air canada change flight

How Can I Change My Air Canada Flight?

You can change your Air Canada flight by going to Manage My Bookings on the website or app, accessing your reservation, and selecting Change Booking up to two hours before the flight.

Travel plans are like the weather, as they can completely change within seconds. And if your plan has also changed, you might be currently thinking of changing your flight or rebooking a flight. Need not to say, navigating airline policies feels like a hated job, especially when you are dealing with a family emergency or even a simple shift in schedule, as you need to know what it is going to cost and how you can do it as fast as possible.

If your flight is booked with Air Canada, don’t worry, as a travel agency, we deal with Air Canada change flight requests every day. In this guide, we will tell you the reality of how Air Canada flight change works, what it costs, and also how you can save some bucks while rebooking or changing a flight on Air Canada.

If you don’t want to overpay or scramble for Air Canada change flight, keep it simple and directly call an agent at +1 (800) 419-9920.

Plan Changed? Use Air Canada Change Flight Within 24 Hours Rule Immediately

Whenever you change your mind or shift your travel plan, first check if you booked your Air Canada flight within the last 24 hours. If you did, you are in luck because you can avoid the extra charges for canceling or changing your flight. Air Canada allows you to change your flight with any fare or ticket, including Basic Economy, for free.

Therefore, we at AwareTravels always recommend our clients check their confirmation email right away to make sure everything is correct when they get it. If they find a mistake or need to change the date, time, or flight, they can fix it without any penalty. You must note that Air Canada’s 24-hour rule applies only when you booked a flight in advance for at least seven days and then you request changes within 24 hours of the booking.

You definitely avoid the extra fee or penalty, but you may still need to pay the fare difference for changing your Air Canada flight within 24 hours of the booking that was made at least seven days before the flight.

Learn more: How to Do Air Canada Group Travel Booking?

How Much Does It Cost To Change Air Canada Flight?

Once you have passed the initial 24 hours of your Air Canada flight’s booking, you may need to pay the Air Canada flight change fee, and the cost to change flight on Air Canada depends on the type of fare you purchased, while the fare difference is applicable to all fares if the new flight is more expensive than the original one. Here you can check the Air Canada cost to change a flight:

Air Canada Fares

Change Fee (More than 60 days before departure)

Change Fee (Within 60 days of departure)

Basic Economy

Not allowed

Not allowed

Standard

$100 CAD

$150 CAD

Flex

$0

$100 CAD

Comfort / Latitude

$0

$0

Business Class

$0

$0

It may help you if you are holding Air Canada’s Basic Economy ticket: Air Canada’s website most probably tells you that changes aren’t allowed, but before you walk away from the ticket, check to see if Air Canada has changed your flight time. If they’ve changed your schedule significantly, that “non-changeable” rule for Basic Economy can even change, and you may be allowed to fly on another flight.

What To Do If Air Canada Changes Your Flight Time?

Usually, Air Canada shifts flight schedules way in advance and informs passengers about it via email. However, if your flight’s schedule is changed significantly, such as more than three hours, or if Air Canada adds a connection to your direct flight, in this situation, you have the option to change your Air Canada flight for free.

As per our best knowledge and experience, we suggest you not click on the Accept button in the email sent by Air Canada to inform you about the flight’s schedule change. If the new schedule of Air Canada’s flight does not suit you, you just need to call its helpline number right away to get onto a better flight at no extra cost, even if the new flight is more expensive.

Do You Want To Change Your Air Canada Flight On The Same Day?

Sometimes you change your travel plan on the same day of your flight or when you are already at the airport. Therefore, Air Canada also gives you a chance to change your flight at the last-minute, that too with a flat fee between $75 and $100 CAD instead of the standard charge fee, making it cheaper than rebooking your flight a week in advance.

However, the caveat is that you need to fly earlier on the same day. If you are ready to fly earlier than your original flight on the same day, you may be able to save a few dollars. To change your Air Canada flight on the same day, either go to the check-in desk at the airport or open the app to check if an earlier flight is available on the same day.

How Do You Process Air Canada Flight Change?

Changing your Air Canada flight online is not a big deal, as you can process it through the airline’s website or app, but we recommend changing Air Canada flights through an agent. Here are the simple steps that you need to follow to change Air Canada flight:

  1. First of all, open Air Canada’s app or website.
  2. Go to Manage My Bookings and sign in to your account.
  3. Enter your booking reference and last name to access your reservation.
  4. Click on the View or Change Booking option.
  5. Select Change Your Flight.
  6. Check the new fare and the applied change flight fee.
  7. Pay the applicable fee and fare difference, if any.

Why We Recommend Flight Change Through An Agent?

When you change Air Canada’s flight yourself, you are responsible for being on hold and waiting for a reply from the airline. Not to mention, this waiting time can also stretch to hours sometimes, but when you manage booking or change your Air Canada flight through an agent, the agent is the one who waits on hold, not you.

Furthermore, the agent also knows which code or tactic they need to use to waive the extra charges and can also find alternative routes that Air Canada’s website might not show you. Basically, experts at AwareTravels not only book and manage your Air Canada flights but also fix your disruptions. So just give us a call at +1 (800) 419-9920 and let an expert handle the complicated flight change task.

Final Words

When you are seeking an easy way to change your flight with Air Canada, you must prefer contacting an agent or expert who will not only save you the extra fees but also give you a hassle-free and stress-free experience of changing your flight. Whether you are changing your Air Canada flight a week before the flight’s departure or on the same day, the entire process of changing a flight on Air Canada can be simple and risk-free as long as you know the fare rules and available change options. From our experience, travelers who seek expert assistance often avoid common mistakes and enjoy a smoother experience.

You may also be interested in:
1. Can’t Change Your United Flight? Here’s How We Can Help
2. United Airlines Change Flight Guide, Rules, Fees, and Tips
3. How Do You Change a Flight on Delta?

FAQ’s

Can I change my Air Canada flight?

Yes, you can change your flight with Air Canada, but you must act at least 2 hours before the flight’s departure time with any fare except for Basic Economy, which is non-changeable, and cover the fare difference between your new and original flights if other flight options are available.

Can I change my Air Canada flight date for free?

Yes, you can change the date of your Air Canada flight without extra charges if you change the date within 24 hours of the booking that was made in advance for at least a week.

Can I change my Air Canada flight within 24 hours?

Yes, you can of course change your Air Canada flight within 24 hours of the booking, that too without extra charges, even if you purchased a Basic Economy fare. If you change your Air Canada flight within 24 hours of departure, you can face a same-day flight change fee as well as a fare difference.

Can I change my return flight on Air Canada?

Yes, you can generally change your return flight with Air Canada, but it may not be free, and a fare difference can also apply.

Does Air Canada charge to change a flight?

Yes, Air Canada most probably charges a fee to change a flight, but this service can also be free for some passengers depending on their fare type and the time of flight change.

About the author

Picture of Amjad

Amjad

Amjad is a senior content writer at AwareTravels. He has an ambition to write travel blogs with the craft of engaging storytelling and useful tips and insights to help the audience. Amjad's writing inspires readers to plan memorable journeys and choose the right destination for their trips while securing the best travel deals.

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Speak to Our Travel Specialist
+1 (800) 419-9920
Speak to Our Travel Specialist
+1 (800) 419-9920