The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Air Canada adds $30 fee for phone bookings
Travellers who book an Air Canada flight via its call centre should brace for an extra charge of $30 per passenger, as the airline encourages customers to opt for its “digital tools” instead.
Air Canada has introduced a new booking fee for calls to its contact centre, set at 30 Canadian dollars per passenger. The charge applies only to bookings made by phone and not to tickets purchased via the airline’s website or mobile app.
The fee took effect on October 15 and is non-refundable, even if a ticket or booking is cancelled. For a two-passenger booking, the total would be $60.
Air Canada states the $30 booking fee will appear as a separate charge, separate from the airfare or carrier-imposed charges. The carrier is encouraging customers to use its digital booking tools to reduce wait times and free up contact-centre representatives for more personalized support.
Some customers are exempt from the fee. Those needing specialized care or accessibility support are excluded, and there is no fee applied if a trip is affected by delays, cancellations, or other disruptions. The fee does not apply to Aeroplan flight reward bookings made by phone.
Existing reservations and questions related to travel disruptions can still be handled by phone without incurring the new charge. The airline emphasizes continuing phone support for help with existing bookings and other inquiries.