Consumers in Canada are now eligible for refunds for flights cancelled due to COVID-19 from two airlines and more are likely to be added soon. We break down the airline bailouts at Air Canada and Air Transat, and what consumers must do and by when to get their money back and how to apply for these refunds and other details. Our guest this episode is Tahira Dawood, PIAC's second articling student and former researcher at PIAC (and she is also a foreign-qualified lawyer and worked in the aviation industry!).
Consumers in Canada are now eligible for refunds for flights cancelled due to COVID-19 from two airlines and more are likely to be added soon. Our guest this episode is Tahira Dawood, PIAC's second articling student and former researcher at PIAC (and she is also a foreign-qualified lawyer and worked in the aviation industry!). We break down the airline bailouts at Air Canada and Air Transat, and what consumers must do and by when to get their money back and how to apply for these refunds and other details.
We also cannot help ourselves as we talk about the challenges for consumers of passenger air travel in the best of times, and now in the worst of times. We also discuss possible bailouts (and refunds!?!) for travellers on other Canadian airlines such as WestJet, Sunwing, Porter, etc.
We talk about the problem of prepayment for flights that cannot fly and why consumers usually do not get refunds. However, this episode really celebrates the power of consumers to get fair treatment when they band together and use their collective power to ask for a clear remedy like a refund. Way to go Canadian consumers! You are getting your money back. Enjoy this rare event - but don't delay or you might miss it.
Important links:
Air Canada Refund information (from Air Canada - see link below for refund page):
"Air Canada is extending a refund option to all eligible customers with tickets for travel dates on or after February 1, 2020 and who purchased their ticket before April 13, 2021. Refunds are available to those customers whose flight was cancelled or who voluntarily cancelled their flight for any reason, and who wish to submit a request for a refund to their original form of payment. Customers can request a refund online at www.aircanada.com/refund until June 12, 2021. The policy also applies to Air Canada Vacations packages.
Customers who booked through a travel agency must contact their agent directly. In support of its travel agency partners, Air Canada confirmed today that it will not recall agency sales commissions on refunded tickets that they process."
Air Transat Refund Information: https://www.airtransat.com/en-CA/refunds
You must submit your request using the online form by August 26, 2021, 11:59 p.m.
If you experience difficulty with refunds, you may be able to complain to the Canadian Transportation Agency, which has an information page for those who made CTA complaints prior to the bailout refunds being announced. Consumers should check with CTA on their complaint. See: How the CTA will be processing Air Canada and Air Transat refund-related complaints resulting from the pandemic