Air Canada Imposes Thirty-Dollar Phone Booking Fee

Air Canada Imposes a Thirty-Dollar Phone Booking Fee

Air Canada has begun charging a thirty-dollar fee per passenger for flight bookings made over the telephone, joining other Canadian carriers in shifting customers toward digital self-service tools, budongsancanada.com reported. The new charge took effect on September 15, applying an extra thirty dollars for each traveler on a phone reservation, which means two passengers booking together face a total of sixty dollars in additional costs.

Fee Structure and Exemptions for Travelers

The phone booking fee is billed as a separate line item and is excluded from standard ticket fares or other carrier surcharges. Air Canada confirmed that the fee remains non-refundable even if passengers subsequently cancel their flights or reservations. The charge does not apply to tickets booked directly through the airline’s official website or its mobile application.

Certain passengers remain exempt from the telephone surcharge. The airline stated that travelers requiring special assistance or accessibility accommodations, including those with disabilities, will not incur the fee. Customers calling customer service to manage existing bookings, handle travel disruptions such as flight cancellations and delays, or deal with active journey interruptions are not subject to the new charge. Phone bookings for Aeroplan reward tickets continue to follow pre-existing fee structures.

Air Canada explained that encouraging passengers to use online tools and mobile applications helps reduce customer service wait times. The carrier noted that shifting routine bookings to digital platforms allows support staff to focus on complex situations requiring individual assistance.

Industry Shifts Across Canadian Airlines

Air Canada is not the sole carrier implementing telephone service charges. Other Canadian airlines, including WestJet and Flair, already apply similar fees for bookings completed through customer service telephone channels.

Air Canada Charges Thirty Dollars for New Phone Bookings

Does the fee apply to passengers changing existing flights by phone?

No, the thirty-dollar fee applies strictly to new bookings made through the customer service telephone line. Inquiries regarding existing reservations and assistance during active travel disruptions are exempt from the charge.

Can travelers avoid the surcharge without using the internet?

Passengers who require accessibility support or specialized care are exempt from the telephone booking fee. For all other travelers, avoiding the charge requires completing reservations directly through the Air Canada website or mobile app.

Are Aeroplan reward tickets affected by the new policy?

Telephone bookings for Aeroplan reward tickets follow existing fee rules rather than the new thirty-dollar telephone reservation surcharge.