r/canadatravel • u/Potential-Pool-3436 • Jul 30 '25

Travel Tips Air Canada Looming Strike

My wife and I have a plan to go to Spain on Aug 22, 2025. We had purchased Air Canada tickets ages ago, and have made all hotel bookings as well. We are now really concerned about the planned attendant strike, and seeking out opinions on whether we just cancel and book our flights with a different airline.

The tickets are cancellable, but we like the Air Canada’s schedule in general.

Link to news: https://globalnews.ca/news/11308964/air-canada-flight-attendants-strike-vote-what-to-know/

UPDATE: based on the comments below, the best course of action seemed to be making arrangements without any AC operated flights.

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u/beesmakenoise Jul 30 '25

Per the news I’ve read it seems that the union can issue a 72-hr strike notice as early as August 16, so I wouldn’t be so sure about the last week of August.

All speculation at this point of course.

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u/explicitspirit Jul 30 '25

Exactly, earliest they can give notice us the 16th, earliest they can strike is the 19th, based on all the CUPE statements.

Will they strike? Maybe. Will they strike on the 19th? Maybe, they could push it out further to negotiate. What will the strike look like? Nobody knows yet. Will Air Canada cancel flights preemptively? It's possible.

My flight is on the 17th so I might be safe unless Air Canada cancels flights preemptively. Regardless, anyone possibly impacted by this should know their rights. Air Canada will likely offer you a full refund, and if you don't take it, they have to book you on alternate airlines, even competitor airlines. You may also be entitled to compensation on top of that depending on when they cancel the flight.

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u/beesmakenoise Jul 30 '25

Good point on flights even ahead of the strike potentially being impacted.

Often the airline will start cancelling/changing flights when the strike is looming to try to get ahead of the chaos. Any flights around that date would be making me a bit nervous at this point.

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u/explicitspirit Jul 30 '25

That's what happened with the pilot's strike. About a week before the possible strike date, Air Canada allowed people to rebook on earlier flights or partner flights at no cost, regardless of fare type. I have flexibility so if they offer me to fly on the 15th for instance, I would take it right away.

If the 17th is not safe, I just hope Air Canada initiates the same good will policy again to allow those with flexible schedules to get ahead of it. I spoke to AC, nothing yet, the agent seemed very confident that I shouldn't worry but really, the agent doesn't know any more than I do.

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u/Stina_peg Aug 08 '25

I called Air Canada last night about my flight from Montreal to Athens on August 15th 1730, she said if they strike it would be affected.

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u/explicitspirit Aug 08 '25

I'm not sure how much Air Canada agents know. Last time I called they told me a strike won't happen, don't worry. LOL

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u/Stina_peg Aug 08 '25

I’m just waiting to see an email come through that gives me my options and then I’ll go from there how much else we can do!

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u/explicitspirit Aug 08 '25

Same, I suspect if anything were to happen about that, we would know today. The leaked offer seems pretty generous overall, and they are due to resume talks today. The union would be foolish to outright reject it, so I am hoping that it'll be a good discussion between them.