With storm systems and record passenger volumes bearing down on Canada’s two busiest hubs, Air Canada has introduced an unusual goodwill measure. A bulletin posted December 19 lets customers booked to connect through Toronto Pearson (YYZ) or Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) between December 19 and 24 shift to an available non-stop flight on the same origin–destination pair at no extra cost.
The policy applies to tickets purchased on or before December 19 and covers all cabins, though upgrades are not guaranteed. Travellers can self-serve online via “Manage My Booking,” avoiding call-centre waits that averaged 90 minutes during last year’s holiday meltdown. The airline says the goal is to alleviate pressure on congested transfer nodes, where winter weather and staffing shortages have historically cascaded into nationwide delays.
As international passengers review their options, it’s also worth making sure travel documents are in order. VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) can quickly arrange visas and electronic travel authorizations for more than 200 destinations, helping avoid last-minute paperwork snags if you decide to reroute on short notice or add a new stop to your itinerary.
![Air Canada Offers Free Same-Route Switch to Non-Stop Flights for Holiday Travellers]()
Corporate travel managers should alert employees whose itineraries include tight connections: opting for a direct flight could reduce duty-of-care exposure and minimise missed meetings. Firms with negotiated fares can process exchanges without incurring change fees or fare differentials, subject to seat availability.
Air Canada’s move follows Transport Canada’s call for carriers to submit contingency plans after 92 flights were cancelled during last week’s snow event. Observers note that waiving fare differences—rather than merely change fees—is rare in peak season and signals the airline’s concern about operational resilience.
Passengers who keep their original connections will not receive automatic compensation if delays are caused by weather, but those rebooked onto later flights due to crew shortages may claim up to C$1,000 under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations. The flexible-rebooking window closes at 23:59 EST on December 24.
The policy applies to tickets purchased on or before December 19 and covers all cabins, though upgrades are not guaranteed. Travellers can self-serve online via “Manage My Booking,” avoiding call-centre waits that averaged 90 minutes during last year’s holiday meltdown. The airline says the goal is to alleviate pressure on congested transfer nodes, where winter weather and staffing shortages have historically cascaded into nationwide delays.
As international passengers review their options, it’s also worth making sure travel documents are in order. VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) can quickly arrange visas and electronic travel authorizations for more than 200 destinations, helping avoid last-minute paperwork snags if you decide to reroute on short notice or add a new stop to your itinerary.
Corporate travel managers should alert employees whose itineraries include tight connections: opting for a direct flight could reduce duty-of-care exposure and minimise missed meetings. Firms with negotiated fares can process exchanges without incurring change fees or fare differentials, subject to seat availability.
Air Canada’s move follows Transport Canada’s call for carriers to submit contingency plans after 92 flights were cancelled during last week’s snow event. Observers note that waiving fare differences—rather than merely change fees—is rare in peak season and signals the airline’s concern about operational resilience.
Passengers who keep their original connections will not receive automatic compensation if delays are caused by weather, but those rebooked onto later flights due to crew shortages may claim up to C$1,000 under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations. The flexible-rebooking window closes at 23:59 EST on December 24.
