Air Canada has implemented flexible change policies for travellers who booked flights when its pilots may commence strike action.
Canada's flag carrier announced the new policies on Tuesday, Aug. 27 following concern travellers may encounter travel disruptions caused by possible job action starting as early as mid-September.
On Aug. 22, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Canada, the union representing Air Canada's pilots, said the pilots voted "overwhelmingly in favour" to authorize the union's leaders to call a strike.
Before job action occurs, Air Canada intends to reach a "negotiated settlement with its pilots, one that recognizes their professionalism and contributions." The airline said it has made significant progress and that the three-week cooling-off period will provide time for both parties to address remaining issues.
The flexible change policies have been enacted to provide peace of mind to travellers facing uncertainty about a possible strike.
Air Canada's Goodwill Rebooking Policy 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.
Air Canada's Goodwill Rebooking Policy
Travellers flying to or from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or any other city the airline services can make changes online, through Air Canad's mobile app, through a travel agent, or by calling an Air Canada Contact Centre (the airline warns that "wait times may be elevated").
The policy allows customers holding bookings on any fare type with travel between Sept. 15 and 23, to do one of the following:
- Rebook to any other Air Canada flight(s) with the same origin and destination up to Nov. 30. Change fees and any other fees or fare difference will be waived, meaning such changes can be made at no cost for customers who choose to travel the same route in the same cabin.
- Cancel their flight and retain the residual value on a future travel credit. Refunds will be available as per fare rules for customers with refundable tickets; for customers with non-refundable tickets, refunds are not available as flights are scheduled to operate as normal.
- Cancel their flight and rebook travel for after November 30, in which case change fees will be waived but the customer will have to pay the fare difference, if any.
The policy applies to all Air Canada-operated flights, including Air Canada mainline, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz or PAL Airlines, and Air Canada Vacations (an additional fee may apply for hotels).
Air Canada reminds travellers that the policy does not apply to Air Canada Express flights, operated by Jazz or PAL Airlines, which are not operated by Air Canada pilots and will not be impacted.
The airline also notes that some temporary services will be unavailable to give "customers with special requests visibility," including the Unaccompanied Minor Program, special request baggage services for items such as bicycles and hunting equipment, and the Meet and Assist Program in Japan.
Air Canada told V.I.A. it will "review and update customer policies" if the strike continues after the travel period with flexible policies.
