When travelling, fine print is everywhere. From booking a flight to reserving a hotel room to signing for insurance, there are plenty of paragraphs of tiny text that few travellers take the time to read, let alone understand. But sometimes it can pay to know what’s said in the little lines. You can save yourself money, know when you might be charged extra or even find ways to have money returned to you, should you know that the options are there.
But let’s face it, you’re not about to start reading all those long lines of little text. That’s where Cheapflights.ca comes in. We’ve sorted through the paragraphs and PDFs to help you understand what your rights are and what you might need to know to save time, money and sometimes sanity.
Booking and reservation fine print
Credit card fine print
Credit cards are one of the many ways to get paid when you’re off spending your paycheque. FSource: Pixabayt.comrom earning points to accessing deals, a travel card that lets you rack up points can boost any traveller’s touring potential. But cards can also add unexpected costs, from conversion fees to annual fees and maintenance charges, so it’s good to know what you’re getting into before you sign up.
Know the perks of your card: There are more than 75 travel rewards cards available to Canadians, but not all cards are created equal. What might appeal to you in credit card perks will depend on what type of traveller you are. Do you spend your money on dining and entertainment? Then the Scotiabank Gold American Express card – with its 4 points for every dollar spent on gas, groceries, dining and entertainment – might be for you. Are you a business traveller looking to lounge before your flight? You might be interested in the BMO World Elite MasterCard, which grants holders access to Priority Pass lounges. Got a big trip coming up quick? With the Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite Mastercard, you get 40,000 bonus reward miles when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months of opening your card. Either way, knowing which benefits you’re looking for, as well as which spending habit you might be able to monetize, can pay off in the form of travel points.
Know if there are annual charges: Great as the perks may be, annual charges are also a consideration when choosing a card. Thinking about that Capital One Aspire Travel card? You may get a 40,000 mile bonus, but you’ll be charged $150 annually as a maintenance fee. Conversely, the Scotiabank More Rewards Visa Card offers 6 points for every $1 spent on purchases at participating locations and has no annual fee.
Know if there are conversion charges: Using a credit card can sometimes be the easiest way to make purchases abroad, particularly if you’ll be heading to multiple countries and dealing in multiple currencies. But this can come back to bite you in the form of foreign transaction fees, small 2.5-3 per cent charges your card company might levy for converting from the currency you’re spending into your home currency. The Chase Marriott Rewards Visa Card is one example of a card that does not charge an extra fee for overseas spending, but unfortunately these fee-free cards can be few and far between for Canadian travellers, so it’s best to do research ahead of time and know where you and your card stack up.
Travel Insurance Fine Print
Even for experienced travellers and the most thought-out travel plans, things can sometimes go wrong. Luggage can be lost, medical emergencies can happen, bad weather can create countless cancellations. Many of these can cause large out-of-pocket expenses for uninsured travellers, so here is what you need to know about travel insurance:
Have travel insurance: No one plans to get sick or injured abroad, but when crisis strikes the best wallet saver can be pre-planning. The Canadian government’s web page on travel insurance tells the story of a Canadian traveller who became ill while travelling. The man had to be hospitalized and, without insurance, found himself with a $20,000 medical bill. Another government travel insurance fact sheet tells the story of a Canadian traveller whose insurance lapsed a few weeks before she was involved in an accident abroad and whose family had to scramble to come up with $300,000 to cover her costs. Likely, the only thing you’ll pick up abroad is a tan and a good story. But those who do find themselves uninsured and dealing with a medical emergency might also find their budget beyond busted. One good way to avoid that extra cost is to have travel insurance in the first place. As with many kinds of insurance, the costs will initially be out of pocket and reimbursed after a claim is made.
Plan ahead: Almost all travel insurance policies require that you purchase insurance while you’re still in your home country, so be sure to have your coverage booked before you head out on your trip.
Know when you’re already covered: Have one of the credit cards mentioned above? Your card might already have insurance that will cover your health and travel expenses should things go wrong. The Capital One Aspire card includes travel emergency medical insurance and trip cancellation insurance, so cardholders can save on buying extra coverage. Some cards like the American Express Air Miles Credit Card even offer coverage for domestic trips outside of your home province.
Know when you’re not covered: Should an emergency arise, it is best to call your insurance company before seeking treatment as they can refer you to a local doctor whose care they will cover. Also know that many insurance policies won’t cover injuries sustained from certain activities including such things as adventure sports (bungee jumping, scuba diving), drug or alcohol use or other activities they might consider “self-inflicted injury” like hiking an active volcano, and sometimes if injuries are incurred in places where there are government travel warnings. These things are dependent on the individual policies, so check your policy before strapping on your lava-resistant hiking boots.
Know the details and the deadlines: If you do find yourself seeking medical attention abroad, you’ll need a detailed report and invoice in order to make a claim for financial reimbursement from your insurance company.
Know how to make a claim: If you need to make a claim, get in touch with your company as soon as possible. In addition to requiring medical reports and invoices, insurance companies will also have deadlines by which claims must be filed after the medical care was received.
Fine print while travelling
Sometimes extra hidden charges don’t come neatly spelled out in a paragraph of small text, which can lead to extra charges that feel almost unfair. Here are a few things to know about avoiding extra costs while on the road.
Accommodation costs: If you’ve ever stayed in a hotel with a mini-bar, it’s safe to say you’re familiar with the idea of getting charged for the bag of chips or mini bottle of wine awaiting you in your room. But, in some cases, you may be surprised by what is not included in the cost of your room. Be sure to check before booking whether or not hotel and hostel extras like breakfast, towels and luggage storage are included in your price or are available at an extra cost, so that you can plan and pack accordingly. Also be aware that leaving your room or home stay in an extremely messy state or lost keys can sometimes incur extra cleaning charges or loss of security deposit.
Car rental costs: Renting a car abroad? Be aware that things like returning the car with less than a full tank of gas, returning the car in an extremely messy state or returning a car after the return time can bring up extra charges, as will lost keys or damage to the vehicle. Also be sure to know what you’re already covered for on the insurance front. Certain Canadian bank credit cards, such as Scotiabank, TD Bank and CIBC, offer rental car insurance as part of their service, so long as the rental is paid in full on the card and the renter declines any of the rental company’s own insurance offerings.Just remember this is not an offer made by all cards, so be sure to know which rules might apply to you. Also be sure to understand how the toll roads and charges work wherever you’ll be travelling, as many places have moved to automatic tolls and your bill (along with added charges in some cases) may show up at the end of the trip. Or, worse, you may rack up fines and fees if you aren’t using the payment system properly.
Tipping: Tipping culture varies dramatically around the world. Be sure to ask a trusted source about tipping expectations so you aren’t overspending at each meal. Particularly if you are travelling with a large group, always be sure to check dining bills for service charges so you don’t find yourself tipping twice.
Data plans: If you’re travelling abroad with a phone, be sure to turn off your cellular data or stick within your allotted minutes and data limits to avoid surplus roaming and usage charges. Download offline maps, sync music to your phone and be vigilant about wifi in order to avoid running into these costly traps.
Travel bookings and reservations
Many costly mistakes can crop up as a result of bookings gone bad. Here are a few ways you can avoid them:
Forgetting the 24-hour cut-off: Many airlines allow you to hold a reservation for 24 hours without paying. If you forget to pay for the booking before the 24 hours are up, your booking will be cancelled. Similarly, if you make a mistake while booking, if you book the wrong date or the wrong time, for example, many airlines offer 24-hour grace periods during which you can cancel your booking free of charge.
Not checking in early enough: Passengers must meet the airline’s check-in deadline by checking in with the airline within the airline’s stated times. Some airlines require passengers to be at the ticket or baggage counter by a certain time while others require passengers to get to the boarding area by the stated time. Some airlines require that time deadlines at both the ticket or baggage counter and boarding area be met.
Missing or skipping one of your flights: If you are holding confirmed reservations that you can’t or don’t plan to use, contact the airline. If you don’t, the airline will cancel all onward or return reservations on your trip. Similarly, if you’ve booked multi-city travel and only plan on using a portion of your trip, be prepared to forfeit all onward and returning trips booked as part of the same reservation.
Changing your mind: Many hotels and hostels will charge a deposit to hold a room and will only charge full payment at check-in or check-out. If your plans change or you change your mind about accommodation, make sure to let the hotel know. In many cases, you won’t be charged the full amount of your stay, but you might not be able to get your deposit back.
The fine print of flying
Booking
Avoid booking fees: Some airlines like American carriers JetBlue and Spirit add charges for non-internet bookings, like booking over the phone.
Avoid making changes: If your plans change after you’ve already booked your flight, be prepared to pay to make changes to your reservation. Most airlines charge fees for date and time changes, which can sometimes be nearly as expensive as the tickets’ original cost.
Avoid silly mistakes: Double check your information as you‘re typing it in. Spelling mistakes in your name, inverted dates, passport number mistakes or other small errors could all disrupt your travel plans or be costly to correct.
Watch out for extras: Some airlines charge for extras like printing your boarding pass, so try to print boarding passes beforehand or go mobile when possible.
Baggage
Know what you’ll be packing: Unbundled airfare means that travellers only have to pay for those options they will need. Are you a light packer? No need to pay extra for a checked bag if you can get it all in a carry-on. Not a light packer? Pay for your checked baggage as early in the booking process as possible to save or select a fare class that includes your checked bag. It will cost extra if you get to the airport and have to check it at the desk, and even more if you make it all the way to the gate before having to check it.
Know what your bags weigh: If your bag weighs more than the airlines’ weight limit either as a carry on or as a checked bag, you will be charged an extra fee. Be sure to weigh your bags before heading to the airport to avoid scale surprises.
Know your bag’s dimensions: Most airlines will allow you to bring one personal item like a purse or laptop bag in addition to a carry-on bag. Personal items must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you and carry on bags must be small enough to fit in the overhead bin. While most airlines do not have dimension or weight limits for personal items, there are strict limits for both size and weight for carry-on bags. Be sure to measure your carry on, wheels and all, to be sure it can fit in the bag sizer at the check in gate, or else you could find yourself paying to check it.
Know what you can check for free: Assistive devices like walkers and wheelchairs are generally checked for free as are strollers and car seats. Special liability requirements apply to the domestic transportation of assistive devices used by passengers with disabilities, so if your equipment gets damaged en route, report it right away.
Baggage damaged, late or lost? You might be able to receive compensation. More on that below.
In-Flight
Know what is included: Are you the type to want a snack or drink in-flight? Depending on the airline and the length of your flight, they may or may not be offered and they may or may not be free. Read up on what will be offered during your flight so you’re not caught off guard.
Bring your own: Or, if you don’t feel like reading the fine print, bring your own. In addition to costs for snacks and beverages, airlines might charge for little extras like pillows, blankets and headphone. Some airlines might even charge for in-flight entertainment, if they offer it at all. To avoid those costs, pack some snacks, bring an empty, refillable water bottle, remember your headphones, bring a book or be sure to have your devices fully charged.
Know your rights
Even without insurance, travellers have certain rights. When you book a flight, you are entering a contract with the airline providing your travel, and the terms of that contract are spelled out in the airline’s condition of carriage, also known as a tariff. The Canadian Transportation Agency have a page listing certain commonalities between all airline tariffs, which are generally based on laws and regulations. However, it is good to look up the specifics of the airline you will be flying with. For quick reference, here are links to online tariffs of major Canadian airlines.
- Air Canada, International
- Air Canada, Domestic
- Air Transat
- WestJet, International
- WestJet, Domestic
- Porter, International
- Porter, Domestic
- NewLeaf
- Sunwing, International
- Sunwing, Domestic
For a more comprehensive list, visit the Canadian Transportation Agency’s searchable database of air carriers that post their conditions of carriage online.
Seeking compensation
For damaged luggage: If your suitcase arrives smashed or torn, the airline will usually pay for repairs. If it can’t be fixed, you and the airline can negotiate a settlement for the airline to pay the suitcase’s depreciated value. Note: if you have packed your suitcase to the seams, the airline may let you know at check-in that your suitcase may not survive intact and may require you to sign a statement that you are agreeing to check your over-stuffed bag at your own risk. Even if you sign the form, the airline might still be liable if exterior damage is caused by the airline’s negligence.
For late luggage: If you are one of the unlucky few whose bag goes missing and it takes more than a few hours to be found, most airlines will cover reasonable expenses you incur while the luggage is located and delivered to you. You may have to negotiate with the airline regarding how much is covered. The amount depends on whether or not you’re away from home and how long it takes to track down your bags and return them to you. If the airline does not provide you with a cash advance, it may still reimburse you later for the purchase of necessities. Travel insurance will also provide you with a stipend depending on how long it takes for your bag to be located and returned to you. Keep all receipts for making claims.
For lost luggage: If your bag is declared permanently lost, you will have to submit a claim, generally within a few days or weeks of the luggage being lost. Airlines don’t automatically pay the full amount of every claim they receive. Be sure to double (and triple) check with the airline that all claims forms have been submitted because missing the deadline for filing it could invalidate your claim altogether. Once you settle your claim with the airline, the airline may offer you a cash payment or free tickets on future flights. If you opt for the travel voucher, be sure to confirm any restrictions, such as blackout dates, destinations and voucher expiration.
For a flight delay: Generally speaking, there is no legislation for Canadian travellers that offers entitlements based on delayed flights. On a case by case and airline by airline basis, there are a few ways the airlines try to compensate passengers for delayed flights. They range from free reservation changes for delays of two or more hours on Air Canada to travel vouchers for delays over 12 hours. If you do find your flight delayed for any significant period of time, many airlines will also offer meal vouchers.
For a flight cancellation: Just as there are no legal regulations laying out certain requirements as to how airlines must compensate travellers for delayed flights, there are no mandatory compensation outlines for cancelled flights either. This may change if the Canadian parliament passes an airline passenger bill of rights, which would set the standard for how airlines are required to handle things like delayed flights, cancellations and damaged luggage. The bill would also outline regulations for parents who want to sit with their children without having to pay extra and for situations where passengers might be bumped from a flight voluntarily or involuntarily.
Until then, however, the most Canadians with cancelled flights can expect their airline to offer is help with booking a seat on the next flight, possibly a ticket refund and, if the delay or cancellation causes an extra overnight, compensation in the form of meal vouchers and possibly a hotel overnight and transportation. These offers are not required however, so are not guaranteed. Passengers in cancellation situations should be vigilant about reaching out to the airline staff in the airport and via social media in order to claim what compensation is available to them.
Getting bumped: Again, there are currently no standard or required means of compensating travellers who are bumped from a flight, either voluntarily or involuntarily. That would change under the new passenger bill of rights, which would make it so that no passengers could be removed from a flight against their will. In a case of bumping, generally speaking, the airline will rebook the passenger, and if they are able to do so within an hour of their original flight, there will be no other compensation. In some instances, getting bumped can actually be a great way to get a little extra cash to put towards your next trip, despite the inconvenience it causes at the time.
Making a claim
When things do go wrong, making a claim for reimbursement is the way to let the travel companies know that you’d like financial compensation for your plans gone wrong. Whether it’s with an insurance company after a medical emergency or an airline damaged your luggage or booted you from a flight, here are a few things you will need to know in order to make a claim.
Keep the paperwork: Receipts, invoices, emails or any written documentation of the event will be necessary to offer as proof of what went wrong as it was going wrong, and what financial charges you may have incurred.
Know your deadlines: Often there are deadlines for making a claim for reimbursement. For example, Air Canada requires that claims for lost luggage be made within 21 days of when baggage should have been delivered. These will vary depending on the company, so check the fine print to know how much time you have to reach out.
Know what to expect: Know what you are covered for and what you are not so that you can enter into a claim with realistic expectations for how you might be reimbursed. Whether that means making a claim for an injury incurred while participating in an adventure sport, or for a flight cancellation, it is helpful to know what you can get and what you might not. By taking educational steps like reading an airline’s tariff, you may also be able to find information about what you are and are not covered for, thereby avoiding the need to file a complaint.
Give the company a chance: For many of these companies, good customer service and a positive public image matter, so contact the company directly and give them a chance to set things right with you. In some cases, drawing attention to your issue in a public setting, like a review site or on social media, can also yield a response.
Contact the government: If you have filed a complaint, and either not heard from the company or been denied compensation but still feel entitled to some form of settlement — or if you want to take steps to make sure your experience is not repeated for other customers — you can file a complaint with government bodies. The Canadian Transportation Agency allows travellers with air travel complaints to submit a complaint online. Some other government bodies, like the Travel Industry Council of Ontario, also allow travellers to file formal complaints, so be sure to do your research to find out who you can reach out to.
Go to court: If all else fails, you can submit an application for adjudication with the Canadian Transportation Agency or file a consumer complaint with local consumer affairs offices or the Better Business Bureau.
Now that you know what you might be missing by not reading the fine print, how do you plan to make the most of what you can save by reading the fine print?
