One travel insurance broker says the plane ticket Air Canada passengers purchased ahead of a looming strike is the smallest part of their worries.
The airline started to cancel flights on Thursday just days away from the weekend start of a strike by its 10,000 flight attendants.
Martin Firestone of Travel Secure tells the Vista Radio Newsroom that passengers may also be on the hook for other costs that are non-refundable, including cruises, tours and Airbnb’s.
As for passengers looking to return home from abroad on an Air Canada flight, Firestone says they could have to extend their stay and that’s if the hotel or resort they are staying at has availability.
Air Canada says it’s made arrangements with other Canadian and foreign airlines to provide alternative travel options “to the extent possible.”
However, Firestone says he doesn’t see how that will be a real solution.
“It’s going to be impossible at best. Forget the fact you’ll sit on the phone for six hours, there are not enough seats to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people who need alternate flights.”
Air Canada says the gap between its contract offer and the demands of the Canadian Union of Public Employees is “huge.”
A strike would begin at 12:58 a.m. ET Saturday.
