September 9, 2024
Air Canada is in negotiations with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). Currently, our operations are not affected, and our flights are operating as scheduled. However, if you want to make alternate travel arrangements for your peace of mind, we implemented a policy on August 27, 2024, that allows you to change your flight for free if:
- You purchased an Air Canada ticket or redeemed points for an Aeroplan flight reward no later than September 9, 2024, for travel between September 15 and September 23, 2024.
If you're scheduled to travel during this period, you can retrieve your booking to change your flight, free of charge, to another date:
- between September 9 and September 14, 2024, and/or
- between September 24 and November 30, 2024.
Rest assured that we will notify you of any impact to your flight itinerary in advance of your travel.
If you purchased your ticket with Air Canada Vacations, a travel agent or an online travel agency and you don’t have access to our self-serve options, please reach out to them directly.
Additionally, you can contact us anytime for assistance at 1-888-247-2262. If you’re travelling on an Aeroplan flight reward, call 1-800-361-5373. Note that wait times may be longer than expected as we work to assist our customers.
Please also review our FAQ section below for other rebooking options and more essential information. We will be updating them throughout this period with the most up-to-date details, so please check back regularly.
You can also get more news and information related to the ongoing labour negotiations.
Is Air Canada Express involved in these negotiations?
Air Canada Express carriers Jazz and PAL Airlines are not involved in the negotiations with ALPA, and their flights are operating normally.
Does a “strike mandate” mean there will be a strike?
A strike vote is a normal part of the negotiating process and a strike or lock-out cannot take place before a 21-day cooling off period that began on August 27, 2024. Flight delays and cancellations resulting from labour disruptions, should they occur, are unlikely to occur before mid-September. Find out more about the bargaining process.
How can I rebook my flight?
If your travel dates are reflected in the goodwill policy above, you can modify your booking for free.
If you booked through another airline’s travel website
If you would like to make changes to your itinerary, please contact the original partner airline. If you’re travelling within the next 48 hours, you can change your itinerary online.
If you booked through Air Canada for Business
You can change your itinerary online. If you need assistance, please contact the Air Canada for Business team directly at 1-888-335-4189.
If you booked through a travel agency
If you booked through a travel agency or an online travel agency, please contact them directly.
If you booked an Air Canada Vacations package
Visit the Air Canada Vacations Goodwill Policy page or contact Air Canada Vacations at 1-866-529-2079 to learn more.
If you booked an Aeroplan flight reward
All Aeroplan flight rewards made no later than August 27, 2024, for travel between September 15 and September 23, 2024, will be eligible for a complimentary change, and you can change your itinerary online.
If you're travelling as part of a group on Air Canada
Please contact your travel agent directly if you wish to make changes to your itinerary.
Can I cancel my flight?
If your travel dates are reflected in the policy above and you'd prefer to no longer travel, you can cancel your ticket.
- If you purchased a refundable fare, you'll receive a full refund. Depending on the type of ticket purchased, a cancellation fee may apply.
- If you purchased using Aeroplan points, you can cancel your flight and redeposit the points into your account.
- If you purchased a non-refundable fare, you may cancel your itinerary and receive the value of your ticket in your AC Wallet or as a Future Travel Credit to use on your next Air Canada booking.
- You can also choose to do nothing and see whether your flight is cancelled by Air Canada, in which case you will also have the option to be refunded (see next FAQ).
What if I choose to keep my current flight and then it gets cancelled?
If you choose to keep your current flight now and a work stoppage does occur, please be assured that you will be notified by email or text.
We will work to support our customers by rebooking them with the best available options, but space will be limited.
If your flight is cancelled by Air Canada, you will then be eligible for a full refund regardless of your fare type; furthermore, no cancellation fees will apply.
Will Air Canada contact me to change my flight?
If you are contacted by someone claiming to represent Air Canada offering to change your booking, please be aware we will never ask for your booking reference or locator number, as we already have that information.
For more information on contacting Air Canada please go to our Customer Support page.
Can I rebook my flight on another airline?
Our goodwill policy only allows for rebooking on other flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, and Air Canada Express (flights operated by Jazz and PAL Airlines).
My flight is later this fall. Is it likely to be impacted?
We're fully committed to reaching a collective agreement with our pilots. All Air Canada flights continue to operate as scheduled with no possibility of a labour disruption before September 17, 2024.
Air Canada Express carriers Jazz and PAL Airlines are not involved in the negotiations with ALPA, and their flights are operating normally.
Rest assured that we will notify you of any impact to your flight itinerary in advance of travel.