Amid threat of Air Canada pilots strike, what should you do if your flight gets cancelled?

Thousands of passengers could be stranded at the airport starting next Sunday as Air Canada has yet to reach an agreement with its pilots' union.

According to an Air Canada press release issued Monday, if no agreement is reached by Sept. 15, the airline could issue a 72-hour notice to shut down [operations], while the union could also call a strike that would It will lead to a three-day shutdown of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge.

Air Canada announced Monday that it is finalizing alternative plans to suspend most of its operations as negotiations between the two sides remain unresolved. The airline predicts that the three-day suspension could affect 110,000 passengers a day. However, flights are currently operating as scheduled with ongoing negotiations with the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA).

Air Canada wrote on its website: "It is likely that we will not see any flight delays or cancellations due to labor disruptions until mid-September. If your flight is canceled by Air Canada, you will be eligible for a full refund, regardless of ticket type. In addition, no ticket cancellation fee will be applied.

Actions to be taken in case of flight cancellation:

Change flight date
Air Canada has announced a new policy for eligible travelers to reschedule their flight for free. To take advantage of this opportunity, you must have purchased an Air Canada ticket or booked a ticket with Aeroplan loyalty program points by September 9 for a flight between September 15 and 23.

You can also change your flight free of charge for travel between September 8 and 14 and between September 24 and November 30.

If you do not have access to Air Canada's self-service options because you purchased your ticket through Air Canada Vacations, a travel agent or an online travel agent, it is recommended that you contact them directly.

If you have booked a ticket through another airline's website, you should contact that airline if you wish to change your flight.

If you made your reservation through Air Canada Business, you can change your itinerary online. Call 1-888-335-4189 for guidance.

If you have booked a travel package with Air Canada Vacations, you can refer to the "Goodwill Policy" page or call Air Canada Vacations at 1-866-529-2079. The goodwill policy allows passengers who have purchased a travel package that includes Air Canada flights between September 15 and 23, 2024, to make a free reservation change by September 9, 2024. (Note that in this case it is not possible to refund the money.)

The goodwill policy only applies to rebookings on other flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express (Jazz and PAL airlines).

According to Air Canada, it is possible to book alternative dates for flights scheduled between September 9 and 14, 2024, or after September 24.

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