Canadian Railroads > VIA is no longer offering free cancellations on discounted fares

For the past 2 1/4 years VIA has had a flexible booking policy. All bookings, even at the cheapest discounted level, could be cancelled at no charge. VIA would publish an end date of this policy, but every month or two this was extended. Towards the end of July I saw no extension of the date. After the 31st there is no free cancellation policy.

VIA has a warning that passengers who have signs of illness - even a cough - will be refused boarding for up to 14 days. They don't say if the cancellation fee will be waived under those circumstances. For a recent cruise we took, the line said anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID or been in contact with someone who has or who has symptoms that might be COVID would be denied boarding and given a full credit for a future voyage. It is my understanding airlines have - or had - the same policy for denied boarding. 





 

But if you're vaccinated you're safe, right? So why the fuss?

Posted from Android

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> But if you're vaccinated you're safe, right? So
> why the fuss?
>
> Posted from Android

I'm not sure what the above means - but I am not going to ask.

Today I received a reply from VIA. It said if a passenger is refused boarding due to having symptoms of COVID-19 there will be a full refund. The concern I have is the blanket statement which I referred to in my original posting that even if a person has a cough they can be refused boarding. There are many reasons, not just COVID-19, why people cough.

DrawingroomA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> P Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > But if you're vaccinated you're safe, right? So
> > why the fuss?
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> I'm not sure what the above means - but I am not
> going to ask.
>
> Today I received a reply from VIA. It said if a
> passenger is refused boarding due to having
> symptoms of COVID-19 there will be a full refund.
> The concern I have is the blanket statement which
> I referred to in my original posting that even if
> a person has a cough they can be refused boarding.
> There are many reasons, not just COVID-19, why
> people cough.

Yes, and you expanded on my intended point. Thank you. Nothing about this charade makes any sense for many reasons. When Covid made the rounds, it was bad and killed many people, but the reaction was globally ........ well, never mind. If it isn't clear now that Covid is now far less threatening, the control that government is putting over people is outrageous, including putting you off a transportation conveyance for coughing irrespective of the reason. If you're not ticked off by this, it will be too late when you finally do get ticked off as your freedoms to live your life are restricted at a faster and faster rate.

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DrawingroomA Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > P Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > But if you're vaccinated you're safe, right?
> So
> > > why the fuss?
> > >
> > > Posted from Android
> >
> > I'm not sure what the above means - but I am
> not
> > going to ask.
> >
> > Today I received a reply from VIA. It said if a
> > passenger is refused boarding due to having
> > symptoms of COVID-19 there will be a full
> refund.
> > The concern I have is the blanket statement
> which
> > I referred to in my original posting that even
> if
> > a person has a cough they can be refused
> boarding.
> > There are many reasons, not just COVID-19, why
> > people cough.
>
> Yes, and you expanded on my intended point. Thank
> you. Nothing about this charade makes any sense
> for many reasons. When Covid made the rounds,
> it was bad and killed many people, but the
> reaction was globally ........ well, never mind.
> If it isn't clear now that Covid is now far less
> threatening, the control that government is
> putting over people is outrageous, including
> putting you off a transportation conveyance for
> coughing irrespective of the reason. If you're
> not ticked off by this, it will be too late when
> you finally do get ticked off as your freedoms to
> live your life are restricted at a faster and
> faster rate.

Ah, yes, the cherished freedom to infect others.  Just as the founders envisioned.

Dave

DavidP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> P Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > DrawingroomA Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > P Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > But if you're vaccinated you're safe,
> right?
> > So
> > > > why the fuss?
> > > >
> > > > Posted from Android
> > >
> > > I'm not sure what the above means - but I am
> > not
> > > going to ask.
> > >
> > > Today I received a reply from VIA. It said if
> a
> > > passenger is refused boarding due to having
> > > symptoms of COVID-19 there will be a full
> > refund.
> > > The concern I have is the blanket statement
> > which
> > > I referred to in my original posting that
> even
> > if
> > > a person has a cough they can be refused
> > boarding.
> > > There are many reasons, not just COVID-19,
> why
> > > people cough.
> >
> > Yes, and you expanded on my intended point.
> Thank
> > you. Nothing about this charade makes any sense
> > for many reasons. When Covid made the rounds,
> > it was bad and killed many people, but the
> > reaction was globally ........ well, never
> mind.
> > If it isn't clear now that Covid is now far
> less
> > threatening, the control that government is
> > putting over people is outrageous, including
> > putting you off a transportation conveyance for
> > coughing irrespective of the reason. If you're
> > not ticked off by this, it will be too late
> when
> > you finally do get ticked off as your freedoms
> to
> > live your life are restricted at a faster and
> > faster rate.
>
> Ah, yes, the cherished freedom to infect others.
>  Just as the founders envisioned.
>
> Dave

With what? Bronchitis? Lung disease? Nervous tic? If you have any of those or countless other things that make you cough, you lose your freedom to travel. Do you folks ever think about what you say?

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DavidP Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > P Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > DrawingroomA Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > P Wrote:
> > > >
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > >
> > > > -----
> > > > > But if you're vaccinated you're safe,
> > right?
> > > So
> > > > > why the fuss?
> > > > >
> > > > > Posted from Android
> > > >
> > > > I'm not sure what the above means - but I
> am
> > > not
> > > > going to ask.
> > > >
> > > > Today I received a reply from VIA. It said
> if
> > a
> > > > passenger is refused boarding due to having
> > > > symptoms of COVID-19 there will be a full
> > > refund.
> > > > The concern I have is the blanket statement
> > > which
> > > > I referred to in my original posting that
> > even
> > > if
> > > > a person has a cough they can be refused
> > > boarding.
> > > > There are many reasons, not just COVID-19,
> > why
> > > > people cough.
> > >
> > > Yes, and you expanded on my intended point.
> > Thank
> > > you. Nothing about this charade makes any
> sense
> > > for many reasons. When Covid made the rounds,
> > > it was bad and killed many people, but the
> > > reaction was globally ........ well, never
> > mind.
> > > If it isn't clear now that Covid is now far
> > less
> > > threatening, the control that government is
> > > putting over people is outrageous, including
> > > putting you off a transportation conveyance
> for
> > > coughing irrespective of the reason. If
> you're
> > > not ticked off by this, it will be too late
> > when
> > > you finally do get ticked off as your
> freedoms
> > to
> > > live your life are restricted at a faster and
> > > faster rate.
> >
> > Ah, yes, the cherished freedom to infect
> others.
> >  Just as the founders envisioned.
> >
> > Dave
>
> With what? Bronchitis? Lung disease? Nervous
> tic? If you have any of those or countless other
> things that make you cough, you lose your freedom
> to travel. Do you folks ever think about what you
> say?

Do you?  

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>Do you folks ever think about what you say?

All the time.

One of the things that defines a mature, responsible society is understanding that sometimes one has
to do things that are best for the common good of society even if they are inconvenient for you as an
individual.  During the past couple of years I have often felt greatly inconvenienced by some of the
Covid restrictions but never once did I ever think that my rights had been compromised...

Keith Robertson
Langley, BC