Did you know that Air Canada offers a 24-hour no penalty cancellation for all flights? And that includes the refundable and non-refundable ones too? 

What does this mean for you? It means that instead of booking your vacation first and then finding a flight that works for the time you booked, you can search online for the best flight deal and then request your vacation days from work to see if that works for your schedule.

This has been the #1 biggest way that we save money when we travel. Flights are often the most expensive part of the trip and I know most of you might be waiting up until 11pm on a Tuesday night to get the best deal. But what if you see a great deal on Monday? Well if the price goes down you can get that price and, if it doesn’t, you’ve secured a great deal for your trip.

From the Air Canada site:

“You may cancel your purchase of tickets up to 24 hours after purchase and Air Canada will provide you with a full refund without penalty. This policy applies to refundable as well as non-refundable fares. Please ensure you verify your booking confirmation for any error as soon as it is received in order to avail yourself of this free cancellation. If you wish to cancel, or if you did not receive an itinerary receipt, simply contact Air Canada within 24 hours after purchase for assistance.”

Last summer when we were going to Switzerland we took advantage of this arrangement because the flights were at times $2,500 per person! That’s a bit much for our family of four. I was able to get a great deal of $1,500 per person by booking first and then having hubby check his vacation days after.  

This works best if you can let whoever needs to approve your vacation know that you need a fast response because you’d have to cancel your flight if it’s not approved within the 24 hour timeline.

Note that if you book through an agent, you’ll need to cancel with them, and they’ll need to process the cancellation. Same if you book with another site other than Air Canada. If you book online and pay by credit card you’ll receive your refund within 7 days. 

On the Air Canada site it also says that they have the lowest price on their site that’s available on their computers. So there you have it. The lowest price and a 24 hour cancellation policy. What’s better than that?

The peace of mind knowing that I can cancel if needed has been a game-changer for us and takes some of the stress out of planning a trip. Hopefully this travel booking tip will make a difference for your next adventure planning and budget too!

POST Update: There are many airlines that offer this 24 hour grace period so check when booking to see what their policy is.