We had already shared all the details of the Air Canada strike, including a teaser of your options. As promised, here’s the more detailed guide on your rights in this situation. I just did 2 TV interviews about this live from Thailand, and it’s clear that this is a very very misunderstood topic!!!
The most important thing to know (that many travelers do not seem to understand) is that if YOU cancel your flight, you give up all your rights and recourse!!! But if THE AIRLINE cancels your flight, you have many rights (as always)!
So here I’m focusing on your rights if the airline cancels your flight. For other situations (and all the details), go read the appropriate section in our article on the Air Canada strike.
Here are all the details.
Basics of your rights during an airline strike
Here’s an infographic that summarizes the situation.
Here’s a quick overview of those 4 separate sections, then I’ll give you more details on each aspect below.
There are 4 important things to know first and foremost about all flight disruptions:
- Help yourself by always paying for your flight with a good credit card
- At least it’ll get you free hotel and meals
- During almost any disruption (such as strikes)
- Take responsibility by knowing your rights and then acting quickly
- Learn your rights and options in advance
- Monitor your flight status and prepare a Plan B
- Communicate with the airline after having done your homework
- Understand that airlines will often deny you your rights
- The weak federal government lets them get away with it
- It’s often hard to get everything you should get
- Especially if you haven’t booked with them directly
- Record all your interactions with airlines
- Good documentation of the situation will help you enforce your rights
Now, as far as your rights are concerned, you have basic rights that apply regardless of destination if your flight is canceled in this strike situation. You always get to choose 2 options for all flights:
- Completion of your itinerary for free on other airlines
- Full refund in cash and return to the point of departure
Then, on top of that, you have additional rights depending on your specific route:
- Domestic flights within Canada
- International flights
- Flights from the EU, the UK, Iceland, Switzerland, and Norway
Finally, and very importantly, you have additional rights if the airline cancels your flight before the strike (as opposed to during the strike or after the strike) or declares a lock-out (instead of letting a strike happen). Pre-emptive flight cancellations are actually the most likely of all scenarios, as Air Canada has already started canceling flights.
Let’s look at all the details.
Your rights for all flights
So I’ll start with what is simple and what always applies, so the minimum, for all flights canceled by an airline because of a strike (I repeat: cancellations before the start of the strike give you more rights listed at the end of this post).
Airlines are obligated to give you the choice between these 2 options:
- Complete your trip on another airline
- They have to pay a ticket no matter what the price is
- Even on airlines, they do not partner with
- If they can’t rebook you after 48 hours
- It can be from your original airport (if there is availability)
- It can be from other nearby airports
- They also have to pay for your transportation to this other airport
- Get a full refund and return to your starting point
- They have to refund you in full in cash (no travel credit/voucher)
- You can get your money back even if you’ve already left
- If their cancellation means that your trip is no longer valid
- For example, if the alternative return flight doesn’t suit you
- They have to pay you a ticket back to your starting point
If you want to complete your trip, YOU MUST REFUSE THE REFUND. It’s one OR the other. They cannot force you to choose a refund. They certainly might try. Obviously, getting rebooked will take a while.
You should politely let airline employees know that your rights are very explicitly detailed in Article 18 of Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations.
That’s wonderful; getting another flight on any airline. So simple. Amazing indeed… if it works. Unfortunately, airlines will often simply refuse to pay for the ticket on another airline, even though you’re definitely entitled to it. The federal government is entirely complicit in letting this happen — they don’t enforce their own rules, so…
If you didn’t book with the airline directly (you always should), they’ll use that excuse even if your rights don’t depend on where/how you booked, and it’s the airline’s responsibility to give you those 2 choices. But even if you did book with them, they often will just say no, because there are no consequences for them.
This means you have to book yourself another ticket that is extremely expensive and then ask for a refund, or possibly even sue them in small claims court to get your money back. The airlines are well aware that the vast majority of people aren’t going to want to take that risk — even if the regulations are clear — and will just opt for a refund. It’s much cheaper for the airlines that way!
To be clear, if you choose the option to get a refund of your original flight, that is easy to get. It’s meant to be very simple so that travelers choose that. But if you choose the refund, you will not be able to claim the reimbursement for a replacement flight (except if it was to get you back to your point of origin). It’s really one OR the other with those 2 options above.
Your additional rights for domestic flights in Canada
Your rights for all flights (listed above) are all you are owed if your flight is within Canada, since our passenger protection regulations protect the airlines more than the passengers, as I’ll explain below if you’re interested.
You should be entitled to monetary compensation, but the Canadian government lets the airlines get away with pretending that a labor dispute is “outside their control”.
These are their own employees, I honestly don’t know how it can be more within their control. In European regulations, labor disputes are explicitly considered to be within the airlines’ control (logically). But not in Canada.
Your additional rights for international flights
In addition to your rights for all flights (listed above), if your flight is international, you are better protected than for a domestic flight in Canada.
It’s thanks to an international regulation that is ironically called the Montreal Convention (or Montreal Protocol). It covers all international flights, but not domestic flights, unfortunately.
So the airline also theoretically owes you 2 additional things if they cancel your international flight due to a strike:
- Compensation for your losses due to the cancellation
- Your lost wages, for example
- Any other loss
- Up to $12,000 per passenger
- Reimbursement of certain expenses
- Accommodation, meals, and transportation on-site during the delay
- But it’s so much easier to get that refunded without any effort
- Details of the amazing insurance benefits that reimburse you fast are below
To claim afterward, you need to cite Article 19 of Canada’s Carriage by Air Act. This one is a little less explicit, but apparently, in court, this strike announced in advance shouldn’t relieve airlines of their responsibilities based on case law. But let’s say I wouldn’t incur losses on purpose just to claim them, and for expenses, I’d certainly use my free insurance as always. I’m certainly no lawyer.
Once again, the airlines will do everything in their power to discourage travelers from getting what’s owed to them by refusing to pay these compensations. They’ll try to stretch the passengers’ patience as far as possible so that they give up.
Your additional rights for flights FROM most of Europe
In addition to your rights for all flights AND your rights for all international flights (listed above), you have additional rights if your flights involve 1 of the 27 European Union countries, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Switzerland, or Norway.
If your flight is operated by a non-European airline (like Air Canada), those additional rights only apply if one of your flights is departing from one of those countries (but not TO those countries). If your flight is operated by an airline based in one of those countries, your additional rights apply to flights in both directions.
(By the way, this makes it more advantageous to travel on European airlines — at least if the price is the same — to be well-protected in both directions and not just in one direction like with Canadian and American airlines!)
A flight departing from Europe is the best scenario. You are also entitled to a simple guaranteed monetary compensation through what is called the EU 261 regulation (which can also make the reimbursement of certain expenses simpler than elsewhere, but not simpler than with free insurance).
So if an airline cancels such a flight due to a strike, the airline also owes you:
- Monetary compensation (in cash)
- €600 (≈ $879) per passenger (delay of more than 4 hours)
- €300 (≈ $440) per passenger (delay of less than 4 hours)
- Reimbursement of certain expenses
- Accommodation, meals, and transportation on-site during the delay
The difference is the claims process with this regulation is very efficient (not like in Canada). The one time I was lucky enough to have a delayed flight in Europe, I got my monetary compensation quite quickly and easily.
Your additional rights if the airline cancels a flight BEFORE a strike or during a LOCK-OUT
You remember that in your basic rights for all flights, airlines are obligated to give you the choice between these 2 options:
- Complete your trip on another airline
- Get a full refund and return to your starting point
Well, these options are significantly enhanced when the airline cancels your flight before a strike, as Air Canada is now doing, or when the airline declares a lock-out.
In those 2 scenarios, here are your basic rights (your additional international rights remain in effect, obviously):
- Complete your trip on another airline (9 hours instead of 48 hours) AND cash compensation up to $1000
- Get a full refund and return to your starting point, AND cash compensation of $400
Again, you should politely let airline employees know that your rights are very explicitly detailed in Article 18 of Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations.
The faster rebooking and the cash compensation are due to the fact that canceling flights before a strike or due to a lock-out is considered within the airline’s control, unlike the strike itself (in Canada; I repeat that in Europe, a strike is within airlines’ control).
That cold, hard cash ($1000, $700, or $400 per passenger, based on the length of the delay) is clearly enticing on paper. But the reality is, again, airlines (not just Air Canada, to be clear… WestJet did the same thing with their strike last summer) often deny you your rights. That means they might simply ignore the law (the federal government lets them do it unpunished, so…), and then you have to book an expensive flight on another airline on your own and pay out of pocket, and then claim a reimbursement from the airline that canceled your flight.
That’s really not necessarily easy to do, contrary to credit card insurance reimbursements that are so easy and effortless. So that’s definitely something to factor in if you don’t have as much liquidity and/or don’t want the hassle or risk.
Maybe the other option of a full refund and $400 is better than the price of booking a backup flight. Still, then again, the cash compensation element will be hard to claim because the airline will almost certainly say that a pre-emptive cancellation or a lock-out cancellation is outside their control, like a strike, even if it’s not true. You’ll need to fight for it.
To be clear, contrary to the rebooking and the cash compensation, the refund part is easy to get if you choose that option. But as mentioned above, if you accept a refund of your original flight, you cannot claim a reimbursement for a replacement flight.
Your way to get free hotels and meals during the delay
It’s so easy to always get a free hotel and meals during any flight disruption, no matter the reason. Effortlessly.
I want to remind you of the most important thing, which is exceedingly useful to know for all travelers because you’re inevitably going to face flight disruptions someday.
(If your flights are never disrupted… clearly, you don’t travel often enough — and we want to help you change that!)
The most important thing is to always pay for any flight with a credit card that has flight delay insurance! It’s so simple, and so few people know it (like many travel tips).
You’ll at least get free hotels and meals during a flight disruption, so at least you avoid:
- Having to pay for it out of your pocket when the airlines owe you nothing (i.e., weather delays)
- Having to fight with the airline if they are supposed to cover it
- Having to wait in line and beg the airline for a hotel
- Having to complain that you don’t have a hotel or that you have to pay for it
- Having to settle for a very basic non-luxury hotel if they give you a hotel
I don’t take the term lightly; it’s really THE most important thing when it comes to paying for a flight!
You will get this insurance for free, better than free: you will get paid for this insurance because many cards with good welcome bonuses have this free insurance!
Here are the top few, and stay tuned for a full guide to my 13 personal experiences with flight delay insurance claims (all of which have been positive).
| Best credit card offers (August 2025) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Valuation (BONUS)(≈ 28.3% back on $3k)
Rewards: ≈ $969
Card fee: $120
Spend required:$3k in 3 mos. spend $3k in 3 mos. &
make 1 purchase in months 15-17
Best for: Very lucrative hotel points for specific hotels
 LUCRATIVE
No min. inc.
ends August 18th
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 9% back on $12k)
Rewards: ≈ $1330
Card fee: $250
Spend required:$12k in 12 mos. spend $1k/mo. for 12 mos. &
make 1 purchase in months 15-17
Best for: Lucrative rewards and 4 passes for VIP airport lounges
 LUCRATIVE
No min. inc.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 8.8% back on $18k)
Rewards: ≈ $1590
Card fee: $0 $199
Spend required:$18k in 12 mos. (or $5k/$9k)
Best for: Incredible offer for those with more spending
 SIMPLE
80k/150k
ends January 31st
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
|
Best credit card offers (August 2025) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LUCRATIVENo min. inc.
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $969
Card fee: $120 (≈ 28.3% back on $3k)
Spend required:
$3k in 3 mos. spend $3k in 3 mos. &
make 1 purchase in months 15-17 Best for: Very lucrative hotel points for specific hotels
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
LUCRATIVE No min. inc.
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $1330
Card fee: $250 (≈ 9% back on $12k)
Spend required:
$12k in 12 mos. spend $1k/mo. for 12 mos. &
make 1 purchase in months 15-17 Best for: Lucrative rewards and 4 passes for VIP airport lounges
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SIMPLE 80k/150k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $1590
Card fee: $0 $199 (≈ 8.8% back on $18k)
Spend required:
$18k in 12 mos. (or $5k/$9k)
Best for: Incredible offer for those with more spending
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 SIMPLE12k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: $875
Card fee: $0 $120 (11.7% back on $7.5k)
Spend required:
$7.5k in 12 mos. (or $2k)
Best for: Very good travel insurance and earn rate
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
LUCRATIVE No min. inc.
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $900
Card fee: $156 ($12.99/mo.) (≈ 8.3% back on $9k)
Spend required:
$9k in 12 mos.
Best for: Best overall card in Canada
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
As for the Air Canada situation specifically, if your flight is already booked, obviously, you can’t go back if you made the common mistake of not paying with a credit card that has flight delay insurance.
At least fix that for the next time! That’s why one of the 7 most vital tips to travel for less (and better) is to invest the time to prepare your trips well!
If you paid with a credit card that offers flight delay insurance, validate that work conflicts are covered.
I just checked my 2 cards that I use most often to pay for flights (Amex Platinum Card and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card) and both cover strikes… but there are 200+ cards in Canada and you paid for your Air Canada flight with just one card, so just check your certificate of insurance for that card (it will be easier than us reading 200+ insurance certificates).
If it’s covered by your card too, you’ll at least get meals and hotel covered effortlessly!
Choose a Marriott hotel and earn rewards in at least 3 ways on that stay, too, to get future free nights, too! You’ll earn rewards by paying the hotel with your credit card, you’ll earn rewards via the hotel’s rewards program directly, and you’ll earn rewards by going through a shopping portal!
Your responsibility to improve your odds
To get rebooked on another flight, you need to take responsibility!
Theoretically, since this is a major situation, Air Canada employees should be willing to do what they can to give you that… but if everyone wants to be accommodated at the same time to a very limited number of seats on other airlines, it’s not going to be particularly easy.
As with everything else in the travel world, being quick and proactive will help you. Obviously, don’t go to the Air Canada counter with nothing prepared, and hope they do everything for you… find the flight numbers and solutions you want and give it to them. Make their life easier.
Take responsibility for yourself, as we’ve already explained at length. We’ll improve and update that old post and clarify all the tips in our upcoming guide on flight disruptions, as mentioned.
Your recourse to enforce your rights
Canada has the weakest and least protective passenger “protection” regulations of any country that has them. It’s not just us saying this (and we’ve been saying it since launch day several years ago); a House of Commons committee also says so.
(Not surprisingly, because it’s not even debatable… despite the fact that people still blindly believe politicians’ bullsh*t. We saw during the pandemic that there are many people like that, unfortunately!)
That’s why, in Canada, there is a huge difference between:
- What the airlines theoretically owe you according to the regulations
- What the airlines decide to give you because they are not monitored
These are 2 very, very, very different things (here in Canada).
Once again, our federal government doesn’t know how to do anything other than be soft on everything, so the airlines have no consequences if they don’t comply with the regulations. So, of course, they often don’t!
You can make a complaint to the Canadian Transportation Agency. At last count, there was a backlog of 71,000 complaints and an estimated 18-month delay for new ones to be processed. Very efficient — like everything else our federal government manages, basically.
So, what this means in practice is that your rights are far from guaranteed.
You may have to go to small claims court against Air Canada; it’s pretty much the only way to enforce your rights as a passenger in many situations because of this absolutely absurd Canadian system.
Your documentation of all interactions and events
You should record and document every interaction with airlines during disruptions, as this will be very helpful in enforcing your rights.
If you speak to an employee, there are free apps to record that. If you receive any communication whatsoever, keep it.
Learning how to travel for less
Join over 100,000 savvy Canadian travelers who already receive Flytrippers’ free newsletter so we can help you travel for less (and keep you updated on all things travel)!
Summary
The Air Canada strike (or potential pre-emptive cancellations) could affect air travel in Canada in the coming days. It’s very important to know your rights and some tips for these situations. Even if labor disputes are rare here (we are not in Europe, after all), there can still be plenty of disruptions, so we’ll cover all these in more detail soon.
What would you like to know about your rights during the Air Canada strike? Tell us in the comments below.
See the flight deals we spot: Cheap flights
Discover free travel with rewards: Travel rewards
Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration
Learn pro tricks: Travel tips
Featured image: Air Canada plane (photo credit: Michael)
