original and new flights. Air Canada change fees apply to one-way, round-trip, open jaw, stopover or circle trip itineraries.
How to Avoid or Reduce Air Canada Change Fees
There are some ways to avoid or reduce Air Canada change fees, such as:
- Booking a flexible fare that allows free changes, such as Latitude, Comfort, Premium Economy or Business Class. These fares have higher initial prices, but they offer more benefits and flexibility than lower fares. You can change your flight as many times as you want without paying any fees, as long as there is availability and you pay any fare difference. You can also cancel your flight and get a full refund or a travel credit without any penalty.
- Changing your flight within 24 hours of your original booking date or time, as there is no fee for this. This is a great option if you change your mind or find a better deal shortly after booking. You can change your flight online or by phone for free, as long as you keep the same origin, destination and travel dates. You only have to pay any fare difference between your original and new flights.
- Changing your flight online or by phone before the check-in deadline, as this may be cheaper than changing at the airport. If you have a Standard or Basic fare, you can change your flight online or by phone for a lower fee than at the airport. The online fee is $100 per person per direction, while the airport fee is $125 per person per direction. The phone fee is $125 per person per direction, but it may be waived if you have a valid reason for not being able to change online.
- Using Air Canada travel credits or vouchers for future flights, as they can be applied to any fare difference without additional fees. If you have a travel credit or voucher from Air Canada, you can use it to book a new flight without paying any change fees. You can also combine multiple credits or vouchers to cover the entire cost of your new flight. You can use your travel credit or voucher online or by phone within one year of the issue date.
- Requesting a refund or cancellation from Air Canada if your flight is affected by COVID-19, as they have a new refund policy for this situation. If your flight was cancelled or rescheduled by more than three hours due to COVID-19, you can request a full refund or a travel credit without any fees. You can also request a refund or a travel credit if you cancelled your flight due to COVID-19 travel restrictions or health concerns. You can submit your refund request online or by phone within one year of the original travel date.
How to Change Your Air Canada Flight Online or by Phone
To change your Air Canada flight online, you need to:
- Go to the Manage Bookings section on the Air Canada website. You can access this section by clicking on the My Bookings tab on the homepage or by entering your booking reference and last name on the Manage My Bookings page.
- Select the flight you want to change and click on Change/Cancel. You will see the available options for changing or cancelling your flight, depending on your fare type and the time of the change.
- Choose a new flight from the available options and pay any applicable fees and fare difference. You can filter the flight results by price, departure time, arrival time, duration, number of stops, or airline. You can also compare different fare options and fees before making your selection.
- Review and confirm your changes. You will see a summary of your new itinerary and the total amount you have to pay. You can also review the terms and conditions of your new fare and the change policy. You can pay by credit card or by using your travel credit or voucher.
- Receive a confirmation email with your new itinerary. You will get an email with your new booking reference and e-ticket number. You can also print or download your new boarding pass online or at the airport.
To change your Air Canada flight by phone, you need to:
- Call Air Canada Reservations at +1-800-773-6613. You can reach this number 24/7 from anywhere in Canada or the U.S. If you are calling from another country, you can find the local phone number on the Contact Us page on the Air Canada website.
- Provide your booking reference and last name. The agent will ask you for your booking reference and last name to access your reservation. You can find your booking reference in your confirmation email or on your e-ticket.
- Request a flight change and follow the instructions of the agent. The agent will check the availability and price of the new flight you want to book. They will also inform you of any fees and fare difference you have to pay. You can ask them any questions you have about the change policy or the terms and conditions of your new fare.
- Pay any applicable fees and fare difference by credit card. The agent will process your payment by credit card over the phone. You can also use your travel credit or voucher if you have one.
- Receive a confirmation email with your new itinerary. The agent will send you an email with your new booking reference and e-ticket number. You can also request a paper ticket or a boarding pass to be mailed to you or to be picked up at the airport.
How to Use Air Canada Travel Credits or Vouchers for Future Flights
If you have Air Canada travel credits or vouchers, you can use them for future flights by:
- Booking a new flight on the Air Canada website or app. You can search for flights by entering your origin, destination, travel dates, and number of passengers. You can also filter the flight results by price, departure time, arrival time, duration, number of stops, or airline. You can also compare different fare options and fees before making your selection.
- Choosing the Pay with Travel Credit option at the payment page. You will see a section where you can enter your travel credit or voucher number and PIN. You can find these details in your confirmation email or on your paper voucher. You can also check your travel credit balance online or by calling Air Canada Reservations.
- Entering your travel credit or voucher number and PIN. You will see the amount of your travel credit or voucher applied to your new booking. You can also combine multiple credits or vouchers to cover the entire cost of your new flight. If your travel credit or voucher is more than the cost of your new flight, you will receive a new travel credit or voucher for the remaining balance. If your travel credit or voucher is less than the cost of your new flight, you will have to pay the difference by credit card.
- Paying any remaining balance by credit card. You will see the total amount you have to pay after applying your travel credit or voucher. You can pay by credit card or by using another travel credit or voucher. You can also review the terms and conditions of your new fare and the change policy.
- Receiving a confirmation email with your new itinerary. You will get an email with your new booking reference and e-ticket number. You can also print or download your new boarding pass online or at the airport.
Alternatively, you can call Air Canada Reservations at +1-800-773-6613 and provide your travel credit or voucher number and PIN to book a new flight. The agent will help you find a suitable flight and apply your travel credit or voucher to your new booking. You will also receive a confirmation email with your new itinerary.
How to Request a Refund or Cancellation from Air Canada
If you want to request a refund or cancellation from Air Canada, you need to:
- Check if your ticket is eligible for a refund by visiting aircanada.com/refund. You can access this page by clicking on the Refund and Cancellation Policy link on the homepage or by entering your booking reference and last name on the Refund Request page. You will see the refund options available for your ticket, depending on your fare type and the reason for your cancellation.
- Select the flight you want to cancel and click on Request Refund. You will see a form where you can enter your personal and payment details. You can also choose to receive your refund in the original form of payment or in a travel credit. You can also request a refund for any ancillary services or fees that you paid for your flight, such as seat selection, baggage, or change fees.
- Fill out the refund request form and submit it. You will see a confirmation message that your refund request has been received. You will also get an email with your refund request number and the estimated processing time. You can check the status of your refund request online or by calling Air Canada Reservations.
- Wait for an email confirmation from Air Canada. You will get an email when your refund has been processed and credited to your original form of payment or travel credit. The processing time may vary depending on the type of ticket and the reason for cancellation. It may take up to 10 business days for domestic flights and up to 21 business days for international flights.
Tips and Tricks to Save Money and Time When Changing Your Air Canada Flight
Some tips and tricks to save money and time when changing your Air Canada flight are:
- Comparing different fare options and fees before booking, as some fares may offer more flexibility and lower fees than others. You can compare the features and benefits of each fare option on the Air Canada website or app. You can also see the change fees and fare difference for each fare option before making your selection. You can choose the fare that best suits your needs and budget.
- Checking the flight status and availability before changing, as some flights may be full or cancelled due to weather or other reasons. You can check the flight status and availability on the Air Canada website or app by entering your flight number or route. You can also sign up for flight notifications by email or text message to get updates on any changes or disruptions to your flight. You can avoid changing to a flight that may be delayed or cancelled and save yourself some hassle and money.
- Changing your flight as soon as possible, as the fees and fare difference may increase closer to the departure date. If you know you need to change your flight, it is better to do it sooner rather than later, as the availability and price of the new flight may change over time. You can save some money by changing your flight before the fees and fare difference go up. You can also secure your seat on the new flight before it gets sold out.
- Choosing off-peak times or dates for your new flight, as they may have lower fares and less demand than peak times or dates. If you have some flexibility in your travel plans, you can try to change your flight to a less popular time or date, such as early morning, late night, midweek, or off-season. You can find lower fares and less crowded flights by changing to an off-peak time or date. You can also enjoy a more comfortable and relaxing travel experience.
- Joining Aeroplan, Air Canada’s loyalty program, as you can earn points for every flight and redeem them for future flights without paying fees. If you are a frequent flyer with Air Canada, you can join Aeroplan for free and start earning points for every flight you take. You can also earn points for other travel-related purchases, such as hotels, car rentals, or vacation packages. You can redeem your points for free flights or upgrades without paying any fees or taxes. You can also enjoy other benefits and privileges as an Aeroplan member, such as priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling, lounge access, and more.
