Air Canada, Vouchers & Travel Insurance

lovehackney

I have a flight booked with Air Canada in June which has been changed to be indirect and on a different day.
I would like a cash refund, which would normally have been allowed, however the Canadian government has changed the law to allow airlines to refund only vouchers, not cash. 
A few questions:
1. Is this actually legal? I'm assuming it is, but then these aren't the Ts & Cs I booked under, and as a UK resident is there any difference?
2. Can I refuse a voucher, and assuming they refuse a cash refund, claim on my travel insurance instead? (probably not?)
Any other creative ideas for how I could get my money back would be appreciated..

Alan_Bowen

Every Canadian airline is following its own country's supposed ruling that vouchers are an acceptable option. They may be in Canada but they're not here in the UK as we have EU261 which gives you a right toa full refund, technically within 7days. Write back and remind them and if you get no satisfaction, the CAA announced over the weekend that they were prepared to tackle airlines who do not comply. Send the details to passengercomplaints@caa.co.uk

Life__Goes__On

lovehackney said:

I have a flight booked with Air Canada in June which has been changed to be indirect and on a different day.
I would like a cash refund, which would normally have been allowed, however the Canadian government has changed the law to allow airlines to refund only vouchers, not cash. 
A few questions:
1. Is this actually legal? I'm assuming it is, but then these aren't the Ts & Cs I booked under, and as a UK resident is there any difference?
2. Can I refuse a voucher, and assuming they refuse a cash refund, claim on my travel insurance instead? (probably not?)
Any other creative ideas for how I could get my money back would be appreciated..

What method of payment did you use?

lovehackney

Thank you Alan!
I used a credit card for payment, but it seems to be a very grey area as to whether the credit card company would deem vouchers a refund. It's an American Express if that makes any difference. I will be out of the 120 days (?) for chargeback but would be able to use section 75, as the flights were ~£200.

lovehackney

I should add I have contacted the CAA about Air Canada (although that flight is Chicago to Vancouver so I don't think it is covered).

Life__Goes__On

Raise a "Chargeback"  against the transaction stating non-supply of service, (using proof of cancellation)  also state that you have rejected any vouchers that you are entitled to do under English law.
If that fails then it's a Section 75 on the credit card.
The retailer (airline) can dispute the Chargeback,  but it must supply evidence to the card company
Personally can't see what evidence it could supply

Chargeback date can start from the date  you first knew there was a problem,  not the actually purchase date.