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

Thousands of passengers could face disruptions starting as early as Sunday if Air Canada does not reach an agreement with its pilots' union.

If no deal is reached by September 15, Air Canada could issue a 72-hour lockout notice, while the union might issue a strike notice, potentially leading to a three-day suspension of operations for both Air Canada and its subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, according to a press release from the airline on Monday.

Air Canada stated that it is finalizing plans to suspend most of its operations as negotiations with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) remain stalled. The airline estimates that the three-day suspension could impact about 110,000 passengers daily. Flights are currently operating as scheduled while talks continue with ALPA.

"Flight delays and cancellations due to labour disruptions, if they occur, are unlikely before mid-September," the airline noted on its website. "If your flight is canceled by Air Canada, you will be eligible for a full refund regardless of your fare type, and no cancellation fees will apply."

The airline is coordinating with other carriers to potentially accommodate passengers affected by cancellations. It also specified that flights operated under the Air Canada Express brand by Jazz and PAL Airlines will not be affected by a possible strike as they are run by third-party carriers.

The Air Line Pilots Association is advocating for significant wage increases to bridge the pay gap between Canadian pilots and their higher-paid U.S. counterparts.

Here’s what to do if a settlement isn’t reached and labour disruptions affect your flight:

New Rebooking Policy
Air Canada has introduced a new policy allowing eligible travelers to change their flight to another date for free. This applies to tickets purchased or Aeroplan rewards redeemed by September 9 for travel between September 15 and 23. Free changes are also available for travel between September 8 and 14 and from September 24 to November 30.

If you purchased your ticket through Air Canada Vacations, a travel agent, or an online travel agency, you should contact them directly for changes. If you booked through another airline's website, contact that airline for modifications.

For bookings made through Air Canada for Business, changes can be made online, or assistance can be sought by calling 1-888-335-4189. For Air Canada Vacations packages, visit the goodwill policy page or call Air Canada Vacations at 1-866-529-2079. The goodwill policy allows free changes for travel packages purchased before September 9, 2024, for dates between September 15 and 23, 2024. Refunds are not available.

The goodwill policy is only valid for rebooking on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, and Air Canada Express (Jazz and PAL Airlines). Alternate dates can be booked for flights scheduled between September 9 and 14, 2024, or after September 24.

Air Canada Vacations customers can:

• Shift their travel dates and receive a one-time $50 credit per passenger (subject to change).
• Opt for a future travel credit for the full amount, valid for one year.
• Request a return travel date change if traveling between September 15 and 23, with no change fees but potential additional charges for longer hotel stays.

For Aeroplan rewards bookings made by August 27 for travel between September 15 and 23, you can change your flight at no additional cost.

Cancelling Flights
If you have refundable fares, you can cancel your ticket and receive a full refund, though a cancellation fee may apply depending on the ticket type. Aeroplan points used for booking will be redeposited into your account if you cancel.

Refundable fares can be canceled to receive the ticket's value for future Air Canada bookings. If you keep your current flight and it’s impacted by the labor stoppage, you will be notified by email or text.

"We will work to support our customers by rebooking them with the best available options, but space will be limited," Air Canada stated on its website.

For assistance, customers can contact Air Canada at 1-888-247-2262, or 1-800-361-5373 for Aeroplan flight rewards. Note that wait times may be longer than usual.