I actually ran into this exact situation with Air Canada a few months back, so I can share what happened. I booked a Basic Economy ticket because it was the cheapest option for a quick weekend trip. At the time, I didn’t really think much about the fine print. A week later, my plans changed and I needed to cancel. That’s when I learned the hard truth—Basic Economy is super restrictive. With Air Canada, those tickets are generally non-refundable and can’t be changed once booked.
At first, I thought I was completely stuck, but I decided to call and at least ask if there were any options. Honestly, the smartest thing I did was call (877)-764-3622. The agent explained everything clearly and even walked me through what credits or alternative options I might have. In my case, there wasn’t much flexibility with Basic Economy, but having someone confirm the policy and outline next steps made me feel way less stressed.
So, if you’re on Basic Economy, just know you probably won’t be able to cancel for a refund, but calling that number is the quickest way to get clarity and see if there’s any workaround for your situation.
