Was your WestJet flight cancelled this weekend? Here’s what you need to know

About 33,000 travellers were affected by the unexpected news Saturday morning that WestJet had cancelled a series of flights after mechanics announced a surprise strike.

Here’s what you need to know about how to travel and/or get compensation if you are one of the affected travelers.

What are the rules in a situation like this?

Airlines must comply with Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), which provide air passengers using Canadian airlines with certain rights by setting out minimum requirements that companies must meet for air travel.

The regulations also detail standards for communicating with passengers and providing compensation in the event of flight delays or cancellations, or if your baggage is lost. The Canadian Transportation Agency oversees the APPR.

As per regulations, affected passengers can expect an update every 30 minutes until they have a new departure time or route.

Can I still get where I want to go?

An airline must offer passengers the choice between helping you continue to your destination or returning to your point of origin with a refund, according to Air Passenger Rights, an independent nonprofit advocacy group.

WestJet can rebook you on another WestJet flight or a partner airline flight within 48 hours of your original departure time, said Gabor Lukacs, the group’s president.

“But if it doesn’t, then WestJet will have to take out its corporate credit card and buy passenger tickets on Air Canada or any other competitor’s flights — it’s the law,” he said. he declared Saturday morning to CBC News Network.

The APPR says you can even look up flights departing from other airports within a “reasonable distance” and expect WestJet to help you get to that departure point.

If the only available seats are in a higher class of service than the one you originally booked – such as first or business class – the airline must rebook you in those seats without asking you to pay the difference, according to the APPR.

If the opposite is true (you booked a higher class of service and can now only travel in economy class), the airline must refund you the difference.

Can I take matters into my own hands?

In a statement posted on its website Friday, WestJet said there are “limited re-accommodation options,” suggesting it would be difficult for some people to make alternate plans to get where they are going.

On Saturday, the airline cancelled 235 flights and said another 150 would not take place if a solution to the dispute was not found by Saturday afternoon.

If you have problems with WestJet’s “reaccommodation options,” you can book new flights yourself and seek compensation later, Lukacs said.

“If you want to fly, you don’t say the word ‘refund,'” Lukacs said. “You don’t ask for a refund. You ask for a rebooking. If you ask for a refund, WestJet will just refund you and wash its hands of your future expenses.”

He recommends keeping careful records of your conversations with the airline – even going so far as to record your conversations – and keeping track of any expenses you incur.

Small claims court is an option, he added.

What if I want a refund?

The answer is simple: you have the right to get your money back.

“Refund is always an option,” Lukacs said. “If you didn’t get the flight you paid for, the airline has to refund you. That’s a no-brainer.”

The regulations also state that if you are not at your point of origin when you request a refund, the airline must also return you home.

But asking for a refund means you risk leaving money on the table in the long run, Lukacs warned.

Under the regulations, you should receive your money within 30 days if you choose this route.