What to do if your WestJet flight is disrupted by a strike or lockout

As WestJet takes measures to prepare for a potential labour disruption this weekend, it has also promised to manage the potential impact on its customers.

The airline says that includes continuing to offer flexible change/cancel policies for flyers with travel bookings from now until Aug. 4 who wish to make alternate arrangements. The company has not stated what it will do beyond Aug. 4.

WestJet announced late Friday that it had cancelled 81 flights “in response to the union’s notice to strike and the inability to reach an agreement.”

A work stoppage could occur as early as Sunday, Aug. 2. The airline is encouraging customers to watch WestJet’s Travel Advisory page for updates.

What is WestJet required to do in the event of a labour disruption?

To determine what passengers are entitled to when a flight is delayed or cancelled, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) looks at the airline’s “level of control.” Events considered within the airline’s control include scheduled maintenance, choice of aircraft and staffing schedules. For unplanned events that the airline can control but may pose a safety risk, passengers may be entitled to assistance, rebooking and refunds.

Under Canada’s Airline Passenger Protection Regulations, says the CTA, a labour disruption is considered a situation outside an airline’s control. As a result, customers are not entitled to cash compensation for their inconvenience.

However, says the CTA, the airline must rebook passengers on its next available flight or on the flight of an airline with which it has a commercial agreement. The flight must depart within 48 hours after the passenger’s original departure time. If the airline cannot rebook the passenger within 48 hours, the airline must, at the passenger’s choice, provide a refund or make alternate travel arrangements, free of charge.

A passenger could choose to not travel and opt for a full refund of the ticket. If a passenger makes this decision en route to their destination, the airline is required to also fly them back to their point of origin free of charge, according to the advocacy group known as Air Passenger Rights (APR). Meanwhile, under the Airline Passenger Protection Regulations, cash compensation for inconvenience is not owed in such cases.

What if a passenger’s flight is cancelled before a strike begins?

APR says on its website that when an airline cancels a flight preemptively, before a strike begins, it must offer a choice between two options.

The first involves continuing to travel. In that case, the airline must rebook free of charge, on the next available flight operated by any carrier, including on competitors with which the airline has no formal business arrangement on any reasonable air route from the passenger’s local or another one within a reasonable distance. In the latter case, it must provide transportation to the other airport. If an airline refuses to rebook a passenger on a competitor airline, says APR, then they may wish to buy a ticket on a competitor airline and hold WestJet liable for the extra expense.