air canada medical travel

COVID-19 medical coverage now available even though Canadians advised to avoid international travel

Offering comes even though government still tells canadians to avoid non-essential travel abroad.

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Canadians yearning to travel abroad — despite the COVID-19 pandemic — can now get medical insurance to cover costs if they get sick with the coronavirus while travelling. 

In March, when the virus began its global spread and Canada advised against non-essential travel abroad, travel insurance providers stopped selling COVID-19 medical coverage.

Now, several insurance providers have resumed offering the coverage along with their regular travel insurance plans. 

Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and travel agency Flight Centre have also joined in, offering free COVID-19 medical coverage to passengers booking certain international flights and vacation packages. 

Travel insurance broker Martin Firestone said he's surprised by the spate of offers — considering Canada's advisory against international travel  remains intact  due to the ongoing pandemic. 

"Your country is now currently under a Level 3 travel advisory , and you've got airlines enticing people with free medical coverage," said Firestone with Travel Secure in Toronto.

"Whether you have coverage or not, you may be in a very precarious position with [available] hospital beds and treatment and the ability to be flown back to Canada."

Many companies providing COVID-19 coverage told CBC News they're responding to consumer demand.

"People are looking to travel," said Richard Job, Flight Centre's vice-president of commercial partnership. "They are able to travel if they want to, and we just want to enable that to take place as safely as we can."

International travellers returning to Canada must self-isolate for 14 days . 

WATCH | The future of air travel: 

The future of air travel

Who's offering coverage.

At least three insurance providers, Medipac , Tour+Med  and Blue Cross (in Ontario and Quebec) now offer COVID-19 medical coverage as part of their regular travel insurance plans — or as a top-up. 

Manulife announced this week it will start offering the coverage in October. 

The plans vary. For example, not all providers cover daily expenses if an infected traveller is forced to quarantine abroad.

Each company said it offers medical coverage for all ailments, including COVID-19, for up to $5 million — with the exception of Manulife, which has capped COVID-19 coverage at $200,000.

Manulife declined to comment on the cap. 

Airline industry offering free coverage

Flight Centre and the airlines are providing free coverage only for COVID-19 illnesses and related expenses, such as quarantine costs. The offers are available for a limited time — ranging from the next seven months to a year. 

Customers booking vacation packages with Flight Centre , Air Canada Vacations and WestJet to select destinations — which exclude the United States — are covered for up to $100,000 in medical bills. WestJet provides the same coverage for international flights, excluding the U.S. 

Sunwing  will cover up to $200,000 in COVID-19 medical expenses for passengers booking any of its vacation packages and flights departing on or after Oct. 16. Air Canada (which is separate from Air Canada Vacations) currently provides the same $200,000 coverage for customers purchasing international fights, including to the U.S. 

• Why many Canadians support the Canada-U.S. border closure, despite the costs

Although the Canada-U.S. land border is closed to non-essential traffic, Canadians can still fly to the U.S . 

Firestone questions if $200,000 would be enough to cover a severe case of COVID-19 in the U.S., where medical costs can run high. 

"What if the bill is $500,000?" he said. "Then it becomes your problem."

Manulife, which is partnering with Air Canada to provide the coverage, declined to comment. 

Air Canada said that passengers wanting extra protection can consider purchasing an extensive travel insurance plan.

What about snowbirds?

Medipac's main customers are snowbirds heading to the southern U.S. where the COVID-19 infection rate remains high. But the insurance provider said it's confident it won't be bombarded with COVID-19 claims, because Medipac's clientele will likely play it safe. 

"The people that we're tailoring our product to are going to do what they've always done, travel down as a couple, go to their winter residence," said Medipac spokesperson Christopher Davidge.

"We're not talking about cramming into a discount airline … and staying at a resort hotel and going to a theme park."

• Yearning to travel as COVID-19 drags on? Here's what you need to know now
• Why millions of travellers have entered Canada despite COVID-19 travel restrictions

Snowbird Perry Cohen said he and his wife, Rose, plan to take all necessary precautions when they likely head to their condo this winter in Deerfield Beach, Fla., near Fort Lauderdale. 

"Our community is pretty safe," said Cohen, who lives in Toronto. "We're not going to look for large crowds. We're not running to the bars and the restaurants."

Even so, Cohen said COVID-19 coverage is a game changer because he and his wife would never consider heading south if they couldn't purchase it. 

"Why take the risk?" he said. "I like a complete package to know I'm looked after."

Cases 'going up again' 

But not all eager travellers will be swayed by COVID-19 coverage. 

Avid international traveller Suzanne Chojnacki said she and her husband will stay put for now because they still have many concerns — such as getting stuck abroad if the country they're visiting suddenly closes its borders.

"The [COVID-19 case] numbers are going up again," said Chojnacki who lives in Richmond Hill, Ont. "So it's really not a good time to think about going away — for us."

Current plans offering travellers COVID-19 coverage don't include compensation if a customer cancels a trip due to the pandemic. Firestone said that's because cancellation insurance typically covers unexpected mishaps, not a "known" issue  such as the coronavirus.

"It's just so known, it's not even funny."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Business reporter

Based in Toronto, Sophia Harris covers consumer and business for CBC News web, radio and TV. She previously worked as a CBC videojournalist in the Maritimes where she won an Atlantic Journalism Award for her work. Contact: [email protected]

• @sophiaharrisCBC

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Medical Tourism: Travel to Another Country for Medical Care

Traveling to another country to get medical care can be risky. Learn about the risks and how to minimize them.

Traveling Internationally for Medical Care

Each year, millions of US residents travel to another country for medical care which is called medical tourism. Medical tourists from the United States most commonly travel to Mexico and Canada, and to several other countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

The reasons people may seek medical care in another country include:

• Cost: To get a treatment or procedure that may be cheaper in another country
• Culture: To receive care from a clinician who shares the traveler’s culture and language
• Unavailable or unapproved procedures: To get a procedure or therapy that is not available or approved in the United States

The most common procedures that people undergo on medical tourism trips include dental care, cosmetic surgery, fertility treatments, organ and tissue transplantation, and cancer treatment.

Medical Tourism Can Be Risky

The risk of complications depends on the destination, the facility where the procedure is being performed, and whether the traveler is in good health for the procedure(s). Other issues that can increase a traveler’s risk of complications include:

Infectious Diseases.  All medical procedures have some risk of infection. Complications from procedures performed in other countries include wound infections, bloodstream infections, donor-derived infections (in the case of transplantations or transfusions), and diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.

Antimicrobial resistance.   Highly drug-resistant bacteria and fungi have caused disease outbreaks among medical tourists. Antimicrobial resistance happens when germs develop the ability to not respond to drugs such as antibiotics used to treat infections. Antimicrobial resistance is a global problem. Healthcare facilities in another country may not have adequate infection control practices and medical tourists could be at risk for getting a drug-resistant infection.

Quality of Care. Some countries’ requirements for maintaining licensure, credentialing, and accreditation may also be less than what would be required in the United States. In some countries, counterfeit medicines and lower quality medical devices may be used.

Communication challenges. Communicating with staff at the destination and healthcare facility may be challenging. Receiving care at a facility where you do not speak the language fluently could lead to misunderstandings about your care.

Air Travel.  Flying after surgery can increase the risk for blood clots, including  deep vein thrombosis . Delaying air travel for 10-14 days following major surgeries, particularly those involving the chest, will minimize risks associated with changes in atmospheric pressure.

Continuity of Care.  Travelers may need to get health care in the United States if they develop complications after returning. Follow-up care for complications might be expensive. Treatment might be prolonged and might not be covered by your health insurance.

How You Can Minimize Medical Tourism Risks

Research the clinician and facility.

• Check the qualifications of the clinician who will be doing the procedure and the credentials of the facility where the procedure will be done. Accrediting groups, including Joint Commission International, DNV GL International Accreditation for Hospitals, and the International Society for Quality in Healthcare, have lists of standards that healthcare facilities need to meet to be accredited. Please note that all surgeries carry the risk of complications and accreditation does not guarantee a positive outcome.
• If you go to a country where you do not speak the language, determine ahead of time how you will communicate with your clinician and others who will be caring for you.

Before you travel

• Get a pretravel consultation. See your healthcare provider or a travel medicine clinician at least 4–6 weeks before the trip to discuss general information for healthy travel and learn about specific risks you may face because of your health status, the procedure, and travel before and after the procedure.
• Obtain international  travel health insurance  that covers medical evacuation back to the United States.
• Find out what activities are not recommended around the time of the medical procedure, such as swimming or hiking, and plan accordingly.

Maintain your health and medical records

• Bring copies of your medical records with you, including results of lab tests and other tests related to your condition and care. Inform the medical staff at your destination of allergies you may have.
• Pack a  travel health kit  with your prescription and over-the-counter medicines in their original packaging. Bring enough medicine to last your whole trip, plus a little extra in case of delays. Also, bring copies of all your prescriptions and a list of medications you take, including their brand names, generic names, manufacturers, and dosages.
• Get copies of all your medical records from the medical facility at your destination before you return home. You may need to get them translated into English.

Arrange for follow-up care before you travel

• Identify where you will be staying immediately after the procedure.
• Make sure you can get any needed follow-up care in the United States. Follow-up care for medical complications can be expensive and might not be covered by your health insurance. Travelers considering procedures outside the United States should understand the potential financial costs associated with follow-up care or emergency care in the event of complications, review their health insurance policies to determine what, if anything, is covered and plan for the possibility of paying for additional care out-of-pocket.
• Supplemental travel health insurance may also be available to cover follow-up or emergency care from procedures received abroad.

Related Resources

• CDC Yellow Book: Medical Tourism
• American Medical Association Ethical Guidance on Medical Tourism
• Organization for Safety, Asepsis, & Prevention's Traveler’s Guide to Safe Dental Care
• The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery guidelines for travelers
• International Travel (US Department of State)
• Your Health Abroad (US Department of State)

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While planning your next trip, remember to include travel insurance. After all, the cost of insurance is minimal compared to the risk of unexpectedly having to cancel your trip or being faced with a medical emergency while away from home.

Travel insurance from Allianz Global Assistance is with you at each step along your journey to help:

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Travel insurance is available online or by calling Allianz Global Assistance at 1-833-812-0672.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRAVEL INSURANCE AND COVID-19

Please note the following important updates regarding COVID-19 from Allianz Global Assistance.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada may issue travel advisories to avoid non-essential travel (Level 3) or avoid all travel (Level 4) outside of Canada due to COVID-19. These advisories may be issued for all international travel, for specific destinations or for certain types of travel (i.e. cruises). Travel advisories can impact travel insurance and are subject to change. They may be issued, lifted, and then reinstated depending on the status of COVID-19 infection rates in Canada and abroad.

Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Benefits found in: Deluxe Package Plan, Trip Cancellation & Interruption Plan, Non-Medical Package Plan

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Other than this circumstance, these travel insurance plans do not provide coverage for trip cancellation or trip interruption claims related to an epidemic or pandemic. As a result, COVID-19 is not a covered reason for trip cancellation or trip interruption if the Government of Canada issues a travel advisory for your destination.

Emergency Health Benefits found in: Deluxe Package, Classic Emergency Medical Plan

Policyholders with a Deluxe Package or Classic Emergency Medical Plan who contract COVID-19 at their destination will be eligible for emergency medical benefits.

These benefits are available as long as there is no Government of Canada travel advisory related to COVID-19 in place on their departure date, that advises against non-essential travel (Level 3) or all travel (Level 4) for their destination.

Enhanced COVID-19 cover found in: Deluxe Package with COVID-19 Coverage

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This package also includes our standard emergency medical, trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage and travel accident benefits for our most comprehensive protection.

Travel insurance is underwritten by CUMIS General Insurance Company, a member of The Co-operators group of companies and administered by Allianz Global Assistance, which is a registered business name of AZGA Service Canada Inc.

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Latest border and travel measures

This news release may not reflect the current border and travel measures. Check COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders for the latest requirements to enter Canada.

Important notice

Note that information and resources on the coronavirus (COVID-19) are available on Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

Adjustments to Canada’s border and travel measures

From: Public Health Agency of Canada

Backgrounder

The Government of Canada will adjust some of Canada’s border measures beginning on Nov. 30 to include additional COVID-19 vaccines accepted for entry to Canada and changes to certain exemptions, testing and ArriveCAN requirements.

November 19, 2021

Today, the Government of Canada announced upcoming adjustments to Canada’s border measures. This backgrounder provides additional context to support travellers in understanding COVID-19 testing and vaccine requirements, as well as other border measures, which are an important part of Canada’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic and serve to protect the health and safety of all Canadians.

Eliminating COVID-19 testing for air and land crossings of less than 72 hours

Effective November 30, 2021, fully vaccinated individuals with right of entry to Canada, who depart and re-enter the country within 72 hours of leaving Canada are exempt from providing a pre-entry COVID-19 molecular test result . This exemption is only for trips originating in Canada taken by fully vaccinated Canadian citizens, permanent residents or individuals registered under the Indian Act , who depart and re-enter by land or by air and can demonstrate they have been away from Canada for less than 72 hours.

The exemption will also apply to:

• people with medical contraindications as defined in the Orders in Council (OIC); and
• unvaccinated children under 12 who are accompanying their parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor. The accompanying adult must be fully vaccinated (or have a contraindication) and have right of entry into Canada.

For fully vaccinated travellers with right of entry into Canada who are travelling by air, the 72-hour period runs from the initially scheduled departure time for their flight leaving Canada to the scheduled departure time for their return flight to Canada. Travellers will be responsible for maintaining proof of the 72-hour period to show airline/rail companies and border officials as required (e.g., boarding pass, travel itinerary).

Expanded list of accepted vaccines for the purpose of travel

Effective November 30, 2021, the Government of Canada will expand its list of accepted vaccines for the purposes of entry into Canada and exemption from some testing and quarantine requirements. The list will include Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN, matching the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL).

The EUL is an internationally recognized process to assess vaccines within an existing regulatory structure. The WHO uses the EUL to accelerate the availability of medical products needed in public health emergency situations. The process is based on an expert review of available data on the quality, safety, and efficacy/immunogenicity/performance of each individual product. The COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) also leverages the WHO EUL for its COVID-19 vaccine portfolio.

To be considered fully vaccinated, a traveller must have received the full series of a vaccine—or combination of vaccines— accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days prior to entering Canada. Travellers can receive their vaccine in any country, and must upload their proof of vaccination in English or French into ArriveCAN when travelling to Canada. If the proof of vaccination is not in English or French, travellers must provide a certified translation in English or French. Travellers must bring proof with them when they travel that includes text with the vaccinations and dates received. Travellers must also comply with all other measures under the OICs, including pre-entry testing (unless exempt) and a suitable quarantine plan. Where available, Canadians are strongly encouraged to use the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination .

The expanded list of COVID-19 vaccines and the definition of what is considered fully vaccinated will also be applied to the national vaccination requirements for the federally regulated transportation sectors.

Entry Requirements: Adjustments for certain travellers entering Canada

As of January 15, 2022, certain groups of travellers, who are currently exempt from entry requirements, will only be allowed to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved for entry into Canada. These groups include:

• Individuals travelling to reunite with family (unless they are under 18 years of age if travelling to reunite with an immediate or extended family member who is either fully vaccinated or a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act. )
• Fully vaccinated students will be allowed to attend any provincially or territorially designated learning institution in Canada.
• Unvaccinated students under the age of 18 must attend a designated learning institution with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by the province or territory where the school is located.
• Professional athletes and their support staff, and amateur athletes.
• Individuals with a valid work permit, including temporary foreign workers, outside of agricultural and food processing.
• Most essential service providers (including truck drivers, emergency service providers and marine researchers).

As of November 30, 2021, travellers need to be fully vaccinated to travel within Canada with very few exceptions. There is a limited period, until January 14, 2022, during which individuals in specified exempt groups can continue to enter the country if unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, as well as take a connecting flight to their final destination that is scheduled to depart within 24 hours of the departure time of their flight to enter Canada. However, if they remain unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, they will not be allowed to take a plane or train beyond their original connection, except to depart Canada before February 28, 2022. As such, all travellers are strongly advised to make plans to get vaccinated as soon as they can, in order to travel freely in and outside the country.

On January 15, 2022, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers will only be allowed to enter Canada if they meet one of the limited exceptions, including:

• agricultural and food processing workers;
• foreign marine crew members;
• those entering on compassionate grounds;
• new permanent residents;
• newly resettled refugees;
• children under the age of 18 who are currently exempt from the travel restrictions, including international students who are studying at a designated learning institution that has a COVID-19 readiness plan; those travelling with a parent, step-parent, tutor or guardian who is either fully vaccinated, or a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or person registered under the Indian Act ; and those travelling to reunite with immediate or extended Canadian family members in Canada; and
• national interest exemptions.

Unvaccinated children under the age of 12 who are travelling with fully vaccinated adults do not need to quarantine BUT must follow public measures:

• Attend school, camp or day care.
• Attend a setting where they may have contact with vulnerable people (e.g., long term care facility), including people who are immunocompromised, regardless of that person’s vaccination status or public health measures.
• Travel on crowded public transportation that does not ensure physical distancing and masking.
• Attend large crowded settings, indoors or outdoors, such as an amusement park or sporting event.
• In addition, the child must take COVID-19 molecular tests as instructed, unless their parent, step-parent, tutor or guardian has evidence that the child had a positive COVID-19 test taken 10 to 180 days prior to arrival in Canada or the child is under 5 years of age.

Unless exempt, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers eligible to enter Canada will be required to:

• have proof of a negative molecular pre-entry test taken no more than 72 hours before their flight’s initial scheduled departure time or arrival at the land border, or a previous positive COVID-19 molecular test taken within 10 and 180 days before arrival;
• complete arrival (day 1) and post-arrival (day 8) testing;
• quarantine for 14 days in a suitable place; and
• submit all of the information above in ArriveCAN via the free mobile app or website.

ArriveCAN: New requirements for essential travellers

As of November 30, 2021, all exempt essential service providers will be required to identify their vaccination status in ArriveCAN , regardless of whether or not they are allowed to enter as unvaccinated. ArriveCAN will prompt them to provide details on their vaccine(s), including manufacturer, country received and date received, and to upload their proof of vaccination.

Exempt essential travellers include those travelling as/for:

• most essential service providers (including most temporary foreign workers, emergency service providers and marine researchers);
• cross-border work (e.g., you regularly cross the border to work);
• medical and health care support (e.g., health care practitioner, to receive medical care, or to transport medical equipment or supplies);
• trade and transport (e.g., truck driver or crew member on any aircraft, shipping vessel, or train); and
• people who live in integrated trans-border communities.

If an exempt essential traveller previously created a reusable ArriveCAN receipt, they will be required to either download the latest version of the free ArriveCAN mobile app or sign in to the web version after November 30, 2021, and re-submit all of their information, including the newly required information on proof of vaccinations, to get a new exempt reusable ArriveCAN receipt. Once an exempt traveller creates a new reusable receipt, the receipt can be used for subsequent trips.

Until January 15, 2022, if an exempt essential traveller is not vaccinated, they will still be able to get an ArriveCAN receipt. After January 15, 2022, they must be fully vaccinated to get an ArriveCAN receipt. As of this date, most travellers who are currently exempt from quarantine will need to be fully vaccinated to enter Canada. They will also be required to upload their proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN.

Mandatory vaccination for federally regulated transportation sectors

As announced on August 13, 2021 , travellers in the federally regulated air and rail sectors will need to be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine accepted by the Government of Canada for the purpose of travel. After extensive consultations, Transport Canada issued orders and guidance to airlines and railways to implement the vaccination requirements for travellers, which came into effect at 3 AM (EDT) October 30, 2021.

The vaccination requirements apply to all travellers, 12 years of age plus four months, who are:

• Air passengers flying on domestic, trans-border or international flights departing from most airports in Canada; and
• Rail passengers on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains.

As of November 30, 2021, a valid COVID-19 test will no longer be accepted as an alternative to vaccination for travel within Canada. To take a flight or a train, travellers must be fully vaccinated with one of the expanded list of vaccinations unless they qualify for a limited exemption to this requirement. These include:

• Medical inability to be vaccinated;
• Essential or urgent medical services and treatment;
• Sincere religious beliefs;
• Emergency travel; and
• Other travel in the national interest.

For domestic and outbound travel, airlines and railways will administer the process for considering a traveller’s medical inability to be vaccinated, essential medical services and treatment, sincere religious beliefs, and emergency/urgent travel (including for urgent medical reasons). Travellers who think they may be eligible for one of these exemptions should contact their airline or railway company to obtain the necessary form and submit it in accordance with their carrier’s approval process (forms available starting November 30, 2021).

Transport Canada will administer exemptions for other domestic and outbound travel in the national interest. Travellers granted an exemption will need to have a valid COVID-19 molecular test, taken no more than 72 hours before boarding a regulated flight or train. Travellers will be able to submit applications under the domestic National Interest Exemption Program starting November 30.

Airlines and railways will continue to be responsible for confirming the vaccination status of travellers. In the aviation mode, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) will also support operators by confirming vaccination status.

This vaccination requirement continues to include specific accommodation to recognize the unique needs of travellers from small, remote communities (some of which are not accessible by road) to ensure they will be able to travel to obtain essential services in support of their medical, health, or social well-being, and return safely to their homes. The specific requirements for these communities will continue to evolve based on engagement with Indigenous organizations and provinces and territories in the coming weeks.

Transport Canada continues to work with the cruise ship industry, and other domestic and international partners, to permit the safe re-opening of Canada to cruise ship travel in spring 2022, including the specific vaccination requirements for cruise ship passengers, and other health protocols. Additional information will be available in the coming weeks.

The Government of Canada will continue to engage with key stakeholders, employers, airlines and railways, bargaining agents, Indigenous Peoples, local authorities, and provinces and territories to support the implementation of the vaccination requirement.

For travellers entering Canada: While Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and persons registered under the Indian Act will still be able to enter Canada if they are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, they will not be permitted to travel beyond their point of entry within Canada on a connecting flight or by rail. These travellers should plan their return accordingly by selecting a Canadian airport that is closest to their final destination, and expect to be subject to testing and quarantine.

After January 15, 2022, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated agricultural and agri-food workers, new permanent residents, and some children under the age of 18 will still be allowed to travel onward domestically to get established in Canada, but will also continue to be subject to testing and quarantine. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated resettled refugees will continue to be allowed to enter Canada and stringent health and safety protocols remain in place.

Foreign nationals who reside in Canada temporarily, and who entered Canada as unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, will be allowed to leave the country without being fully vaccinated up until February 28, 2022. After that time, foreign nationals will need to be fully vaccinated to board a flight or train in Canada.

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COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders

Return or travel to canada.

For all travellers entering Canada by air, land or marine mode:

• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is not required
• Pre-board testing is not required
• COVID-19 pre-entry and arrival tests are not required
• Quarantine after you enter Canada is not required
• to save time at the border, you can use the ArriveCAN customs and immigration feature to complete your declaration in advance if you’re flying into a participating international airport
• Pre-boarding tests for cruise passengers are not required
• As always, travel documents are required
• Health checks to board planes and trains are not required
• It's strongly recommended that you wear a well-constructed and well-fitted mask or respirator while you travel

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 , you shouldn't travel to Canada.

If you feel sick or experience any symptoms of COVID-19 during your travel to Canada or upon arrival, you should:

• inform the flight attendant, cruise staff or a border services officer upon arrival. You may be referred to a Quarantine Officer for a health assessment and further direction.
• avoid taking public transportation
• check provincial or territorial requirements for what you need to do if you’re symptomatic or have tested positive for COVID-19

Travelling in and out of Canada

• International travel advice and advisories
• COVID-19 and international travel
• Proof of vaccination
• Find out if you need a visa

Wearing masks on planes and trains in Canada is not required.

• It's still strongly recommended that you wear a high quality and well-fitted mask or respirator while you travel

Situation in Canada

• COVID-19 guidance, vaccines, limiting the spread
• Summary data about travellers, testing and compliance

The Government of Canada will continue to monitor the situation. See the COVID-19 border measures backgrounder .

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Is Air Canada a Good Airline?

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When booking an international trip, travelers can choose from a lot of different airlines. While many Americans focus on U.S.-based airlines, there can be significant value in considering international competitors like Air Canada.

As Canada’s largest airline, Air Canada flew more than 37 million passengers around the globe in 2022. To give you an idea for whether Air Canada is a good match for your trip, let’s go over the experience of flying with the airline, the benefits of its loyalty program and other considerations that could help you make your decision.

What is Air Canada like?

Air Canada is good for international flights, going to 189 destinations in 58 countries. Whether you're flying on an Air Canada plane or with a Star Alliance partner, you're connected to every continent.

The airline also operates Air Canada Rouge, its low-cost subsidiary.

Here's what flyers can expect:

Making reservations . Travelers can book Air Canada flights online or through its mobile app 24 hours a day. Reservations can also be made at any time by calling 888-247-2262.

Check-in . Check-in is available online or through the airline's mobile app starting 24 hours before departure. Passengers can also check in at the airport through self-service kiosks or with airport agents.

Boarding . Air Canada boards passengers according to five zones, plus pre-boarding for those needing assistance. Boarding for families and those traveling with musical instruments happens between zones two and three. Your boarding zone is based on elite status, fare class and if you hold a co-branded credit card.

In-flight experience . The airline offers three classes of service on most of its flights — economy , premium economy and business class . Your in-flight experience, including meals and beverages, will depend on your class of service. However, all passengers can access movies, TV and music options in over 15 languages. Wi-Fi is available on limited flights for a fee.

» Learn more: The guide to Air Canada partners

Air Canada fees

Passengers can expect to pay various fees depending on which Air Canada services they choose. Fees can also be influenced by ticket type and elite status. Here is a sample of the fees you may be charged when flying Air Canada.

Checked baggage fees . Starting at $30 for the first bag and $50 for the second bag (this is waived for Air Canada's credit cardholders ).

Additional or oversized bag . Starting at $100.

Seat selection fees . Starting at $14 for basic and standard fares within Canada or the U.S.

Change fees . Varies based on ticket class and time before departure. Passengers can change their flights up to two hours before departure, and fees typically range from $26 to $115.

Cancellation fees . Not all tickets are refundable, and some provide a credit instead of a refund. For international travel outside Canada and the U.S., cancellation fees can be as high as $590.

Wi-Fi . In-flight internet access is available on limited flights between Los Angeles and Toronto or Los Angeles and Montreal; it costs roughly $6-$8, depending on whether you're connecting to a single mobile device or want full internet access.

» Learn more: The guide to Air Canada baggage policies and fees

Air Canada’s loyalty program

Air Canada’s loyalty program is called Aeroplan . Members can earn points by flying, using Aeroplan's co-branded credit card or spending with Aeroplan's 50+ travel partners (via the Star Alliance and others). Points can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, vacation packages and more.

Aegean Airlines.

Air New Zealand.

All Nippon Airways.

Asiana Airlines.

Austrian Airlines.

Brussels Airlines.

Copa Airlines.

Croatia Airlines.

Ethiopian Airlines.

LOT Polish Airlines.

Scandinavian Airlines.

Shenzhen Airlines.

Singapore Airlines.

South African Airways.

TAP Air Portugal.

Thai Airways.

Turkish Airlines.

United Airlines.

There are five levels of elite status in Air Canada’s loyalty program: Aeroplan 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K and Super Elite. You can earn elite status based on how much you spend and either the number of segments or distance flown.

The Aeroplan® Credit Card makes qualifying for elite status easier.

Aeroplan® Credit Card

» Learn more: What to know about the Aeroplan credit card

Beyond its travel partner brands, Air Canada is a transfer partner of four flexible points programs . Members can transfer points to Air Canada from the following programs at a 1:1 ratio:

American Express Membership Rewards .

Bilt Rewards .

Capital One Miles .

Chase Ultimate Rewards® .

The number of Aeroplan points required for an award flight depends on the zone to which you’re traveling, the flight distance and ticket class. Additionally, prices on the Aeroplan award chart vary whether you’re flying with Air Canada or a partner airline.

» Learn more: Getting elite status on Air Canada with the Aeroplan credit card

Unique Aeroplan perks

Travelers wondering if Air Canada is a good airline should also take note of the unique perks its loyalty program offers.

Aeroplan’s best benefits may vary depending on what's most important to you. However, some unique offerings stand out when compared to other airlines.

Parental leave elite status extension . Members can request an extension of their elite status when expecting a baby or welcoming a new child into their family. This benefit allows you to keep your status during a time when you may not be flying as frequently.

Lifetime elite status . When you fly more than one million Lifetime Qualifying Miles (LQMs), you'll receive lifetime 50K elite status.

Aeroplan status for a friend . If you hold 75K or Super Elite status, you can grant 35K or 50K elite status, respectively, to a friend through Dec. 31 of the benefit year.

Status Pass . Those who hold 50K elite status or higher receive Status Passes, which they can use to share elite benefits with another person (and up to nine travel companions) for the duration of their trip.

» Learn more: Inside Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge at SFO

Other things to consider

Safety ratings.

Another way to determine if Air Canada is a good airline is to review its independent safety ratings. AirlineRatings.com evaluates and compares airline safety records. It’s given Air Canada its top rating, seven out of seven stars, based on incident data from the International Civil Aviation Organization and International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Reliability

Air Canada was ranked 10th by IATA for on-time performance among the 10 largest North American airlines based on 2022 performance. The airline completed on-time arrivals only 51% of the time in July 2023, which is much lower than the average on-time performance of 66%.

Customer satisfaction

In addition to official ratings, customer satisfaction scores can also indicate if Air Canada is a good airline. For example, TripAdvisor has almost 30,000 reviews from travelers sharing their thoughts on whether Air Canada is good. Although it has an average score of 3.0 out of 5.0 stars, the airline was a Travelers' Choice Winner in 2018 and 2019.

Additional customer feedback is available from Flight-Report.com. On that site, Air Canada has an average score of 7.5 out of 10 stars. However, its rating has been trending downward over the last 12 months.

General cost

Air Canada typically has competitive fares on the routes it operates. The airline offers flights to Canada from the U.S. starting at under $100 — for example, we found a $96 one-way fare from Miami to Toronto in April 2024. You can also find deals for award flights starting at less than 5,000 Aeroplan points.

Who should avoid Air Canada?

While Air Canada is good for international flights and trips within Canada, it isn't the best choice for every traveler. Here are some types of travelers who may want to select another airline for their trip.

Those who exclusively travel within the U.S. The airline does service U.S. cities, but domestic airlines tend to offer more robust flight schedules between American cities.

Those who desire first class tickets . Air Canada does not offer a first class cabin on any of its aircraft.

Those who are worried about arriving on time . According to data comparing the 10 largest airlines in North America's 2022 on-time performance, Air Canada's reliability ratings are poor (last place).

If you're considering flying Air Canada ...

Air Canada is a good airline for travelers in Canada and the U.S. The airline serves close to 200 destinations, and its Star Alliance partner network can get you to even more cities around the world. It offers competitive fares and charges reasonable fees for the common services passengers use.

Its Aeroplan loyalty program offers many benefits, is a transfer partner of flexible points programs and offers a co-branded airline credit card. If you fly the airline regularly, its credit card is worth the annual fee .

Aeroplan members can redeem points for Air Canada flights, and sometimes flights can be found for even fewer points when booking with Star Alliance partners.

(Top photo courtesy of Air Canada)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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