WestJet passengers affected by the strike want to compensate for losses

WestJet planes are back in the air and flight schedules are returning to normal after thousands of flights were cancelled over the busy Canada Day long weekend due to an aircraft technicians’ strike.

But passengers who were supposed to fly are now trying to recoup some of the costs they incurred due to the short-term travel delay.

“I haven’t seen any money yet,” says Will Heseltine, whose flight from Las Vegas to Calgary was cancelled because of the strike.

“I don’t really have much hope of seeing the money, so I’m just responsible for everything myself at the moment.”

Heseltine and his friends rented a car and drove the 19 hours from Vegas to Calgary, hoping the insurance linked to his credit card would reimburse them. He submitted the claim upon arrival in Calgary, but it was rejected because the flight had been canceled due to the strike.

“The best case scenario is that I will get compensation for the WestJet flight I booked three months ago that was cancelled, but that doesn’t even cover the possible last-minute flight,” says Heseltine.

Heseltine is not the only passenger to find out they may not be covered. Insurance brokers say the credit card protection is limited and should not be the basis of your insurance cover, but rather an add-on for trips booked with that card.

“If the airline has no control over it, it’s time to ask yourself if my insurance would cover me,” says Nikola Berube of AMA Travel. “Credit card protection is very limited, you should always take out travel insurance.”

However, additional trip cancellation and cancellation insurance does not guarantee that travelers will be compensated in the event of a cancellation. Coverage often depends on known risks, including a strike announcement.

“Our policy states that strikes are not covered by claims unless they occur without notice,” Berube explains.

“Not every policy has worked, it’s just that not all strikes have been taken into account.”

Martin Freestone, president and CEO of Travel Secure, says that while there is no insurance coverage, purchasing a comprehensive insurance policy when booking your trip gives you the best chance of covering unexpected costs.

Freestone says that in cases like this, credit cards probably won’t cover the cost and WestJet will only refund the amount of the original ticket. So the only people who will get a refund are those who had purchased comprehensive insurance long before the strike was announced.

“You have to understand the stability clause,” says Freestone. “Many insurers see it differently, but good insurers usually say that the reason for cancellation cannot be anything that was unstable in the 60 days before the policy was taken out.”

A statement on WestJet’s website said the airline is working to process passenger claims under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR).

According to APPR, WestJet had to rebook travelers on a flight departing within 48 hours of the original booking, but because it was a travel-heavy weekend, this was difficult, so passengers can request a refund of their original payment amount.

However, WestJet is not required to cover any hotel or meal costs due to a travel delay.

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