Travellers with flights between Metro Vancouver's airports and the Caribbean have more than just ramifications from the WestJet strike to contend with this week.
Hurricane Beryl roared through open waters Tuesday, July 2 as a powerful Category 4 storm heading toward Jamaica after earlier making landfall in the southeast Caribbean, killing at least six people.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is issuing hurricane advisories for the North Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
While Beryl lost some strength Tuesday, "life-threatening winds" are expected in Jamaica on Wednesday. Officials have warned residents in flood-prone areas to prepare for evacuation as storm surges of five to eight feet above typical tide levels and heavy rainfall are likely.
After the hurricane passes near or over Jamaica, its path is expected to approach the Cayman Islands on Thursday and into Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Friday, according to the NHC.
On Monday, Beryl became the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, fuelled by record-warm waters. It has been downgraded a notch Tuesday to Category 4 as of Tuesday.
What should I do if my flight to or from Vancouver could be affected by Hurricane Beryl?
Canada's biggest airlines have flexible change and cancellation policies for travellers booked on flights affected by Hurricane Beryl.
Travellers departing from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) should check local weather and conditions at their destination before heading to the airport. They should also check airport conditions in places en route to their destinations to see how they may impact travel.
Locals should also book travel insurance with trip interruption, trip cancellation, medical for over $5 million, and comprehensive baggage loss and delay. Passengers are advised to read the fine print of their policy closely.
WestJet's hurricane policies
WestJet has instated its tropical storm/hurricane promise for guests affected by Hurricane Beryl. People visiting Kingston or Montego Bay in Jamaica between July 2 and 4 and Cancun, Mexico from July 3 to 5 can take advantage of the airline's flexible change policies.
Hurricane/tropical storm travel advisories are issued based on information provided by the Canadian Hurricane Centre or the (American) National Hurricane Center.
WestJet will allow you to do one of several options if you haven't left for your trip yet:
- Cancel your reservation: Transfer the full amount paid into a Travel Bank credit valid for one year.
- Change your travel dates (subject to availability) to the same flight number, origin and destination.
- Choose an earlier date, or a date up to and including 14 days after the original departure date and WestJet will waive any difference in fare.
- Choose a date of 15 days or more after your original departure date and normal exchange and refund guidelines will apply.
- Change your destination. Pay any difference in fare. If your new itinerary costs less, WestJet will give you a Travel Bank credit for the difference.
If you're en route to your destination or already in it, WestJet will waive change and cancellation fees. However, there are a few factors to consider.
- Return early (subject to availability).
- Cancel your reservation: WestJet will put the unused value of your reservation into a Travel Bank credit valid for one year.
- Continue travelling at your own risk. If you choose to continue travelling after an advisory has been issued you are not eligible for compensation or a credit or refund.
Air Canada hurricane policies
Air Canada has revised its ticketing policy enabling customers travelling on an affected flight to make changes to their booking without penalty, space permitting.
Travellers with affected flights can retrieve and change their bookings for free. If you purchased a holiday with Air Canada Vacations, contact them directly at 1-800-296-3408.
Air Canada guests are automatically enrolled to receive flight notifications to their mobile devices or by email. You can update your preferences online.
Flexible ticketing is in place for the following dates and destinations:
- July 2: Bridgetown, Fort-de-France, Kingston, Montego Bay, and St. John's, Newfoundland
- July 3: Kingston and Montego Bay
- July 4: Grand Cayman Island and Montego Bay
- July 5: Montego Bay, Kingston, Cancun, and Tulum.
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With files from the Associated Press
