Let’s say it from the outset: there are no tons of avenues. Thousands of people are currently “hosting hostage” by the labor conflict at Air Canada, recalls the president of the association of travel agents of Quebec, Moscow Côté.
Succeeding in speaking to an air transport agent since Thursday is requiring patience to any test. Before waiting for hours on the phone, some information is good to know.
First, it is possible to postpone your flight to a date between August 21 and September 12, at no cost. Air Canada offers this option to all those who have reserved a planned flight between August 15 and 18. If it is impossible to postpone your flight, you can still buy a plane ticket from another airline. However, expect to pay your ticket at a high price.
The majority of flight prices have increased by at least 50 %.
Moscow Côté, President of the Quebec Travel Agents Association
This option also includes risks. “All tickets that are reimbursable or partially refundable are no longer available. The sale was arrested, ”says Moscow on the side. It is to protect themselves that airlines act in this way, he says. “I can understand. Someone has a ticket with Air Canada to [samedi] For Paris. In case, this traveler buys a repayable ticket with Air Transat. Finally, his flight is not canceled and he requests an air deck refund, “he explains, to illustrate the problems that it can cause to other carriers.
There is no point in demanding a refund until your flight is officially canceled. And yes, it may be at the last minute.
“This is what arouses concern. As long as the flight is not canceled, Air Canada cannot reimburse, ”reiterates Moscow on the side.
To avoid this kind of problems in the future, he strongly encourages people to buy their plane ticket directly from a travel agent. “It’s not more expensive, it’s the same price. We have real -time access to the whole inventory of airlines. We are able to protect customers as soon as their flight is canceled, ”he says.
By doing business with a travel agency, consumers are also covered by the customer compensation fund for travel agents, who can reimburse expenses, such as transport and accommodation, caused by air carriers problems.
