How to Plan Your Travel as Air Canada Pilot Strike Looms

Air Canada logos are seen on the tails of planes at the airport in Montreal on Monday, June 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Travellers concerned about a potential Air Canada pilot strike have some options, according to a non-profit organization focused on travellers’ rights.

Gabor Lukacs of Air Passenger Right said airlines are responsible for getting travellers where they need to go, even if the flight is on a competitor airline.

“The law is that in the event of a strike, Air Canada is required to rebook passengers on competitors if it cannot rebook the passenger on its own or partners’ flights to depart within 48 hours,” Lukacs told The Epoch Times in an email.

The organization has also recommended travellers make a record of their interactions with Air Canada in case they need them for legal reasons.

“If the airline refuses to comply with the law, I would document their refusal (record audio/video of the interaction), buy a ticket on another airline, and then make Air Canada pay for the extra expenses -- if necessary in small claims court,” Lukacs said.

Passengers may also be entitled to having additional expenses covered by the airline if the strike interferes with travel plans, such as hotel rooms and meals, according to an Air Passenger Rights blog post. The post was released at the time of the WestJet strike, but Lukacs said the rules are the same for Air Canada.

Flight Centres executive vice president Chadd Andre told The Epoch Times travellers should be as flexible as possible.

“If you can, try not to plan to travel around the earlier days and when this potential disruption takes place,” Andre said during a phone interview.

Andre said travellers who have to be somewhere on those particular days have a couple of choices.

“One is travel on an alternative carrier if that’s available,” he said. The “backup strategy” involves buying a ticket with an alternative carrier that is fully refundable “right up to almost the moment of departure.”

Working with a travel agent can also help travellers to navigate any disruption to their plans, he said.

Air Canada has announced flexible policies for travellers to limit trip interruptions.

Those who already have tickets booked on Air Canada flights will be permitted to rebook travel, but the rebooked flights must occur before Nov. 30, according to an Aug. 27 Air Canada news release.

Customers can also choose to cancel their flights and take a travel credit for a future trip, or cancel flights and rebook travel for after Nov. 30.

Air Canada said it will waive fees for the changes. Tickets must have been purchased before Aug. 27 for flights scheduled between Sept. 15 and 23, the release said.

“I think flexibility is key,” Andre said. “Knowing your options, and knowing what is available for you to take advantage of, or to steer clear of, is certainly important to help reduce the risk.”

Air Canada pilots last month voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike, which could occur as soon as Sept. 17.

The vote had 98 percent of support, according to the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents more than 5,400 Air Canada employees.

Pilots want more pay, saying flight crews at the top U.S. airlines earn about double what those at Air Canada earn, according to Charlene Hudy, who heads the union’s Air Canada contingent. Pilots also want some scheduling changes, she said.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.