Volunteering to travel on another flight
Sometimes, situations like maintenance issues, weather events, or unexpected circumstances can prevent passengers from travelling on their planned flight. To account for this, we may accept more reservations than there are available seats.
If it turns out that there are more passengers than seats on your flight, we may send an email asking for volunteers to adjust their travel plans. Volunteers can even earn a travel voucher or Air Canada discount code – just our way of saying thanks!
My travel plans are flexible
You may receive an email from us well ahead of your flight offering the opportunity to change to an earlier or later flight. If your travel plans are flexible, you can make the change and confirm your new itinerary. In exchange, you’ll receive an Air Canada discount code. *
I'd rather wait until closer to my flight
Sometimes we send out a second email closer to departure asking for volunteers who are willing to change their flight at the departure gate if the need arises.
If you're chosen as a volunteer at the gate, you’ll receive an Air Canada voucher* . More details on the voucher are included in your offer email.
I don’t want to volunteer for a flight change
If you don’t want to volunteer, you don’t have to – you can just ignore the email. If enough other passengers do volunteer ahead of time, you won’t need to anyway!
By ignoring the email you receive, you will remain scheduled on your original flight.
* The offer to volunteer is subject to availability and can be rescinded at any time. Note that volunteers are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Frequently asked questions
Why did I receive an email asking if I would like to switch my flight?
Flights can be disrupted at any time, whether we can anticipate it days in advance, or it occurs on the day of departure. This can happen because of:
- A maintenance issue
- A larger aircraft being substituted for a smaller one
- Weather events
- An unexpected situation
- An operational requirement
For any of these reasons we may need to ask you to travel on a different flight. Find out more about flight disruptions.
What happens if there aren’t enough volunteers on the day of my flight?
If there are more passengers than available seats on your original flight, our agents will ask for additional volunteers to switch their flight at the gate.
If there are still not enough volunteers to move their flight time either before or at the gate, we will need to deny boarding for some customers. Those passengers will not be able to board their original flight but will receive monetary compensation dependent on the delay they will face because of this change.
What if I’m travelling with others?
If you change your flight, everyone on your booking will be moved to the new flight you’ve accepted.
If you’re travelling with a companion who has a different booking, they may receive their own email offer and will need to accept the same flight as you so that you can still travel together.
Can I book with another airline?
The offers shown in the email we send you are strictly for Air Canada flights.
None of the new flight options offered in the email will work for me. What do I do?
The flights that we offer in the email are the only ones available for your itinerary. If the options do not suit your needs, you can ignore the email and you will remain scheduled on your current flight.
Note that our contact center agents won’t be able to give you different flight options. They also don’t have the ability to accept the flights offered to you in the email as you must book through the link provided.
If I change my flight, will my seat and cabin choice change?
The new flights available to you will be for the same class/cabin that you originally purchased.
We can’t guarantee the same seat, but we will make every effort to assign you a comparable one.
Am I still allowed to bid for an upgrade on my alternative flight?
Yes, of course. Once you have accepted the offer and received your revised itinerary, you will be able to bid for an upgrade provided your new flight qualifies.
Can I change my mind after selecting the alternative flight?
Once you have confirmed your selection, any changes will be subject to the fare rules of your original ticket.
If I’m selected as a volunteer at the gate, when will I receive my voucher?
Once we’ve confirmed that your seat is assigned to another passenger and have rebooked you on a new flight, we will issue your voucher.
If you travel on your original flight, you will not receive a voucher. Vouchers are only given to volunteers who have been moved to a different flight.