Changing Air Canada Itinerary - Weather

GateGuardian wrote: ↑ The fee will only be waived if it's published on their website.

Typhoonz wrote: ↑ Hi all,

Curious if anybody knows if Air Canada will allow you to change an itinerary if the weather is forecast to be somewhat of a mess for the day of a departure? I'm meant to be leaving Montreal to Mexico (connecting via Toronto) on the morning of Feb 13. The forecast is calling for 10cm of snow the night prior to the flight and 5cm the day of. With this forecast in mind, will AC allow changes without any fees (e.g., if I wanted to just drive to Toronto the day before and catch the flight there instead of in Montreal)? Or is the only way to change without a fee if AC amends the flight?

Thanks

Typhoonz wrote: ↑ Hi all,

Curious if anybody knows if Air Canada will allow you to change an itinerary if the weather is forecast to be somewhat of a mess for the day of a departure? I'm meant to be leaving Montreal to Mexico (connecting via Toronto) on the morning of Feb 13. The forecast is calling for 10cm of snow the night prior to the flight and 5cm the day of. With this forecast in mind, will AC allow changes without any fees (e.g., if I wanted to just drive to Toronto the day before and catch the flight there instead of in Montreal)? Or is the only way to change without a fee if AC amends the flight?

Thanks

tequilla wrote: ↑
I would still call and suggest AC just remove Mtl-Tor leg without changing in price.
From common sense point of view it is win-win for both sides.
They get one ticket back for free and you avoid any possibility to
miss Toronto departure.

Another option to ask -- if you can be on stand-by on earlier flight from Mtl to Tor.
If I remember correctly, Mtl-Tor is officially free-earlier-stand-by route for AC.
(but still depends on ticket level)

Cheers!

tequilla wrote: ↑ I would still call and suggest AC just remove Mtl-Tor leg without changing in price.
From common sense point of view it is win-win for both sides.
They get one ticket back for free and you avoid any possibility to
miss Toronto departure.

Another option to ask -- if you can be on stand-by on earlier flight from Mtl to Tor.
If I remember correctly, Mtl-Tor is officially free-earlier-stand-by route for AC.
(but still depends on ticket level)

Cheers!

BrunetteGirl wrote: ↑ Since we are still too far away from departure to see what the weather will actually be just keep a close eye on the website (AC also shared any alerts due to weather disruptions on social media). Depending on the weather in the next few days by Feb 11th/Feb 12 if they will waive change fees will likely be announced by then. Be ready on the 12th to perhaps take an earlier flight into YYZ or ofcourse see if you can skip the departure portion and begin travel in Toronto.

Typhoonz wrote: ↑ I'll try this and see how it works out. Thanks. That's what I was thinking - if we were to cancel the YUL - YYZ portion, they aren't losing anything.

When you rebook your customers, please adhere to the following:
 Re-protect on AC or AC* only (other airlines are not permitted)
 Origin and destination must remain the same (including sister cities)
 Waitlist permitted, only if the original ticketed fare allowed a waitlist
 Rebook same class up to Y for Economy Class
 Rebook same class up to J for Business Class, with the exception of R class:
 When used with an eUpgrade credit, rebook original ticketed booking class up to Y
 When used for a last minute paid upgrade, rebook R up to J

Absolute wrote: ↑ I'd be careful about a plan to leave from YYZ and not YUL - weather waivers typically allow you to change your booking +/- 3 days when they are announced. That's it... they don't allow you to change your origin or destination airport using the online tool, and agents are told not to allow that either.

In fact, here is the guide sent to agents (silly AC, leaving searchable on Google): https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/a ... sories.pdf



While you may think that there is no cost to AC and it's win/win, they don't see it that way. Direct flights are usually priced higher than connections (i.e., you pay more to fly YYZ-CUN than YUL-YYZ-CUN), which is why hidden city ticketing is so popular.

And you can't just decide to skip your YUL-YYZ flight and show up in Toronto - if you miss a flight leg, AC will automatically cancel all your remaining flights. You need AC to alter your ticket and confirm it.

As others mentioned, that's too far away, especially given all the recent wild weather in YOW/YUL. I wouldn't normally be too worried about the snow, unless you have a very short connection in YYZ.

burnt69 wrote: ↑ Is there an non-stop out of YUL for the same destination by any chance?

Typhoonz wrote: ↑ Thanks. I've got a 2 hour 15 min layover in YYZ, so hopefully things are okay. Meant to get 15CM of snow the night before now .

Absolute wrote: ↑ That's not too bad, especially since you just need to head to the international terminal, and not re-clear US immigration/security. Even if you can't make the first flight, going standby an hour later still gives you plenty of time to connect. Additionally, depending on your destination, there may be another flight later in the day from YYZ you could standby on.

What is your destination in Mexico? I can use a tool to check flights and if there is space on each.

Absolute wrote: ↑ @Typhoonz AC just announced the YUL weather waiver for the 13th; now is your time to see what you can do.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Typhoonz wrote: ↑ Thanks. Got rebooked by AC on the direct flight from YUL to PVR tomorrow morning. Phew.

Absolute wrote: ↑ An extra day, and away from the weather before it starts? I call that a win!

FYI, YYZ just announced that they will be delaying and cancelling flights tomorrow, as Toronto is supposed to also get ice pellets and freezing rain.



That means delays and overbooking will spill into Wednesday.

GangStarr wrote: ↑ Montreal-Toronto is part of rapid air which means early same day stand by is available at all ticket levels.

This might be an issue with checked bags mind you.