Air Canada and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) have a message for travellers with cancelled flights: Don't come to the airport if you haven't been re-booked on a new flight.
On Friday, Aug. 15, Canada's flag carrier posted on its social media channels that 294 flights have been cancelled, affecting 55,726 travellers ahead of a looming strike deadline.
The Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents around 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, issued a 72-hour notice of its intent to strike just before 1 a.m. on Wednesday. Half an hour later, Air Canada issued a notice that it also plans to lock out the flight attendants.
If an agreement is not reached, a full disruption of Air Canada service could begin at 9:58 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15 (Vancouver time).
Air Canada has been preemptively cancelling flights since Wednesday, starting mainly with long-haul, international flights.
YVR says it is increasing its "terminal staffing to support affected travellers as best as possible."
How can I check if my flight is cancelled?
Air Canada reminds customers with cancelled flights not to go to the airport "without a confirmed new booking."
The airline has repeatedly stated it will notify customers with cancelled or impacted flights via email or text message. However, travellers should also check the status of flights online or download the Air Canada mobile app for up-to-date information.
Travellers can also check YVR's Departures and Arrivals page. Flights departing from cities across Canada, south of the border, and from around the world have already been cancelled to and from the airport for the upcoming days.
Customers can check their flights via their flight number or their destination. For example, flights from Vancouver to Toronto departing early Saturday, Aug. 16 have already been cancelled.
What should I do if my Air Canada flight is cancelled?
Air Canada says customers with flights booked between Aug. 15 and 18 can change their flight for free if they bought an Air Canada ticket or redeemed points for an Aeroplan flight reward no later than Aug. 13.
If customers are scheduled to travel during this period, they can retrieve their booking to change their flight, for free, to another date between Aug. 21 and Sept. 12.
If you purchased a non-refundable fare, you may cancel your itinerary and receive the value of your ticket in your AC Wallet or as a Future Travel Credit to use on your next Air Canada booking.
Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA) is encouraging Canadians to review their travel insurance coverage carefully and contact their providers for any clarification if they have questions. They may be entitled to compensation in some cases.
Air Canada posts an update on its offer to the union
Air Canada provided clarity on its latest offer in a news release on Friday. It says it is offering union members a 38 per cent increase in total compensation over four years, as well as hourly rates up to $94 an hour in the first year.
By 2027, the airline's senior flight attendants would earn an average of $87,000 annually, and 20 per cent of flight attendants would earn over $90,000. Hourly pay would increase by 12 to 16 per cent in the first year.
The airline also notes that its latest offer includes "significant improvements to health benefits and pension plans," and "meaningful quality of life improvements," although it doesn't provide complete details.
Union responds to airline's offer
Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada Component of CUPE, says the airline's offer is "below inflation, below market value, below minimum wage, and still leaves flight attendants unpaid for all hours of work." It claims the airline's latest offer addresses some of the unpaid duties, but only at 50 per cent of their hourly rate. Further, it doesn't address compensation for "medical emergencies, fires, evacuations, and other safety and security-related issues on the ground."
"With Air Canada’s first-year catch-up increase of 8 per cent, [junior flight attendant] earnings would increase to $2,108.16 per month. Meanwhile, a worker earning federal minimum wage at $17.75 per hour would earn $2,840.00 per month pre-taxes. Air Canada’s offer is below minimum wage," the union states in a release.
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