Country: Canada ·
Hub: Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), Vancouver (YVR) ·
Alliance: Star Alliance ·
IATA code: AC
24-hour free cancellation: Yes — full refund within 24 hours of booking on tickets where departure is more than 2 days away (Canadian Transportation Agency rule, applies to all Air Canada tickets).
Typical refund timeline: 7–14 business days for credit card refunds.
Air Canada is Canada's largest carrier and a major transborder operator with extensive US service. They fly between Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary and over 50 US cities, plus long-haul service to Europe, Asia, and South America connecting through Canadian hubs. Air Canada's fare structure is one of the more granular in the industry, with 8 distinct fare brands ranging from Basic (no checked bag, no changes, no seat selection) all the way to Signature Class business. Each fare brand has its own change and cancellation rules.
Air Canada fare classes — what each one really costs to change
Air Canada economy is sold in five brands: Basic (no changes, no cancellation, no refund), Standard ($100 change fee + fare difference), Flex ($75 change fee), Comfort (free changes, cancel for credit), and Latitude (fully refundable to credit card). In premium cabins: Premium Economy charges $75 to change, Business $0, and Signature Class $0. Air Canada also offers a uniquely Canadian fare feature called "cancellation insurance" — an add-on at booking that lets you cancel any fare type for a credit. If you bought this add-on, it changes the entire conversation.
The 24-hour rule for Air Canada tickets
Under Canadian Transportation Agency rules, Air Canada must allow free cancellation within 24 hours of booking on any ticket where departure is more than 2 days away. This is broader than the US DOT rule, which requires 7+ days to departure. For US passengers booking transborder or international flights on Air Canada, this means you have a 24-hour grace window even on Basic fares — but you have to act fast, and the cancellation must be processed within the window, not just requested.
Aeroplan points, eVouchers, and what happens to your money
When you cancel a non-refundable Air Canada ticket, the residual value (ticket price minus the cancellation fee) is issued as a future travel credit in your Aeroplan account, valid 24 months from the original booking date. You can also use Aeroplan points to pay a change or cancellation fee — at a rate of roughly 100 points per CAD$1 in fees. This is one of the better redemption values for Aeroplan points when you're stuck with a fee you can't avoid.
Schedule changes, weather delays, and US-Canada disruption
Air Canada experiences a high rate of weather-related cancellations on its US transborder network, especially in winter months when winter storms hit the Northeast. When your Air Canada flight is cancelled within 14 days of departure for any reason within their control, you are entitled to $400 CAD in compensation per passenger under Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), plus a full cash refund or free rebooking. Weather-driven cancellations are excluded from APPR compensation but still entitle you to a refund or rebooking at no charge.
Air Canada change & cancellation fees in detail (2026)
| Fare class | Change fee | Cancellation fee |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | $100 | $200 |
| Premium Economy | $75 | $150 |
| Business | $0 | $100 |
| First / Suites | $0 | $100 |
Indicative fees per passenger per direction. Fare difference may apply. Refundable fare types have different rules — call to verify your specific ticket.
Common reasons US travellers call about Air Canada
- Change an Air Canada ticket with a US-originating credit card
- Cancel a Basic fare and recover residual value as travel credit
- Rebook after an Air Canada schedule change or weather cancellation
- Handle multi-passenger or family bookings the website cannot process
- Resolve a cross-border ticket booked through Aeroplan partners
Air Canada FAQ
Standard economy: $100 USD/$125 CAD per passenger per direction. Flex: $75. Comfort and above: free. Plus fare difference always applies. Basic fares cannot be changed.
Only within the 24-hour grace window. After that, Basic fares are non-refundable and non-cancellable. However, if Air Canada changes your schedule or cancels the flight, your full ticket value can be refunded regardless of fare class.
If your departure is more than 48 hours away at the time of booking, you can cancel for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase, regardless of fare class. This is a Canadian Transportation Agency requirement and applies even on Basic fares.
Under Canada's APPR rules, you can receive up to $1,000 CAD per passenger for cancellations within 14 days of departure that are within Air Canada's control. Weather and air-traffic-control delays are excluded. You also receive a full refund or free rebooking in all cancellation scenarios.
Air Canada permits minor spelling corrections (up to 3 letters) free of charge. Full name transfers between passengers are not permitted. Married-name changes are accommodated with documentation.