Travel plans through the Air Canada Strike? Maybe you have more rights than you think

The strike of the Air Canada stewardesses has disturbed traveling for hundreds of thousands of passengers.

While travelers are waving to rearrange their plans, many look for answers about their rights. They can be surprised to hear that passengers who leave most European countries have more protection than those booked on domestic flights.

This is what you need to know about your rights if your Air Canada travel plans are suddenly unraveled.

You are entitled to a converted flight

Under the regulations of the Air Passenger Protection of Canada (App), if your flight is canceled due to a disruption, airlines must offer you a choice between a repayment of cash or a rejected flight.

“For better or worse, you don’t have to take the reimbursement,” says Ian Jack, spokesperson for the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), a non -profit travel agency.

According to the appIf a large airline, such as Air Canada, cannot rebook you within 48 hours of your original departure time to a partner aircraft, the courier should try to rearrange you on an airline – even a big competitor.

If nothing is available, the airline must be looking for alternative flights at another nearby airport and transport to that airport.

Airlines that do not meet large fines. Earlier this year, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) Hit Westjet with a fine of $ 204,000 For not booking passengers whose flights were canceled During a Westjet -Mechanics Strike in 2024.

Passengers who believe that Air Canada cannot honor their herbal rights Serve a complaint With the CTA. However, they can wait a long time for solution; In June, the federal supervisor reported a backlog of more than 87,000 complaints about air passengers.

Some passengers can also be stranded despite the efforts of Air Canada. That is because the airline is the largest airline in the country and its stewardesses went off the job during the peak summer season.

“There is just not enough about Westjet, Air Transat, etc. [rebook] Everyone, “said Jack.” Unfortunately, some people can currently be left without many alternatives than to take the reimbursement. “

Air Canada repeated that thought In an online statement Where the promised “customers to offer alternative travel options as far as possible.”

Consumer lawyer Geoff White argues that the lack of alternative flights for disturbed passengers emphasizes a different problem: lack of competition in the Aviation Industry of Canada.

“The reason why so many people are stranded now is that we don’t have that [enough] Competition, “said White, executive director of the Public Interest Advocacy Center.

“This must be the wake-up call.”

In JuneThe Canada commissioning agency stated that the Land Aviation Industry is strongly concentrated with two large carriers – Air Canada and Westjet. It called for increased competition and ordered relaxing rules that limit the foreign ownership of Canadian airlines.

Passengers flying from the EU countries have more rights

Under the current AppeAirlines are not obliged to compensate for passengers for their hotel and an incident match if they are delayed at their destination because of A strike.

“Air Canada can opt for goodwill -purposes to help you with that, but there is no legal obligation,” Jack said.

Passengers also cannot claim compensation for flight delays and cancellations; The Appe is considering Job -actions Beyond the check of an airline.

Air Canada passengers affected, however, can claim compensation for both their added travel costs and flight disruptions and their canceled flight from the United Kingdom or Countries of members of the European Union. That’s because passengers who leave those countries are covered EU Air Passenger Rights offering wider protection compared to the app.

Similar to the Canadian regulations, EU rules can refuse airlines compensation for flight disturbances caused by a strike. However, the EU regulations specify that this exemption only applies to disputes in which the airline is not involved.

A strike by its own staff of an airline “does not give the airline of its obligation to pay compensation”, ” The EU is online.

Passengers who pass flight delays and cancellations can choose to submit compensation claims under the app instructions. Consequently, Air Canada passengers are affected who are eligible under the EU rules can search Reimbursement for extra costs, plus compensation of a maximum of € 600 ($ 965 CAD). Passengers Departure from the UK can claim to £ 520 ($ 970 CAD).

“In Europe, the position is much more consumer -friendly by saying:” No, no, the airline could certainly determine how it interacts with its trade unions and responsibility on the airline, “said White.

“We still have a long way to go here in Canada.”

Jack agrees.

When it comes to air travel: “If something goes wrong in Europe, you will be treated better than in Canada,” he said.

Where are the new rules?

More than two years agoThe federal government proposed changes for the app that, if they had since been established, may have helped many passengers from Air Canada.

The proposed changes, designed to strengthen the Appe, Take a requirement For airlines to cover hotel costs and incidental matters during any type of flight disruption – including that caused by work disruptions.

Jack says it is a pity that the proposed rules remain in the dark while passengers struggle with the Air Canada strike.

“Unfortunately it is not going to help people in this current circumstance,” he said. “People would be in a better position today if the government continued this [rules]. “

The Canadian Transportation Agency told CBC News Consultations for the Proposed rules Packed in March and that there is no timeline for when they come into effect. The agency did not immediately answer questions about why it took so long to implement the new rules.