Hi all,

We've recently moved to Toronto, and are looking to book a vacation to Mexico in the summer for a family wedding.

I'm unsure exactly how it all works here, so just hoping someone can explain.

In the UK, if I booked on a credit card, I'd be fully covered if the airline went bust, etc. Is that the same using a Canadian credit card?

Also, if I booked through a travel agent (thomas cook, expedia.co.uk), you had the ATOL/ABTA protection regardless, as long as it was all booked through them. Is there an equivalent here, and is expedia.ca covered?

Thanks in advance,

Graham.

book on credit card - this gives you as much protection as you're going to get

Thanks - will do.

So as long as it's on my Canadian credit card (just a TD one), it doesn't matter whether I book with expedia.ca, air canada vacations, west jet vacations, etc.?

I would prefer to book with expedia.ca, as I can get a better price! Albeit it uses United, so I need to change in the states (and go through border patrol, etc.), but it's over $200 cheaper per person, compared with direct flights. For that, I'll put up with the hassle of changing in an American airport. I just need to decide whether Houston, Washington Dulles, or Newark (they're all roughly same overall travel time and price) should be the least busy for the border patrol side. Personally, I'm leaning towards Houston.

My main concern is the booking protection, and whether I'm fine to use anyone (providing I book with a credit card), or whether I'm much better going with a travel agent (do they even call them that here???). I used expedia.co.uk all the time, but just wondering if it's fine to use them here too.

Thanks,

Graham.

booking with credit card , doesn't matter who you purchase from means that the credit card company assumes some degree of liability ( am being deliberatly vague here as not sure of exact legal wording)

you can use travel agent , something like flightcentre ( google them) but I suspect they won't offer much more protection than paying by credit card.

Thanks Zoe.

Ok, sounds like booking with expedia.ca is good then, providing I use a credit card, which I would anyway. Just wasn't sure what the rules are like here.

Shall take a look at where you suggested as well.

If anyone else has any comments around protection offered here, they'd be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Graham.

Depends entirely on the credit card you have, call the credit card company to be sure. When Zoom went down a few years ago, most who paid by credit card were eventually covered, but still had to front the money for return flights.

I would be more concerned about travel insurance that covers cancellation, baggage and medical.

There is no system like ABTA in Canada.

I think we are talking about two different issues here.

Booking by credit card allows you to get your money back without going into the long line of creditors That's the same in both the UK and Canada.

It's not going to book you new tickets to get where you want to go. I'm not ven sure that travel insurance would cover that

Travel insurance covers up to the money lost if the trip is cancelled or you miss the flight (in certain circumstances) prior to the trip. If your journey has started it will cover the cost of a return flight and they will in many cases book the flight. Insurance will only cover the lowest cost option though, so if you are flying club and you have to return home for some reason, you will likely end up in economy on the way back.

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

Ok, so if I book by credit card, it's the same as in the UK. i.e. if the airlines goes bust (which I hope United wouldn't!), I'd get my money back but would be responsible for any flight rebookings, etc.?

If I book it all with expedia.ca for instance, is there anything covering the hotel side? i.e. if the airline went bust last minute and I couldn't get there, would I still be left with the hotel bill? Or if expedia went bust before issuing me tickets, etc. (though I'd assume I'd get money back in that case as it was expedia).

In order to cover me for the hotel as well, even though all booked with expedia, then travel insurance is the best/only way to cover this, or would some travel agents cover it? I know in the UK, expedia.co.uk, as well as travel agents, were ABTA/ATOL covered, so you'd be covered for every single part. However, as you say, there isn't really an equivalent here.

So at the end of the day, expedia.ca is fine to book with, but make sure I use a credit card? But also best to have travel insurance to cover me for the rest of the parts, for instance if I can't get to the hotel due to flight company going bust?

Now, just need to pick which US airport to clear immigration/customs at! I'm certainly not going to Chicago again! :-)

Thanks,

Graham.

Are you sure you wish to risk travelling to the US? Americans have been known to shoot people you know

Lol, I suppose for a $400 saving, I'll take the risk :-)

From all major Canadian airports, you'll clear US Immigration in Canada not in the US. United has already been in Chapter 11, so nothing is a certainty!

Outbound yes they would clear at US pre clearance but on the way back they would still need to clear US at 1st airport of arrival unless they have a transit lounge for their connecting flight to Canada then of course they would have to clear the ever friendly CBSA (Canada Customs).

Hi,

Thanks for the response.

Ah, so I go through the full process of immigration whilst I'm in the Canadian airport (in this case, Toronto Pearson)? Does that apply even for someone with a British passport, or must I hold a Canadian passport?

So when exactly do they do the US immigration? I've never actually flown from Canada to the US, so have never experienced it. I've normally come in from the UK, so then have to wait in the stupidly long queues at your first point of entry into the US, even if you're connecting directly on to another country.

How early will they then required me to be at the airport? The flights I'm looking at leave around 6am or 7am.

So when the plane arrives into whichever US airport I pick, what happens at that point? Is customs clearance done in Canada as well? Is it treated like an international arrival, or a domestic arrival? Just wondering how quickly I could realistically change planes. Will I likely need to change terminal to get onto the next plane for Cancun? One of the flights had an hour, which seemed a bit tight IMO. However, with you pointing out that I'll clear immigration in Canada, is that going to be plenty of time? In any case, as it's all United, they'd obviously route me on the next flight if needs be (and if possible), but I'd prefer to actually make my connection!

It's the outbound flight I'm most interested in actually, as I'll want to get to the hotel asap :-) Coming home, I don't worry as much! However, when you say unless we have a transit lounge for the return flight, what do you mean exactly? Is this for club passengers, or does it depend on airport?

Thanks again - that's actually really pleasing news that when coming from a Canadian airport, you do immigration whilst still in Canada. Should make things a lot better than what I'm used to!

Graham.

ACTA: Association of Canadian Travel Agents. Amazon are obviously fine and any travel agency can help you.

You will clear customs in Toronto if this is the last Canadian point you are at. You will need to be at the airport at least 2 hours prior to your flight.

What airport will you be changing planes in? 1 hour may be pushing it if you have to change terminals too.

I would check your credit card regarding insurance to check cancellation cover. Also I would take additional cover for medical while in the US or Mexico as you could be faced with a huge bill if anything was to go wrong. I never risk it, especially if I am travelling with family.