As the threat of a WestJet pilots’ strike continues to loom, some of the airline’s ticket holders are increasingly concerned about how such a disruption could impact travel plans.

Passengers have taken to social media to raise their concerns about how they’ll be affected in the event of a strike, ranging from uncertainty over flight cancellations, ticket fares they already paid, or what happens if they are left stranded.

Meanwhile, WestJet says its “business as usual” as negotiations with its pilots continue, adding that the union needs to give the airline a 72-hour notice of any strike action.

“We continue to see a softening of bookings given the risk of labour action. WestJet remains at the bargaining table, focused on a negotiated settlement,” WestJet spokesperson Lauren Stewart said in an statement on Wednesday.

The airline has tried to reassure passengers, announcing that if a strike occurs and flights are cancelled, WestJet will reimburse them for the full cost of their tickets.

However, airline industry experts tell BNN Bloomberg that passengers could be entitled to more than that.

ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION

Gabor Lukacs, an airline passenger rights advocate, said passengers could be entitled to additional compensation depending on where they’re flying from.

“The European Union has a very strong passenger protection regulation and that protects passengers,” Lukacs told BNN Bloomberg. “Just last month, Europe’s top court ruled that strikes do not relieve airlines from the obligation to compensate passengers.”

According to Lukacs’ blog post on airpassengerrights.ca, if you booked a WestJet flight departing from the EU to Canada and a strike occurs, WestJet must pay cash compensation of 600 euros, or 300 euros if you are delayed by less than four hours.

The company must also offer transportation onward or to your point of origin and refund the airfare, if you choose to return to your point of origin. In addition, the airline must reimburse you for expenses such as meals, accommodation, transportation and communication costs.

If your itinerary includes at least one international segment, and you are delayed as a result of the strike, then the airline must compensate you as well, Lukacs said.

This includes the cost of a flight on another airline and or expenses such as meals, transportation, accommodation, and lost wages as a result of the delay.

If you are travelling within Canada, WestJet must rebook you on another flight free of charge or refund your airfare.

UNCERTAINTY OVER RIGHTS

However, Barry Prentice, airline industry expert and professor at the University of Manitoba, said it’s not clear that passengers have the right to anything, except a refund of their fares if a strike happens.

“Of course, if the airline has taken them somewhere, and the strike occurs while on route, there are some provisions for passengers (accommodation, meals), but I am not sure if this involves more than international flights,” Prentice told BNN Bloomberg in an email. “It would also only involve passengers that have already boarded the flight before the strike begins.”

Both Lukacs and Prentice said passengers are not entitled to receive any compensation or costs from the airline before a strike.

“Uncertainty on its own does not entitle passengers to book with other airlines and get their reimbursements for that. That is not how the law works,” Lukacs said.

“The current law even in the most favourable situation in the EU is that once the strike takes place and once the flight is cancelled, then passengers can expect the airline to pay compensation and book then.”

Lukacs also advises WestJet ticket holders to document everything, including messages sent out by the airline in case the strike does take place.

“Once you’re done with travelling, you can then go back to WestJet and say, ‘Pay the bill.’ If they refuse to pay, you may take them to court,” Lukacs said.