Metro Vancouver travellers are expressing fears about flights booked with Air Canada ahead of a looming strike.
Numerous locals say they booked flights with Canada's flag carrier without realizing job action could affect their trip.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Canada, the union representing Air Canada's pilots, can legally issue a 72-hour strike notice as early as Sept. 15. The union is asking for several key changes to the outdated contract, most notably wage increases commensurate with salaries at U.S. airlines.
Air Canada announced Monday, Sept. 9 it is finalizing contingency plans for the looming strike, characterizing job action as "increasingly likely." The airline says ALPA's wage demands "far exceed average Canadian wage increases."
Metro Vancouverite Shauna Louise expressed concern about the possible job action on X/Twitter, sharing: "I leave for Japan in two weeks on Air Canada."
Another local, Gustavo Lin, said he had a flight booked on Sept. 19 with Air Canada but didn't want to risk missing his flight and booked another one with United Airlines.
"Getting Air Canada credit to use for a future flight," he wrote in his post.
W. Andrew Powell wrote that "it would be a huge mistake for Air Canada to let a strike happen. Whatever goodwill they may have is going to evaporate fast, and people are fed up with the airlines in general."
Another frustrated traveller wrote that she couldn't afford to pay for a new flight. Her original option cost $550 and she's now looking at options over $900.
Metro Vancouver travellers looking at alternative options ahead of Air Canada pilots' strike
Many other people aren't sure if they should re-book flights now or wait until the weekend.
Air Canada has a Goodwill Rebooking Policy that allows travellers flying in the period immediately preceding and after the end of the cooling-off period on Sept. 17 to change their already purchased travel plans for free. The airline is also working with other airlines to re-book passengers on flights. However, it says these options are limited.
Air Canada says it will notify customers of cancelled flights due to the strike. These travellers will be eligible for a full refund and can manage their bookings online or through the Air Canada mobile app.
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