WestJet Strike Looming

[Manhattan]

Hope they don't drag the cancellation process out...e.g. waiting til 24 hrs before departure. As soon as they allow for cancellations beyond May 21 I'm getting a refund.

[Tik-Tok]

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Surely there's some contingency with independently contracted pilots somewhere.

Lol. There's a serious pilot shortage in Canada already, let alone ones with 737 experience. I guess they could hire a bunch of 300 hour Cessna pilots and train them up in a week. That would be a fun "landing".

Management will probably fly some routes, but the other issue is that pilots generally stick together whether their in the same union or not. It's a very VERY small industry, no one wants to be a scab because they might want to work for that company in the future.

[ExtraSlow]

Yeah I think this is very different than CP running a few trains with managers and secretaries. I don't see WJ mainline flying passenger flights without the union.

[KrisYYC]

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Surely there's some contingency with independently contracted pilots somewhere. From WJ perspective they're looking at such heavy losses. Makes sense to bring a couple pilots in to keep the cash flowing They're backed by a private equity type firm in Onex so have more access to funds but still.

On top of the move to lockout it sounds like WJ CEO wants to play hardball. Supposedly he tweeted something yesterday that made it sound like they weren't close to an agreement...I think tweet has since been deleted? It would be such a mess all around if all the long haul flights got grounded indefinitely.

It doesn't work like that with airlines. There isn't really such thing as independently contracted pilots. Pilots from outside Westjet cannot operate Westjet metal for a number of reasons. They could contract another carrier to use their metal and their crews to operate some flights, but it's hard to organize last minute and there's no way they could get enough aircraft and crews to run anywhere near their full schedule.

They are already cancelling a lot of flights in anticipation of a complete stoppage at mainline and Swoop:

https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/news/2...ter%3A20230518

[taemo]

We are supposed to fly direct to Paris next Thursday, will wait to see if WJ cancels our flight then we will plan to go somewhere else instead.
Shitty as we picked WJ exactly because they have direct flight to Paris, so if they are able to rebook us then we will have a layover now.

Good thing we bought a trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

edit: this was posted on the other thread, worth a read for flyers that might be affected by the strike
https://airpassengerrights.ca/en/blo...are-my-rights?

[licketysplit]

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I booked through here
https://sales.allianz-assistance.ca/...ntents/OurPlan
Will be calling them tomorrow too to confirm that strike is covered by the policy, also have 10 days grace period to cancel the policy if deemed no longer required

I was interested in this, but this exclusion makes me think a strike won't be covered if the insurance is purchased after the strike notice was issued:

The benefits do not cover conditions or events that, on the date of purchase, are either known to you or likely to occur.

From: https://sales.allianz-assistance.ca/...0k/Certificate

[taemo]

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I was interested in this, but this exclusion makes me think a strike won't be covered if the insurance is purchased after the strike notice was issued:

From: https://sales.allianz-assistance.ca/...0k/Certificate

Yup I was also worried about that too, when I called them twice yesterday the lady confirmed that I will still be covered in the event that WestJet goes on strike, even though I bought the policy the previous night.
I also had this audio recorded and have a case #.
Might be worth calling them get a quote and confirm with whoever you're talking if you will be covered or not.

[licketysplit]

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Yup I was also worried about that too, when I called them twice yesterday the lady confirmed that I will still be covered in the event that WestJet goes on strike, even though I bought the policy the previous night.
I also had this audio recorded and have a case #.
Might be worth calling them get a quote and confirm with whoever you're talking if you will be covered or not.

I was looking into it for my parents, so I'll let them know, thanks. Good luck with your trip!

[Manhattan]

My guess is the likelihood of WJ rebooking every single person on cancelled flights within 48 hrs while paying super high last min fares at a loss is close to zero. Doubt they even have the capacity for that kind of operation.

[Manhattan]

https://www.yyc.com/en-us/travelleri...tschedule.aspx

21 WJ flights out of YYC cancelled for TODAY. Mostly domestic and a couple of US destinations. Why are cancellations affecting today's flights? Nothing cancelled for tomorrow flights yet...

Most of these flights are evening departures. Perhaps these pilots shifts carry past midnight and they've advised they're not showing up?

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Strike-related posts have been merged into this thread.

We fly to Munich on June 13th, really hoping this all gets resolved by then.

[pheoxs]

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https://www.yyc.com/en-us/travelleri...tschedule.aspx

21 WJ flights out of YYC cancelled for TODAY. Mostly domestic and a couple of US destinations. Why are cancellations affecting today's flights? Nothing cancelled for tomorrow flights yet...

Most of these flights are evening departures. Perhaps these pilots shifts carry past midnight and they've advised they're not showing up?

Crews need to be home prior to the strike starting. So you’re seeing some loops get cancelled as the crew would’ve flew home on the Friday flight that’s not happening now

[roopi]

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https://www.yyc.com/en-us/travelleri...tschedule.aspx

21 WJ flights out of YYC cancelled for TODAY. Mostly domestic and a couple of US destinations. Why are cancellations affecting today's flights? Nothing cancelled for tomorrow flights yet...

Most of these flights are evening departures. Perhaps these pilots shifts carry past midnight and they've advised they're not showing up?

Saw an article they don't want planes stranded in other cities so cancellations are starting.

[KRyn]

Current WJ flight to San Fran tomorrow morning hasn't yet been canceled, fingers crossed a deal gets done right away. Booked some more expensive AC flights as backup which I am hoping to cancel last minute.

[taemo]

I know there are a few Beyonders here with the RBC WJ WE MC, the card does not have Trip Cancellation insurance so if WJ goes on strike and you are still in Calgary or AB then you are not insured.

[msommers]

Good call. I just checked my World Elite and it says that the full cost of the trip had to be put on there, which likely means that we used the Companion Voucher + WJ dollars, and used the CC to pay the remainder, that's probably not considered the full amount. Fuck.

[KrisYYC]

WestJet is now starting to cancel more flights for later today. Pretty much all of their overseas stuff is now canceled.

[flipstah]

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Strike-related posts have been merged into this thread.

We fly to Munich on June 13th, really hoping this all gets resolved by then.

Same boat; I'm flying to LHR in July. Fuck me

[killramos]

You guys are worried about a strike lasting 2 months?

[Manhattan]

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You guys are worried about a strike lasting 2 months?

Not only that but you have plenty of time to book an 'insurance' flight.