Retiree Travel Policy
This policy presents the rules governing travel privileges for retirees of Air Canada (AC). Its purpose is to help you fully enjoy your travel privileges during retirement in a manner that is fair to all and commercially responsible for the company.
Scope & Eligibility
This policy applies to retired employees of Air Canada, AC Rouge, ACV and Fasco who meet at least one of the following conditions*:
- 25 years of continuous or qualifying service; or
- Factor 80; or
- Age 65 (or age 60 for pilots) with a minimum of 10 years of continuous service.
* UK based employees must have 25 years of continuous service. No other criteria apply. ↵
Eligibility also applies to the retired employee’s:
- Spouse, legal and registered common-law partner
- Dependent children as per travel profile
- Parents
Important:
The employee is the sole holder of employee travel pass privileges being provided to them. It is the full responsibility and discretion of the employee to manage any/all eligible family members and partners as they see fit within our policy regulations.
The employee assumes full responsibility for any/all family members and partners (registered and non-registered), traveling on their privileges.
Useful Definitions
Continuous service: The last period of uninterrupted employment with the company.
- Includes years of service on record at Canadian Airlines at the time of their integration in 2000
- Not impacted by approved leaves of absence taken during employment
Qualifying service: A period of service defined by the pension plan rules for members of a defined benefit (DB) pension plan* sponsored by the company. Includes periods of:
- Employment for which compensation is paid while a member of the plan
- Receiving indemnity from a disability plan
- Leaves of absence
- Previous employment
- Pre-employment military service buy-back, if pension plan rules permit
* Refer to your pension plan for more information. ↵
Rules & Limitations
Granting travel privileges to our retirees and their eligible family members is our way of recognizing the many years of loyal service they provided to Air Canada. The following guidelines provide a general overview of the conditions governing travel privileges for retirees.
Rules
For personal use or eligible-family use only. In event of death, please refer to our Survivor Policy
For leisure travel only.
Valid for travel on AC, AC Rouge, and AC Express.
Eligible for the following as per travel profile:
- Personal pass (C2/Y10)
- Partner passes (10 annually)
- OAL travel
- Service Award (if applicable)
- Flex or Flex + Bundle (if applicable) as per profile
- Upgrade pass (if applicable) as per profile
- Go AC suite of products
If you are eligible for other pass products, please feel free to consult the pages directly:
Boarding priority as per travel profile:
- Priority type
- Service date / retirement date
- If above two are equal time of check in will be used
Subject to service charges, as well as all applicable taxes and fees. Please refer to Sector Service Charge chart found in the Pricing and Billing Policy
Limitations
Non-transferrable to another person.
Unlawful to sell/barter travel privileges.
Not valid for business/business-related travel, including any travel involving a business venture, salary, paid commission, or non-profit organization (volunteering, coaching, etc.).
Not valid for immigration purposes.
Not valid for advance seat selection.
Not valid for accumulation of frequent flyer miles.
Rules
Must comply with AC non-revenue dress code
Must comply with AC non-revenue baggage policy
Must select priority status for travel before arrival at airport.
Personal travel profile contains information about individual’s eligibility, allotment, and boarding priority.
Limitations
May not register for more than one itinerary, whether identical or different, with the same origin and destination on the same day or multiple days.
Example:
CDG YUL 25MAY C2/Y10 and/or
LHR YUL 25MAY C2/Y10 and/or
FCO YYZ 25MAY C2/Y10 and
YYZ YUL 25MAY C2/Y10
May not use different priorities to register for the same flight or on the same day.
Example:
AC857 LHR YYZ 02JUN C2/Y10 and
AC859 LHR YYZ 02JUN C2/J11
Or
AC857 LHR YYZ 02JUN C2/Y10 and
AC857 LHR YYZ 02JUN C2/J11
Rules
Vary by airline and must be respected.
ZED fare tickets required.
Limitations
As defined by other airlines.
Procedure
Should any of the following change during your retirement, please contact Employee Care Team at 1-833-847- EMPL (3675) or at people.employes@aircanada.ca:
- Address information
- Marital status
- Dependent children
Exceptions & Unique Situations
All retired employees working for another airline or tour operator: If you start working at another airline or tour operator after your retirement from Air Canada, it will impact your travel privileges. This applies to all retirees working in any capacity or role at another airline or tour operator, including roles such as consulting or serving as an officer, director etc.
Here's what you need to do if the above applies to you:
- Inform Air Canada of the start of your engagement assignment/employment, etc. with airline or tour operator
- Contact AC when your engagement/assignment/employment, etc. has ended
Here’s what will happen:
- AC will temporarily deactivate all of your personal and family travel privileges during the period of your engagement/assignment/employment, etc.
- AC will reinstate travel privileges for you and your eligible family members once you have contacted us to tell us your employment/assignment/employment, etc. has ended
Travel disruption compensation
No right to flight disruption compensation (in case of cancellation, delay, or denied boarding) and other entitlements under the applicable passenger rights regimes, including Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) or the European Union's EC261. All individuals travelling agree to release, and waive all claims against Air Canada, its subsidiaries, affiliates, partner and other airlines from any and all liabilities, damages, entitlements to compensation, losses, costs, or expenses arising under such regimes.
Non-compliance
Any non-compliance with this policy without prior permission will result in the immediate suspension of your travel privileges, including the travel privileges of your eligible family members, and may result in more severe sanctions being imposed, including the permanent termination of those travel privileges.
When in doubt, it's better to contact actravel.voyageac@aircanada.ca or call 1-833-847- EMPL (3675) to ask for clarification than to risk making the wrong assumption.
This policy is subject to change without notice.
Last update: Apr 10, 2024