Air Canada Offers Flexible Rebooking Policy as Potential for Pilot Strike Looms

On August 22, 2024, Air Canada pilots voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate, putting them in a position to walk off the job as early as September 17, 2024.

Faced with a potential strike by its pilots in less than a month, Air Canada has announced that it will allow customers to rebook and cancel flights at no charge for bookings made no later than August 27, 2024, with original travel dates between September 15, 2024 and September 23, 2024.

As it stands, Air Canada’s operations are not affected, and flights are operating as scheduled; however, this policy allows passengers to proactively change their plans at no cost.

Air Canada Offers Flexible Ticket Rebooking as Potential for Pilot Strike Looms

With the potential of a strike by its pilots a little more than three weeks away, Air Canada has recommitted its intention to reach a negotiated settlement with its pilots.

At the same time, the airline announced that it has introduced a flexible rebooking policy for flights purchased prior to August 27, 2024, with original travel dates from September 15–23, 2024.

The three-week cooling off period runs from August 27–September 17, 2024, giving both sides more time to address outstanding issues, before pilots can legally walk off the job.

During this cooling off period, Air Canada says it recognizes customers may feel a little uneasy about the potential for disruptions to their trips, therefore it has introduced a goodwill policy allowing for flexibility with imminent travel plans.

Air Canada has proactively introduced a flexible rebooking policy in the event of any upcoming job action by its pilots

Customers who have purchased travel on Air Canada flights no later than August 27, 2024 with original travel dates from September 15–23, 2024, can change any travel already purchased at no additional cost.

The policy allows customers holding eligible bookings on any fare type booked with cash or Aeroplan points with travel between September 15 and 23, 2024, to do the following:

• A) Rebook to any other Air Canada flight(s) with the same origin and destination from September 8–14, 2024, or from September 24–November 30, 2024. 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, or
• B) 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, or
• C) Cancel their flight and rebook travel for after November 30, 2024 in which case change fees will be waived but the customer will have to pay the fare difference, if any.

Customers looking to make any of the above changes, can do so online on the Air Canada website, through the Air Canada mobile app, with a travel agent, or by calling the Air Canada Contact Centre, depending on how their original flights were booked.

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. Flights with Air Canada Express operated by Jazz or PAL Airlines are not flown by Air Canada pilots, and won’t be affected in the event of a strike.

As of now, it’s important to note that no flights have been affected, and there’s still time for both sides to reach a deal.

The Air Line Pilots Association, the union representing more than 5,400 Air Canada pilots, says their goal is to avoid a strike, but they are willing to go the distance to secure a contract that reflects the value the union brings to Air Canada.

Conclusion

As the potential of a strike by its pilots looms, Air Canada has introduced a flexible rebooking policy for flights purchased no later than August 27, 2024, for original travel dates from September 15–23, 2024.

Eligible customers who have purchased travel on eligible Air Canada flights can change or cancel any travel already purchased at no additional cost. Customers looking to make any of the above changes, can do so online on the Air Canada website, through the Air Canada mobile app, with a travel agent, or by calling an Air Canada Contact Centre

On August 22, 2024, more than 5,400 Air Canada pilots voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike. The earliest job action could occur is September 17, 2024.

We’ve been following this story closely and will continue to update you with any new developments.