Collaborating with Air Canada
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to your Leave Less Travel Program!
Your resource to find more information on how to estimate emissions and support climate initiatives when flying with Air Canada.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
LEAVE LESS TRAVEL PROGRAM
AEROPLAN FLIGHT REDEMPTION
Greenhouse gas emissions
What is a greenhouse gas (GHG)?
A GHG is a type of gas that traps the heat in the atmosphere. The most commonly known GHG emissions generated from man-made activities are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). . Although other GHG emissions are generated from global aviation, the primary source is CO2, , a fossil-based fuel, that powers the aircraft engines. Aviation's impact on climate change also extends beyond GHG emissions, with non-CO2 effects such as contrails and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Those are however difficult to monitor as no monitoring methodology, nor mitigating tools exists today. Despite the latest scientific developments to better understand , significant uncertainties remain, especially when predicting contrail formation and its related impact on climate.
How do you calculate the GHG emissions for my flight?
To allocate the estimated GHG emissions* of an Air Canada flight** to an individual passenger, Chooose uses the latest version of the . This allocation is obtained by dividing the average jet fuel consumption of the flight by the average load (passengers and cargo). Allocation to an individual passenger is weighted based on the selected class of travel (business, premium economy, or economy) and size of aircraft (narrow or wide body).
If the journey includes connecting flights operated by other airlines, the allocation of GHG emissions for those flights is obtained based on average GHG emissions as provided by the .
The calculation methodology used by Chooose provides an estimate only of the GHG emissions associated with your flight(s) and should not be relied upon as and accurate record of the actual emissions. Calculation results show GHG emissions in kgCO2e. These estimates are provided for information purposes only.
*GHG emissions from jet fuel combustion include CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions. The global warming potentials from IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) were used to convert the CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions to tonnes of CO2 equivalent (t CO2e). However, other GHG emissions sources such as upstream GHG emissions from jet fuel production (i.e., extraction, refining and transportation) and the non-CO2 effects (e.g., contrails) have not been included. Non-CO2 effects are difficult to monitor as no monitoring methodology is recognized. Despite the latest scientific developments to better understand non-CO2 impacts of aviation, significant uncertainties remain, especially when predicting contrail formation and its .
**Air Canada flight means a flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, or Air Canada Express carriers.
Why are the GHG emissions associated with my flight(s) different on third-party sites than on the Air Canada booking sites and the Chooose web application?
Chooose calculates the estimated GHG emissions allocated to a customer's flight(s) by using historical fuel burn for the same flights based on Air Canada´s internal data that third-party sites do not have access to. The Air Canada data is updated on an annual basis to help improve the accuracy of the data. If the journey includes connecting flights operated by other airlines, the allocation of GHG emissions for those flights is obtained based on average GHG emissions as provided by the .
Leave Less Travel Program
What is the Leave Less Travel Program provided by Chooose?
The Leave Less Travel Program provided by Chooose offers customers the voluntary option to purchase carbon offset credits together with Scope 3 environmental attributes associated with sustainable aviation fuel (). The total cost of this combined purchase is calculated on the basis of an estimate of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of your flight(s).
For all Air Canada flight segments (including Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express carriers), your purchase will include Scope 3 environmental attributes associated with a volume of SAF that is equivalent to replacing approximately 1.5% of the conventional jet fuel associated with the total estimated GHG emissions of these flight segments. Scope 3 environmental attributes associated with SAF will not be available for flight segment(s) operated by other airlines. Carbon offset credits will be purchased in an amount equivalent to the remaining estimated GHG emissions of your flight segments on Air Canada (including Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express carriers) and any flight segments on other airlines in your itinerary.
Participation in the Leave Less Travel Program provided by Chooose is completely voluntary. This program is separate, distinct and additional to any Air Canada programs, charges, fees, or similar initiatives (including with respect to the use of SAF by Air Canada), as well as any other similar initiatives or programs offered by our airline partners.
Please note, your flight will still produce GHG emissions.
A detailed overview of the carbon offset projects supported through this program is available .
More information on SAF is available .
How does it work?
The voluntary option to add the Leave Less Travel Program provided by Chooose to your itinerary is now seamlessly integrated into Air Canada’s booking websites. Outside of the booking websites, you can simply enter your itinerary information in the at any time.
How are my funds allocated in the Leave Less Travel Program?
The price you pay represents the total cost of this service (other than the taxes and a $US 0.42 per passenger per flight segment fee retained by Chooose to offer the program) and will be used by Chooose to source, purchase and retire carbon offset credits from certified projects and to purchase, from Air Canada, Scope 3 environmental attributes associated with Air Canada’s use of SAF.
How are carbon credits and environmental attributes associated with SAF retired?
Carbon credits are tracked, verified by an independent third-party, and retired on public carbon registries.
Environmental attributes associated with SAF are tracked and retired or assigned on third-party registries or internal ledgers.
Retiring or assigning carbon credits and environmental attributes associated with SAF prevents these from being resold or otherwise used a second time, in order to avoid double-counting.
What are environmental attributes associated with SAF?
Environmental attributes associated with SAF refers to the quantified environmental benefits associated with using SAF instead of traditional fossil-based jet fuel. The SAF environmental attributes available through this program are associated with physical SAF that Air Canada uses.
How does SAF contribute to lower GHG emissions?
SAF is not emission free but has lower net carbon life cycle emissions than conventional jet fuels.
Today, all commercially produced SAF on the market leverages feedstocks derived from biogenic sources also known as biomass. These feedstocks are made up of renewable organic materials from plants and animals – including forestry and agricultural residues, municipal solid waste, used cooking oil, etc.
In contrast, the production of conventional jet fuel requires the extraction of fossil fuel, resulting in a release of carbon that has been sequestered in the ground for millions of years.
When burned, SAF and conventional jet fuel produce similar levels of emissions, however the CO2 emissions generated from SAF are already part of the carbon cycle (because they are made of biomass) and therefore not extracted specifically for creating aviation fuel. This results in lower emissions when using SAF compared to conventional jet fuel when considered over the life cycle of the fuel.
It is important to note that these environmental attributes do not create additional reductions separate from the SAF for which they are allocated.
Is my contribution refundable?
Any purchase you make from Chooose is voluntary. Once you support the Leave Less Travel Program provided by Chooose, you can request a refund within 24 hours of the purchase by contacting and providing the order number found on your receipt. Chooose will process the reimbursement within 5 working days from the day on which Chooose receives your refund request. Order refunds will be reimbursed to the same payment method that you used for the original purchase.
After 24 hours, no refund is available unless otherwise required by law. This is applicable even if you change, cancel or modify your journey or in case of cancellation or rebooking of your flight by the carrier for any reason. In such cases, your Leave Less Travel Program purchase will continue to fund the projects and initiatives.
Who is Chooose?
Chooose builds software to enable the lower carbon fuel value chain, and is Air Canada's official carbon program collaborator. Leading companies in aviation and freight use the Chooose platform to operate and scale their SAF programs, and to advance voluntary and compliance carbon initiatives. For more information, visit .
Aeroplan Flight Redemptions
What is the Aeroplan® carbon offset program for flight redemptions?
When you book a flight or Air Canada Vacations package that includes one or more flights, using Aeroplan points or a combination of points and cash, Air Canada will its estimated Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by purchasing carbon offset credits based on the GHG emissions estimated to be associated with your flight(s)*. Specifically, the carbon offset credits retired will be an amount equivalent to the estimated GHG emissions associated with the portion of your itinerary that’s operated by Air Canada**, once the flight is completed.
While booking, you can view the estimated Scope 1 GHG emissions that Air Canada will offset. This estimate may change if your itinerary is modified, cancelled, or rebooked. To qualify for this program, you must be an Aeroplan member at the time of the redemption and be signed into your Aeroplan account. If you are not an Aeroplan member, you can visit the Aeroplan web site () and enroll today. Membership is free. Full terms and conditions of the Aeroplan Program apply and are available online at .
Air Canada will claim the GHG reductions on its direct GHG emissions (also known as Scope 1 emissions, for flights flown on Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge) and its other indirect GHG emissions (also known as Scope 3 emissions, for flights flown on by Air Canada Express carriers). This means that the GHG emissions reductions associated with the carbon offset credits cannot be accounted for by you. For information on the allocation of the GHG emissions of an individual passengers Air Canada flight, please view the “” in this FAQ.
Currently, environmental attributes associated with SAF are not integrated into the Aeroplan carbon offset program.
When booking a flight(s) or Air Canada Vacations package that includes flight(s) using Aeroplan points, or a combination of points and cash, customers will not be offered the voluntary option to participate in the Leave Less Travel Program.
*This estimate may not reflect the actual GHG emissions associated with your flight(s). Actual emissions are dependent on a wide range of factors which may vary from flight to flight.
** Only flights operated by Air Canada (Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express carriers) are eligible for this program including eligible flight segments that form part of an Air Canada Vacations package. For Air Canada Vacations packages, only the eligible Air Canada- operated flight portion is included in the calculation of estimated GHG emissions and associated carbon offset credit retirement.
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