A Vancouver-based blogger is stranded in Los Cabos after his WestJet flight home was canceled.
Thousands of Metro Vancouver travellers are stranded around the world over the Canada Day long weekend due to WestJet flight cancellations caused by an unexpected strike.
WestJet mechanics union members went on strike at 5:30pm on Friday, June 29th, claiming that their employer had terminated negotiations.
The move comes after the federal government issued a ministerial order calling for binding arbitration on Thursday following two tumultuous weeks of talks with unions on a new agreement.
WestJet pre-canceled 25 flights ahead of the long weekend, plus an additional 150 flights on Friday, June 28, and 235 flights on Saturday, June 29.
The airline had planned to carry more than 250,000 passengers over the long weekend, including to and from Vancouver International Airport (YVR), but so far the cancellations have affected more than 53,000 travellers.
Vancouver travel blogger stranded in Mexico
La Carmina is a Vancouver-based travel blogger who has flown to more than 70 countries since her first plane ride from Hong Kong at the age of one, and is now stranded in Los Cabos after her WestJet flight home was canceled.
While the local travel enthusiast isn't pessimistic about spending a few extra days in paradise, she feels sorry for those who have weddings, medical appointments and other important events or meetings scheduled, and this isn't the first time she's had to change her travel plans because of a WestJet strike.
La Carmina had planned to visit Las Vegas for work in 2023, but canceled her flight ahead of time after airline pilots' unions threatened to strike before the May long weekend. She told VIA that she was able to secure a last-minute ticket from Bellingham to Las Vegas for $566, but that the original flight cost significantly less.
La Carmina received an email from WestJet in the early hours of Friday, June 28, informing them that their 2:15pm flight from Los Cabos to Vancouver had been cancelled.
“I received an email just after midnight saying my flight had been disrupted and there was no option to rebook – very unhelpful,” she recalled.
“I was skeptical about flying WestJet again last year because there was a possibility that WestJet would cancel my flight to Las Vegas due to the looming strike. However, in the end, WestJet came to an agreement and my flight was able to operate as scheduled.”
“But I had already purchased an expensive replacement flight.”
La Carmina's coworker booked her on a new United Airlines flight via Houston, Texas, for Monday, July 1. She plans to extend her Airbnb stay and get a refund for the canceled flight.
“That essentially means I get two extra free days of vacation! But still… WestJet sucks!” she said.
WestJet strike leaves thousands of travelers stranded
The travel blogger is one of thousands of WestJet customers stranded over the long weekend.
A person posted on Twitter that their flight from Victoria to Calgary had been canceled and they had a flight booked to Barcelona instead. Both flights disappeared from the WestJet app, but the traveller later discovered that the flight to Barcelona was still scheduled.
My flight from Victoria to Calgary, Calgary to Barcelona, ​​Victoria to Calgary was cancelled in the early hours. I tried to contact them by phone from 3am and was disconnected after over 4 hours. Both of my flights for today were removed from the app. I then found out my flight to Barcelona was still on schedule.
— Coconut (@Steve_003003) June 29, 2024
One person noted that many flights are currently listed as “on time” and expressed concern that some flights are not cancelled until the last minute.
How much advance notice do you give? I see flights leaving in less than 24 hours still showing as “on time” – no one wants surprises at the airport.
— Crying Like Cassandra (@CryingCassandra) June 29, 2024
One passenger said he was already on the plane when WestJet canceled the flight.
I did so. Everything was fine until boarding. Were there already passengers on board when they cancelled? I am waiting for news on what to do from now on.
— Tintizard (@tintizard) June 29, 2024
Amy Nicole said she hadn't been home for three years and her flight was cancelled, but she felt it would be “a huge expense to book a flight with another airline at the last minute.”
This is ridiculous. I haven't been home in 3 years and my flight for tonight was cancelled. Booking a flight last minute with another airline would cost me a ton of money. I'm done with this.
— Amy Nicole (@NewfieAmy) June 29, 2024
Many people believe WestJet should pay its mechanics more to avoid further disruptions.
Fire the CEO and President of Westjet. They make $700,000 a year but only pay their on-call mechanics $5 an hour. Westjet executives, you are pathetic. You left my family behind in Winnipeg, separating grandparents and grandchildren who were so excited to see each other.
— DCT (@DCuddy_) June 29, 2024
Flair spokeswoman Kim Bowie said the airline is closely monitoring the WestJet strike and will assist stranded passengers “however we can.” Flair is unable to add additional flights over the holidays, but said many routes have available seats and are experiencing a “surging bookings.”
“We will always try to rescue customers where we can, but right now our focus is on safely and efficiently transporting customers who have already booked and trusted us,” she told VIA.
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