Air travel policy updates

[Sue M]

Crap...oh well. I see they now have 30 minute ones too...I think that is new.

Guess I’ll be doing the $155 one.

 

[LauraLap]

Ooh jeez. Yeah if I had to wait that long I'd just rent a car from Atlanta and drive there (and back). That's only about 6 hours itself!

Sorry, I meant that I went from a direct YYZ to MCO (3 hour) flight to a flight that connects through Atlanta so it's now 6 hours total. I did the math and it's still less time to take the flight. Westjet is not offering refunds at all (only credit) so I have to take it. Or else I'd rebook a direct flight with Air Canada.

 

[MDH]

You could be super cautious and mask while inside, and in queues and rides.
I plan on bringing masks. Even though I’m fully vaccinated I think I’ll still mask inside and while in queues especially the inside ones.

You are right, I totally could, but the consequences for being unlucky on this are so definite. Plus, August In Florida. The amount of perspiration that goes on, Avery surface will have been touched by so many sweaty people. This doesn't even get to pool use, which would be a big part of a trip. I'm not a germaphobe, but I am a microbiologist, and I know how little am amount of viral RNA is needed for those PCR tests (they run 35 cycles, that's nuts) and I would not be able to relax one minute until I got all our negative results.

 

[PixieT78]

Sorry, I meant that I went from a direct YYZ to MCO (3 hour) flight to a flight that connects through Atlanta so it's now 6 hours total. I did the math and it's still less time to take the flight. Westjet is not offering refunds at all (only credit) so I have to take it. Or else I'd rebook a direct flight with Air Canada.

Ouch that's an annoying change! I just booked YVR to MCO for September through YYZ so hopefully that will not happen! Though I like that they are there for backup if we have an issue.

I'm crossing my fingers the testing requirement will be done by the time we get to September but with all the issues elsewhere in the world, I'm not sure that is likely. Do need to budget in that test cost that I didn't think of though!

 

[Sue M]

Ouch that's an annoying change! I just booked YVR to MCO for September through YYZ so hopefully that will not happen! Though I like that they are there for backup if we have an issue.

I'm crossing my fingers the testing requirement will be done by the time we get to September but with all the issues elsewhere in the world, I'm not sure that is likely. Do need to budget in that test cost that I didn't think of though!

I’m flying YVR-Sea-MCO. With Alaska. Sometimes I just drive to SEA to pick up the flight to MCO. But being unsure of border crossing I’m just flying from YVR.
YVR has testing onsite for US. So I’m planing to get to airport early and do it pre flight. US accepts antigen test.

 

[LauraLap]

I’m flying YVR-Sea-MCO. With Alaska. Sometimes I just drive to SEA to pick up the flight to MCO. But being unsure of border crossing I’m just flying from YVR.
YVR has testing onsite for US. So I’m planing to get to airport early and do it pre flight. US accepts antigen test.

YYZ has antigen testing onsite as well. I'm going a few days early just to make sure as we live close.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

So if JT is saying hang tight for weeks not months, it has to be drastically changed before the end of summer because that would be months (if he is being literal).

C'mon IT Dept, get this App / Certificate going!

 

[Sue M]

So if JT is saying hang tight for weeks not months, it has to be drastically changed before the end of summer because that would be months (if he is being literal).

C'mon IT Dept, get this App / Certificate going!

Yes, hopefully we can salvage some of our summer tourist season.

 

[accm]

Oh goodie, here's a new little wrinkle in our potential Mexico trip. So I go to book flights with WJ, get to seat selection and the plane is nearly empty. Maybe 15 seats booked. Same for the flight back. I look further and there are 3 direct (non stop) flights between CUN and YVR a week in August. Uh....the chances of at least ONE of those flights being cancelled and consolidated I'd say is VERY high. So now we are looking at Puerto Vallarta instead. There is only one direct flight a week (still only about 20 seats booked so far) but I'm thinking that has a higher chance of actually going?? I know we need to roll with the punches but I'm just trying to do everything I can in order to actually GET there and home if possible lol And of course the hotel we are looking at is more money.....On the upside, less chance of a hurricane ripping through. Not zero of course but the pacific side isn't nearly as active.
Half glass full, right?

I hate that they do that, so people make plans around booked flights, and then at the last minute the airline cancels on them.
Have you tried looking through the west jet vacations? I think in that case, if they changed your flights, they’d also have to change your hotel reservation. Doesn’t really solve the issue, but at least you’re not scrambling to switch hotels at the last minute.

 

[tlcdoula]

So if JT is saying hang tight for weeks not months, it has to be drastically changed before the end of summer because that would be months (if he is being literal).

C'mon IT Dept, get this App / Certificate going!

Lets hope we get some more information. I need black and white, you need to do this so you can go here. We are going to try to book for mid November for a trip to Disneyland. I spent almost 3 hours on hold with disney to get my tickets re attached to my app so I can access them phew.... Now we can start some planning.

 

[bcwife76]

I hate that they do that, so people make plans around booked flights, and then at the last minute the airline cancels on them.
Have you tried looking through the west jet vacations? I think in that case, if they changed your flights, they’d also have to change your hotel reservation. Doesn’t really solve the issue, but at least you’re not scrambling to switch hotels at the last minute.

Unfortunately that is not an option for us. We have nearly $3500 sitting in our WJ travel bank and you can't use that for Westjet vacations

 

[LauraLap]

I hate that they do that, so people make plans around booked flights, and then at the last minute the airline cancels on them.
Have you tried looking through the west jet vacations? I think in that case, if they changed your flights, they’d also have to change your hotel reservation. Doesn’t really solve the issue, but at least you’re not scrambling to switch hotels at the last minute.

Yeah. I'm sitting on pins and needles. Our flight to MCO is in a couple weeks and I'm so nervous they'll cancel it.

 

[Juventus]

I just booked WestJet for August 15th. If they cancel, how far out do they usually do it. And if they cancel, do they usually rebook you on the next closest option?

 

[LauraLap]

I just booked WestJet for August 15th. If they cancel, how far out do they usually do it. And if they cancel, do they usually rebook you on the next closest option?

They cancelled my flight 4 weeks out and moved us to 1 day later with a stopover.

 

[Juventus]

They cancelled my flight 4 weeks out and moved us to 1 day later with a stopover.

I haven't flown in years, so just so I fully understand, if they cancel the flight you can not get a refund? You have to take whatever flight they move you to or take some type of credit?

 

[LauraLap]

I haven't flown in years, so just so I fully understand, if they cancel the flight you can not get a refund? You have to take whatever flight they move you to or take some type of credit?

For WestJet this is correct (because they didn't get a bailout from the Feds). For Air Canada, they give refunds for cancelled flights. WestJet you just get travel credit, even if THEY cancel the flight and there isn't a better one.

 

[Sue M]

Oh goodie, here's a new little wrinkle in our potential Mexico trip. So I go to book flights with WJ, get to seat selection and the plane is nearly empty. Maybe 15 seats booked. Same for the flight back. I look further and there are 3 direct (non stop) flights between CUN and YVR a week in August. Uh....the chances of at least ONE of those flights being cancelled and consolidated I'd say is VERY high. So now we are looking at Puerto Vallarta instead. There is only one direct flight a week (still only about 20 seats booked so far) but I'm thinking that has a higher chance of actually going?? I know we need to roll with the punches but I'm just trying to do everything I can in order to actually GET there and home if possible lol And of course the hotel we are looking at is more money.....On the upside, less chance of a hurricane ripping through. Not zero of course but the pacific side isn't nearly as active.
Half glass full, right?

After reading this I looked at our Aug YVR-MCO flights. Pretty full, whew!

 

[Sue M]

I haven't flown in years, so just so I fully understand, if they cancel the flight you can not get a refund? You have to take whatever flight they move you to or take some type of credit?

Depends on airline I think. I had a flight on Frontier once and they canceled flight. It was last flight of the day. So they rebooked my entire reservation on another airline at no extra cost to me.
Alaska canceled my flight last Nov, which meant I would have lost my first day of vacay or arrive a night early. So I came in early.
And another time flight changed over 3 hrs and I got a full refund.

 

[tlcdoula]

For WestJet this is correct (because they didn't get a bailout from the Feds). For Air Canada, they give refunds for cancelled flights. WestJet you just get travel credit, even if THEY cancel the flight and there isn't a better one.

I was able to get a refund back from
West jet but it did take months. They cancelled
Our flights last fall due to covid and it took me till
March of this year to get the credit to my credit card.

 

[LauraLap]

I was able to get a refund back from
West jet but it did take months. They cancelled
Our flights last fall due to covid and it took me till
March of this year to get the credit to my credit card.

Good to know. When I called to see if I could refund (as I was going to move to an AC flight), they said travel bank only. Man, what a weird time we're living in right? I didn't appreciate the multiple direct flights to MCO per day when I had them and no concerns they would be cancelled. I would get upset if they changed it +/- an hour or so!