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Episode 70 - August 10, 2020
COVID-19 and the airline refund situation in Canada

In this episode we discuss the biggest topic in travel that has arisen due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and that's the issue of Canadian travellers getting or not getting refunds for flights that were cancelled by Canadian airlines. We delve into the topic primarily by giving real world examples from our readers and listeners and how they have handled getting or not getting refunds, their success or lack thereof with credit card charge backs and more. Give it a listen today!

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Links relating to this week's topics:

• Provide your feedback on the airline refund situation in Canada for an upcoming episode of the Rewards Canada podcast - this was our initial call out for stories, give the comments section a read for all the details and links from our great community!
• My experience getting a refund from WestJet for cancelled U.S. flights - Rewards Canada's own experience
• Air Passenger Rights Canada - Consumer Advocacy Group fighting for Canadian travellers
• Petition to the Government of Canada - Petition pushing for federal jurisdiction to have airlines issue refunds
• CTA Statement on airline vouchers

Useful links provided by our readers:

• Mastercard Chargeback Guide (PDF)
• Mastercard Dispute Resolution Management During COVID-19 (Public Version)
• Air Passenger Protection Regulations: SOR/2019-150

Sample letter to use to write your MP:

Dear [NAME OF MP]

It has been years since I have felt the need to write to my MP or MPP with my concerns about government policy. I am normally able to accept that there will be some things I can agree with and some things I don't. I am writing today to tell you how upset I am at your government's lack of action on demanding Canadian airlines refund their passengers for services not provided.

I have supported you at the ballot box and even been to a rally during an election campaign but you will no longer have my support if your government continues to allow Canadian airlines to steal money from Canadians and offer useless in vouchers in their place. I am now forced to go through my credit card company and likely the courts to get my money back for flights that were cancelled by the airlines. It is obvious by the outrageous prices for future flights that the vouchers are essentially worthless and quite frankly illegal as the airlines provided me with nothing for the money I gave them.

The minister of transportation has clearly sided with the airlines and their billions of dollars in the bank against Canadians and potential voters. The airlines should use bankruptcy protection to allow themselves to restructure as airlines do all the time. I would never invest in an airline for this reason, but I do think that it is the shareholders not unwilling Canadians who should be paying for this. The minister seems concerned about their being an airline industry coming out of this crisis. Of course there will be. Let them restructure and create an industry that is suitable for a pandemic and post pandemic time.

I have no idea why your government seems to be against the consumer. You will likely be facing a difficult election next year as Canadians have the time to assess the governments successes and failures of the current crisis. There will be thousands of voters holding onto to useless vouchers putting their X beside another party because the Liberals chose to ignore them and their hard earned money that is sitting with airlines rather than helping them to survive this difficult pandemic.