Possible strike at Air Canada: What are your options?

According to the Regulations on the protection of air passengers (RPPA), Air Canada does not have the same obligations, depending on whether the cause of the cancellation of its flights is attributable to it or not.

The carrier announced to its customers that it would begin on Thursday to cancel flights, with a view to the work stoppage on Saturday. These cancellations are attributable to Air Canada, estimates Gabor Lukacs, of the blog Airpassengerrights.ca. The labor conflict must be underway, not to comehe explains.

Here are your options, if your flight is canceled Thursday or Friday.

First option: postpone your trip

For anyone who has reserved a journey between August 15 and 18, Air Canada makes it possible to move the flight between August 21 and September 12 at no cost.

If a non -refundable price ticket has been purchased, it will rather be a refund in the form of a travel credit that will be offered.

Second option: Air Canada offers you a ticket aboard another flight

If it is impossible for you to postpone your trip, do not panic: it is still possible that you can go to their destination as planned.

Indeed, in the event of a canceled flight, Air Canada must find you a ticket aboard another of its flights or another airline, explains Jacob Charbonneau, co -founder and late flight director, in an interview on here RDI.

According to the RPPAsince the reasons for the cancellation will be attributable to the carrier, Air Canada attempt to find one of its flights which will unclog within 9 hours of your scheduled departure time, or a flight with a competitor in 48 hours.

Air Canada will also have to pay you an amount if you are late: $ 400 for a delay of more than 3 hours, $ 700 for a delay of more than 6 h and $ 1000 for a delay of 9 hours or more.

However, no ticket may be available aboard another carrier, or have to wait several days before a place is available.

As we are in the midst of summer peak period, we know that the number of places will be very limitedrecognizes Air Canada.

About 130,000 passengers are traveling daily with Air Canada: it will therefore be impossible For other airlines to absorb all of these travelers, says Jacob Charbonneau. We don’t have enough competition and offer in Canada.

Third option: obtain a refund

If Air Canada fails to find another connection within 48 hours, you can request a full refund. He will also have to pay you $ 400 according to the RPPA.

Expenditure reimbursements (hotels, car rental) are also possible for international flights, specifies Jacob Charbonneau.

In addition, regular travel insurance and insurance offered by credit cards rarely cover work conflicts.

However, if you have booked with a Quebec travel agency, it is possible to obtain certain reimbursements thanks to the Compensation Fund for Customers of Travel Agents (FICAV).

If the strike is triggered?

If the union and the employer do not find a way to avoid stopping the work of on -board agents, and if the latter trigger a strike, Air Canada may argue that the situation is out of control.

It will have to find a place on you on another flight from another carrier within 48 hours. If she does not succeed, she will have to reimburse you, or offer you alternative travel arrangements.

But Air Canada also issued a lockout opinion which is to start on Saturday, which is a cause attributable to the carrier, says Lukacz. If there is and a lockout and a strike, I do not know how a judge would decide on the situationhe admits.

A quick settlement?

Considering the number of travelers who may request a reimbursement and the financial pressure that will be exerted on Air Canada, the former executive at Air Canada John Gradek believes that the carrier will have an interest in ending the conflict quickly.

In the event of extended work stoppage, The reputation and the way people perceive Air Canada will deteriorate fairly quicklywarns the one who is now coordinator of the aviation management program at McGill University.

But an intervention by the federalum could also occur: Air Canada asked Ottawa on Wednesday to impose enforceable arbitration, as he had done for Canada Posts (new window) or in the rail sector (new window).

It is a fairly common strategy of the air industry in Canada to involve the federal part in the settlement of its union conflicts, rather than negotiating.

The union of on -board agents, who says he wants to return to the negotiating table quickly, had rejected a proposal from the employer on Tuesday to start an enforceable arbitration process.

With information from Isaac Adams and Cédric Lizotte