Air Canada Cancelling Flights Before Scheduled Strike
Flight boards show cancelled departures
Air Canada canceled flights in anticipation of a potential strike by some 10,000 flight attendants that is set this weekend. The airline started the phased cancellations on Thursday, further cancellations on Friday, and a full shutdown, including Air Canada Rouge, by Saturday. This follows a union notice of a 72-hour strike and a lockout notice by the airline.
Phased cancellations of the airline are said to be effective in minimizing the inconveniencing effect on travellers by, in a way, providing ample time to them to change plans. It has encouraged people not to visit the airport unless they had booked flights.
Should Travelers Take a Refund or Request Rebooking?
Flight attendants on picket lines
Passenger rights experts warn that the airline may end its obligation to rebook travelers on another flight by taking a refund. As Air Passenger Rights president Gabor Lukacs states, a refund allows the airline to complete its duty for other travel.
Under Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations, in case of events beyond the airline’s control, such as a strike, large carriers must rebook affected passengers on the first available flight by any airline. That also includes competitors and must be done at no extra cost to the consumer.
What Are the Options Under the Law?
When a flight is canceled, either a full refund or free rebooking is an option for the passengers. As advised by lawyers, rebooking must be on the next available flight, and this may include other carriers if necessary.
In cases where a cancellation occurs before the strike begins, it may be considered within the airline’s control by timing. It would be recoverable to passengers in case the airline cannot prove that the strike resulted in an instantaneous effect on the flight.
Rising Airfares and Booking Issues
Competitor flights may be used for rebooking
With pending cancellations, prices have gone up. A return from Vancouver to Toronto departing August 15 is around $1,300, or $273 early in September. Lukacs said that the fare increase is a result of last-minute booking habits and higher demand.
Other passengers may find it difficult to secure places on other airlines since flight schedules for summer holidays are among the tightest. The airline conceded that capacity on partner airlines may be tight over the summer.
Can Passengers Reserve Their Travel?
Experts suggest that if Air Canada refuses to rebook a traveler on a suitable earlier flight, passengers can book the ticket and show the invoice to the airline. This should be accompanied by some written communication with the airline regarding rebooking.
Travelers should document receipts, emails, and notes of any promises made by airline representatives because in-house systems occasionally fail to document verbal promises.
Passengers waiting for rebooking
Travel Insurance During Airline Strikes
Travel insurance plans covering trip cancellations, delays, or missed flights can pay for costs that Air Canada will not reimburse. Depending on whether the strike is a covered reason and whether the policy was purchased before the known event date, coverage can be obtained.
Policies bought before August 2 may be covered if travel is prevented by the strike. Group benefit policies generally do not cover cancellation, but individual trip policies often do.
Expert Insights on Travel Safety Standards
Incidents involving travel, although infrequent, highlight the importance of undertaking stringent safety checks as well as reporting openly. According to safety experts, it is a known fact that such activities as waterslides and adventure activities need to be monitored all the time to avoid accidents in which guests could become victims.
To receive further updates on travel news in the industry, passenger safety, tourism and more, visit Colitco.com– a digital media platform that delivers real time, factual reporting in the global travel, business and lifestyle industries.
Last Words: What Should the Travellers Prepare?
Air Canada flight cancellations should pay attention to the status of flights and rebooking requests with the airline, and check the travel insurance policies of affected customers. Helping them cancel tickets on their own may restrict their right to a refund or reissue their tickets.
Did you experience a flight cancellation by Air Canada due to the potential strike? Were you offered rebooking on another carrier or merely a refund?nd?
