Why travel insurance may not help you if there's a WestJet strike

WestJet travellers may be come out of fortune when it comes to financial shelter against a grounded flight of steps, as move around experts say insurance purchased in the days since a potential strike was announced is unlikely to reimburse customers for travel woes due to the labour dispute.

If travellers had bought insurance before Wednesday when the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the union representing flight attendants on WestJet's main airline, announced members had voted 99.4 per cent in favour of striking, they might have been covered.

But since CUPE Local 8125 announced that its members could strike as soon as the upcoming August long weekend if no deal is reached with WestJet, insurance companies can now treat a strike or lockout starting on Aug. 2 as a "known event" and could potentially refuse coverage.

WestJet flight attendants vote to strike as soon as August long weekend if no deal

According to a memo distributed by insurance provider Manulife to travel professionals, the benefits "related to this potential strike would not apply." Travel insurance salesman Martin Firestone says this type of move isn't a surprise.

"That's insurance for you. Bottom line is, there's no longer a risk. It's, in fact, a reality," said Firestone, who owns travel insurance company Travel Secure in Toronto.

Firestone notes that travel insurance purchased now will still cover events such as illness or death, depending on your policy.

"What won't be covered is that you couldn't get there because WestJet's flight attendants went on strike," he said.

In the event of a flight cancellation due to the strike, typically airlines would be obligated to rebook the flight — in some cases, this would include using an alternate carrier — or offer a full refund.

But Firestone points out insurance needs to go beyond just the price someone paid for their flight.

"It's never about the airfare, in my opinion," he said.

As an example, he described a hypothetical traveller who has spent $1,000 on a flight to get to a $6,500 cruise that departs at a specific time.

Trip interruption insurance could protect both the $1,000 for the flight and the $6,500 for the missed cruise, whereas without insurance the cruise costs may be lost.

"We need cancellation and interruption insurance … that's not what you get when you buy an airline ticket and take the insurance that comes with it," he said, referencing the travel insurance that's sometimes offered when booking a flight.

Travellers who booked their tickets without buying insurance don't have many options other than waiting to see what happens, or changing their plans ahead of time.

However, if a strike or lockout keeps your planned departure on the ground, travel agencies say you may still get a refund.

"If you already have a trip booked with WestJet, it's the airline's obligation to rebook you or refund your money if they can't operate that flight," said Alberta Motor Association travel expert Nikola Berube.

WestJet flight attendants vote to strike by August long weekend

But she says that doesn't necessarily mean you'll get a similar flight from an alternate carrier that gets you to your destination when you expected.

"Their sense of rebooking might not be as convenient for you as you would have thought your original trip would be," Berbue said.

Union claims airlines are 'flying the plane' in Ottawa's unpaid work probe

Ottawa needs more data to probe claims of unpaid work at airlines: minister

She also pointed out that there is insurance available that can allow passengers to "cancel for any reason," which can include strikes. However, she says it will often only pay a portion of your expenses, sometimes only up to half of what your travel and related plans would have cost.

Another option? Buying another ticket. But that can be expensive, and Berube says it would be up to the traveller to fully cover that expense.

Worried travellers may see their concerns evaporate if the union and company come to an agreement before the end of July, with both sides saying they continue to try to hammer out a deal.

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said earlier this week that his company sees a strike vote as a common step by unions during negotiations and this "does not mean a strike will occur.”

The union president representing flight attendants says CUPE is committed to reaching an agreement at the bargaining table as well.

"The last thing we want to do is go on strike. That’s the absolute last thing we want to do," said Alia Hussain, who is also a WestJet flight attendant herself.

WestJet last experienced a major labour dispute in the summer of 2024, when unionized airline mechanics went on strike over the Canada Day long weekend and tens of thousands of travellers were affected.

Senior Reporter

Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

Your weekly look at what’s happening in the worlds of economics, business and finance. Senior business correspondent Peter Armstrong untangles what it means for you, in your inbox Monday mornings.

---

---